Florian Camathias
About The Man…
Florian (Flo) Camathias was born on the 23 March 1924 in Wittenbach, St. Gallen, Switzerland. Being a “natural born fighter”, he didn't know the word 'impossible’ and was recognised as one of the best sidecar drivers of his day, if not ever.
Florian raced solo BMW's with considerable success in the 1940's and early 1950's. In 1953 he made the switch to sidecars.
He won several grand prix but never the World Championship.
1954 saw him driving for Gilera, winning in Barcelona and finishing seventh in the World Championship. The following year he was back with BMW, taking the chequered flag at the Grand Prix of France and winning the Swiss Championship.
The likable Swiss took fifth place in the World Sidecar Championship in 1956.
More Racing…
1958 saw him take his first Grand Prix victory at Assen. With passenger Hilmar Cecco in the chair, he also managed runner-up position in the sidecar Championshipm of Great Britain. Repeating the achievements in 1959, he was Swiss and British Champion in 1960 and once again finished fifth in the World Championship.
1963 saw him win his one and only TT - one of his proudest moments.
Final Years…
One of his most published feats however was when going to the TT, his transport broke down. Florian unloaded his race outfit and drove to the Liverpool ferry going through the Mersey Tunnel on the way!
1964 saw Florian back campaigning with a four cylinder Gilera engined outfit, with mixed succes. Typical of his sportsmanship, Florian lent his BMW outfit to Colin Seeley for the season.
It was back to his 'favoured' BMW power unit in 1965 winning the French Grand Prix again.
Florian Camathias died tragically during a race at Brands Hatch on 10th October 1965.