HK-ENGINEERING

HK-ENGINEERING
Your partner for MB 300SL
HK-ENGINEERING - Newsletter
2/2011
IN THIS ISSUE
Silver arrows from HK-ENGINEERING ahead of the rest
Great success at the Oldtimer Grand Prix
At the Tripsmemorial at Schloss Dyck
In-house engine machining centre
Events 2011/2012
Focus on originality
Our current vehicle offers
1/11
www.hk-engineering.com

SILVER ARROWS FROM HK-ENGINEERING AHEAD OF THE REST
GREAT SUCCESS AT THE OLDTIMER GRAND PRIX
12. - 14. August
The surprise came off perfectly on Sunday evening at the Nürburgring.
After 2 days, 2 races and lots of rain, it was time to reveal the name of the overall winner of the prestigious
Race 4 (2-seater racing cars and GT up to 1961) at the 39th OGP Nürburgring.
Bernd Hahne from Meerbusch, driving an HK Mercedes 300 SL racing Gullwing, had a winning
margin of 8 seconds after the results of the two legs had been added together.
With this victory, Hahne not only won the GT ranking and the class, he managed to surprise no less
than 5 Maserati Birdcages, 450 S, 300S, 200 S and the powerful Austin Healey 3000 driven by Christian
von Wedel in the addition of both legs. This race, which used to be called the „drum brake race“,
has turned more and more into the showpiece of the weekend. For the past few years, open racing cars
with disc brakes have been able to take part in the race ON an INVITATION basis. Particularly the
Maseratis.
The racing Gullwings from HK-ENGINEERING would normally not stand a chance against this
brand and the exorbitantly expensive BIRDCAGE racing cars. But then again, what‘s „normal“ in
motor racing?!
Diethelm Horbach had invited Bernd Hahne to join the HK team as guest driver, and banked on a
class victory. The fact that the Maseratis had their share of bad luck and the Austin-Healey couldn‘t
keep up with Bernd Hahne in the wet conditions played into the hands of the HK-Team.
An extraordinary success for our entire racing team that had taken up the challenge with the two 1955
Mercedes 300 SL Gullwings against overwhelming competition. Hans Kleissl crossed the finishing
line in 6th place in front of Klaus Lehr in a Mercedes 300 SLS and the Ferrari 250GT TDF from the
Cologne-based Methusalem Team.
The success is also due to the conscientious preparation of the vehicles and professional support and
service provided by our mechanics during the race. No technical problems whatsoever and an excellent
performance by our drivers in unsettled weather conditions rounded off a perfect weekend at the
Nürburgring. The result: several cups and a proud team from our racing department.
Following the photos you will find the translation of an article from the current MOTORSPORT
aktuell magazine about Bernd Hahne and his overall victory in the HK-ENGINEERING racing
Gullwing.
2/8 www.hk-engineering.com

3/11 www.hk-engineering.com

English translation of the German article: Bernd Hahne / Portrait by Leopold Wieland
HE WHO DANCES WITH THE GRIP
Caption: Bernd Hahne did not win a cup for his victory in the Mercedes 300 SL at the Nürburgring (large photo)
Somehow he seems to be the forgotten hero of the Oldtimer Grand Prix 2011 at the Nürburgring. Bernd Hahne (67) won the
overall ranking for two-seater racing cars and GT up to model year 1960/61 the weekend before last.
No, the event managers, the Automobilclub von Deutschland (German Automobile Association AvD) had not planned an award
ceremony for the overall winner. Worse still: the reports in „MOTORSPORT aktuell“ covering the event forgot to mention
Bernd Hahne‘s victory in the overall ranking for two-seater racing cars and GT up to model year 1960/61 which resulted from
the addition of the times clocked up during the two legs on Saturday and Sunday.
Magic moments in the 300 SL
Unlike his ever-critical older brother, the journalist Wilhelm Hahne (78), Bernd Hahne can laugh about these glitches. „That‘s
life,“ says the 67-year-old retired car salesman from Meerbusch near Düsseldorf, with the composure typical of people from the
Rhineland. He‘s still pleased, however, that the editors of MSa have decided to make up for their lapse and dedicate an article
to his victory. How did he manage this special victory then, without having been first past the chequered flag once with the
Mercedes 300 SL from HK-ENGINEERING?
„It was only thanks to the bad weather. I wouldn‘t have won anything if it hadn‘t rained on Saturday evening,“ admits Bernd
Hahne, and laughs again. The legendary 1955 Gullwing made available for the Oldtimer GP by the world‘s leading Mercedes-
Benz 300 SL restorer, Hans Kleissl, would have been „too heavy, too slow“ otherwise. With its 270 hp, three litre displacement
and top speed of 250 km/h, the 300 SL would have been easy prey for the Maserati T61, Austin Healey 3000 MK 1 and Ferrari
250 GT in dry conditions. Especially because the FIA rules valid for the Oldtimer Grand Prix at the Nürburgring state that
this Mercedes model can only enter the race with drum brakes rather than the more powerful and effective disc brakes allowed
for other historic races. In the cool, rainy conditions at the track, this technical disadvantage was more than compensated by a
human advantage: Bernd Hahne‘s gut feeling. „It seems like I have more of a feeling for the road than others in the rain,“ says
the experienced driver modestly, befitting the driver of such a classic car. From 17th to 6th in the first leg, then from 6th to 4th
in the second – at the end of the day that meant victory overall for the 56-year-old Mercedes 300 SL with Bernd Hahne at the
wheel– who, incidentally, has never been a professional driver, unlike his brothers Hubert (76) and Armin (54). Bernd Hahne
emphasises his motivation once again, „I just enjoy moving a car one hundred per cent at its limit.“ He is not at all interested in
historical Formula 1 racing cars from the 1970s or 1980s. Because „I would never be able to move such cars at their limit. That
wouldn‘t satisfy me.“ What he loves is to steer a tour car or a GT into the curve, let it drift at an angle to the crown and then get
the vehicle nose back straight again – in other words to drive rallye style, like his brother Hubert. He emphasises that driving at
and beyond the limit is the only way the Dunlop racing tyres used on classic racing cars get up to the right temperature and thus
develop optimum grip. That was the secret when the vehicles were new, and it‘s the secret now, too.
Grip champion Bernd Hahne will be hitting the track in Spa-Francorchamps and the Nürburgring again before the end of the
2011 season.
3/8 www.hk-engineering.com

AT THE TRIPSMEMORIAL AT SCHLOSS DYCK
6th - 7th August
It‘s hard to find a more glamorous setting on the European continent for a classic cars and motorbikes
festival than Schloss Dyck near Mönchengladbach.
The 6th Classic Days Festival exceeded all expectations, and Stanley Mann and his Bentley Boys
will have thought „My God, the bloody old Germans have damned nearly managed to match our
Goodwood ...“.
And indeed we did - two days of racing legends on the 2.8 km round circuit made the hearts of the
20,000 spectators beat faster: and the 300 SL Gullwing from HK-ENGINEERING with Hans Kleissl
and his team were in the thick of the action. HK-ENGINEERING had a chic racing car transporter
and hospitality marquee on site, and was able to welcome many visitors and customers in this almost
majestic setting.
Alongside the icons of the 1950s, there were other racing legends vying for the top spots – Lancia
Stratos, Ferrari Daytona, Porsche 550 Spyder, BMW 507, Jaguar E-types , AC-Cobra, Maserati etc.
By the way, the new head of the HK-RACING DEPARTMENT, Diethelm Horbach, was able to
finish the competition on the circuit in 1st place, ahead of all the other dream cars.
After lots of talking shop and incomparable impressions left by hundreds of classic cars, motorbikes
with and without sidecars, monoposti and rallye cars, the participants left the Schloss for home, taking
the memories of a splendid atmosphere and absolutely first-class racing event home with them.
We are already looking forward to 2012!
5/11
www.hk-engineering.com

6/11 www.hk-engineering.com

IN-HOUSE ENGINE MACHINING CENTRE
Recently, our company opened its own comprehensive engine machining centre. This guarantees
top quality and short processing times. We offer a professional complete service on our modern machines,
starting with cylinder head machining, drilling and honing cylinders, grinding camshafts, carrying
out crack inspections and aligning crankshafts right through to complete engine reconditioning.
7/11
www.hk-engineering.com

EVENTS 2011/2012
Goodwood Revival, England 16.09. - 18.09.2011
http://www.goodwood.co.uk/revival/
MB 300 SL Club Autumn Rallye, Flensburg 29.09. - 02.10.2011
Jochpass Memorial, Hindelang 29.09. - 03.10.2011
http://www.jochpass.com/
Carrera Panamericana, Mexiko 21.10. - 27.10.2011
http://www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx
Essen Motorshow, Essen 26.11. - 04.12.2011
http://www.essen-motorshow.de/
Techno Classica, Essen 21.03. - 25.03.2012
http://www.siha.de/
Retro Classics, Stuttgart 22.03. - 25.03.2012
http://www.retropromotion.de/
Mille Miglia, Italy 17.05. - 20.05.2012
http://www.1000miglia.eu/
Annual Meeting MB 300 SL Club, Berlin 24.05. -27.05.2012
(planned date, has not been confirmed yet)
Klassikwelt Bodensee, Friedrichshafen 17.05. - 20.05.2012
http://www.klassikwelt-bodensee.de/
Kitzbüheler Alpenrallye, Kitzbühel 30.05. - 02.06.2012
http://www.alpenrallye.at/
Le Mans Classic, Le Mans, Frankreich 06.07. - 08.07.2012
http://www.lemansrace.com/department/le-mans-classic/3/
Ennstal Classic, Gröbming 18.07. - 21.07.2012
http://www.ennstal-classic.at/
8/11
www.hk-engineering.com

MB 300SL Roadster
Model year 1957
White paint finish
Red leather interior
51000 km
UNSERE AKTUELLEN
FOCUS ON ORIGINALITY
FAHRZEUGANGEBOTE
The more our classic cars are becoming jewels, the more they are considered works of art for which
originality plays a particularly important role. This is why HK-ENGINEERING is trying even harder
to acquire original vehicles with a good history, and to offer these for sale. In the past few weeks
we have been able to purchase three outstanding vehicles again, which we present to you below.
We have numerous other 300 SLs on sale, of course, which are not shown explicitly here, including
three Gullwings.
The vehicle is a rare original vehicle with
its first leather interior. The vehicle was originally
delivered to the company Metzeler
Gummiwerke AG. The vehicle has matching
numbers and 51,000 km on the clock.
It was sold to a sheik in Saudi Arabia and
then sold on to the USA, where it has been
owned by the same person ever since. The
last owner has been in possession of the vehicle
since 1962.
A special mark of originality is the bag of
spare parts delivered by Mercedes Benz
with the vehicle, which at the time could be
ordered from Daimler Benz in addition to
the vehicle tool kit.
535,000.00 Euro
OUR CURRENT VEHICLE OFFERS
9/11 7/8
7/7 www.hk-engineering.com
www.hk-engineering.com

MB 300 SL Roadster
Model year 1957
Red paint finish
Beige leather interior
Overall mileage 50,000 miles.
3 known previous owners
Matching numbers.
Completely restored by Scott Grundfor,
the most well-known US restorer.
The restoration work was carried out in
line with the original colour configuration.
The original vehicle tool kit is included.
535.000,00 Euro
MB 300SL Roadster
Model year 1961
Ivory paint finish
Red leather interior
Matching numbers.
This disc-brake model has only had one
previous owner.
The vehicle has only been driven 30,000
miles in its lifetime.
Original colour combination.
Original leather maintained.
Original bill of sale is available.
625.000,00 Euro
OUR CURRENT VEHICLE OFFERS
10/11

HK-ENGINEERING GmbH
Klostergut - Kirchplatz 1
82398 Polling
Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 881/925 609 0
Fax: +49 (0) 881/925 609 19
info@hk-engineering.com
HK-ENGINEERING GmbH
im Meilenwerk Berlin
Wiebestraße 36
10553 Berlin
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)30 34 56 06 44
Fax. +49 (0)30 34 50 99 40
berlin@hk-engineering.com
www.hk-engineering.com
11/11
HK-ENGINEERING S.L.
Majorca
Gremio Boneteros No. 16
Polígono de Son Castello
07009 Palma de Mallorca
Spain
Tel. 0034 674 759 230
info@hk-engineering.es
www.hk-engineering.es
Managing Director Johannes Kleissl - Magistrates Court Munich HRB 158346 - Company Headquarters: Polling - DE814485816