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Competitor Profile: Fritz Scheidegger

TT Career Summary

Position12311DNF
No of times13111

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Biography

Swiss Sidecar driver, Fritz Scheidegger made his TT debut in what was to be the last race on the Clypse Course in 1959. In the 10-lap Sidecar race with passenger H Burkardt they brought their BMW outfit home in 3rd place. Their first venture onto the Mountain Course in 1960 gave them an eleventh finishing position. Twelve months later they were runners up to fierce rivals Deubel & Horner. Fritz was missing in 1962, but returned in 1963 with a new British passenger, John Robinson. His 12-month absence proved no disadvantage with the crew again taking second place in the 3-lap race. 1964 was to provide Fritz with his only D.N.F. in the TT, so it was to 1965 that the pairing looked for the elusive prize – the Sidecar trophy. A mighty contest throughout the race between themselves and Max Deubel/Emil Horner ensued with first the Swiss/GB crew taking the advantage, then the German pair took the lead on the second lap, breaking the lap record during the third circuit to take the chequered flag by 14 seconds. If 1965 had provided a close race, 1966 was to be even closer and more controversial. The rivals were separated by a mere 4/5th’s of a second at the end of the 113-mile race, with the laurel wreath going to Scheidegger and Robinson. Then they were excluded for an alleged fuel irregularity. However, he appealed to the FIM twice and was eventually declared the winner. Fritz and John won the Sidecar World Championship back to back in 1965 and 1966. Sadly Fritz was killed at a meeting at Mallory Park in March 1967, passenger John suffered only a broken leg, but it was enough for him to retire from the sport.

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