About this episode
Suzanne Schartel discusses her book 'Hilde & Tommy', detailing the love story between Hilde Gehr and motorcycle racer Tommy Bullus.
The author Suzanne Schartel talks with Brooklands Martin Gegg about the writing of the book... Hilde & Tommy - this is the authentic love story between Hilde, the youngest daughter of Fritz Gehr, director of the world-famous German NSU vehicle factory, and the legendary English motorcycle racer Tom "Tommy" Bullus. The book provides a unique insight into the eventful history of the company up to the end of the Weimar Republic as well as the incredible story of the exceptional talent Bullus. The author Susanne Schartel, great-granddaughter of the NSU director's family, skilfully interweaves the stories and personal notes of her ancestors with meticulously researched historical facts. She describes in a captivating way how fateful and momentous the first visit of the likeable chap from Yorkshire to Neckarsulm in December 1929 was for both sides. She also allows the reader to participate in the eventful life of the Swabian entrepreneurial family as well as the most important motorcycle racing events and other current affairs of the time. The richly illustrated biographical novel contains over 400 never-before-published documents and photographs from the family estate, the archives of…
People in this episode
Host: Martin Gegg
Guest: Suzanne Schartel
Topics covered
- love story
- motorcycle racing
- historical biography
- family history
- NSU vehicle factory
- Weimar Republic
Keywords
- Hilde
- Tommy Bullus
- Suzanne Schartel
- NSU
- motorcycle racing
- biographical novel
- Weimar Republic
- family history
- historical facts
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NSU, Brooklands Museum
Places: Neckarsulm
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