Wolfgang von Trips, 1958. Photo by Graham Gauld
Copyright Henk J. Brouwer (Arnhem – NL)
(July 2001, Boxmeer, Germany) On July 28th and 29th, the FCN (Ferrari Club Nederland), organized a rally which started at the former castle-convent “Elzendaal”. This convent was built in 1667 in a little town called Boxmeer, very near to the German border. The rally brought the participants and enthusiasts to Villa Trips “Museum for Racing History” (in German, “Museum für Rennsportgeschichte”). The location of the Villa Trips is very remarkable. It is set in a National, protected park in Kerpen/Horrem, next to Burg Hemmersbach.
Entering the area of the estate, the silence is serene. Ancient oak and beech trees rustle gently, although it was a calm day. A brick paved road lined with tall trees and old street lamps leads to the Villa Trips, and a Ferrari-flag attracted my attention. I became very curious about this famous home of Wolfgang von Trips.
Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips
Before learning something about Villa Trips, the museum and what it stands for, it’s necessary to know something about the famous race driver who was born and raised here. Wolfgang Alexander (“Wölfchen”) Graf Berghe von Trips was the son of Eduard Reichsgraf Berghe von Trips and his wife Thessa and was born in Köln on May 4th, 1928. The family lived in Bonn until 1932, when his father inherited the Hemmersbach castle. Castle living was the main motivation for moving to Hemmersbach. Here Wolfgang had a wonderful youth. In the years 1935 to 1938 he enjoyed the GP of Germany at the Nürburgring, so close it was nearly in the back garden of the Castle Hemmersbach. He never forgot those experiences.
At Silverstone in 1958, von Trips was driving the Dino 246. Photo by Graham Gauld.
His driving license was obtained in 1946 just after the war. Von Trips was sent to college to obtain a degree in agriculture, as his parents wished that he would work on the large estate.