Eddie Hertzberger

Who was Eddie Hertzberger?

Eddie Hertzberger was a wealthy Dutch industrialist and racecar driver. He won the 1936 Frontières Grand Prix for sports cars at Chimay, Belgium, and the 1937 Voiturette race at the same event. He also competed in the 1935 and 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans races. In the twenties Hertzberger also did some boxing, while he did a lot of sailing and skiing throughout his life.

Hertzberger owned cars like a Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio 4-seater, with which he participated in the 12-hour night drive organised by the KNAC in September 1926, the MG Magnette K3, a 4.5 litre Bentley and an Aston Martin. He restricted his racing to England, France, Italy and Belgium, with motor racing in the Netherlands virtually non-existent, and Jews not allowed to participate in motor racing in Nazi Germany.

At Monthléry, Hertzberger managed to break some speed records in his K3. He also started in the Mille Miglia and at Le Mans. He quit racing in 1938 after getting married, although he made a surprise appearance at Zandvoort in 1953.

Hertzberger was the first and only Dutch Grand Prix winner until Carel Godin de Beaufort won the Spa GP in 1959.