Konig History

[Steve Litzell]

Here are some pics of Uli (that's him isn't it Steve?) working on the new style crankshaft. It made all the difference in the world. For one, it was much simpler to rebuild an engine without having to spend so much time spacing the crank and centering up the rods. Most importantly it's greater longevity meant the powerful motors would last a lot longer and win more races.

Yes that is Uli, One of the best crankshaft men in the biz. What a great man. I have been out racing the past couple weeks and now just getting caught up with this thread. many memories that have been brought back. First story about Dieter from Ralph is what Dieter told me back in 86 or 87 when i asked him about the History of his factory. I first meet dieter in about 1971 or 2 at Walt Blankenstiens shop in Lakeland fl. It was just casual as I was just 19/ 20 at the time. i too found this man from germany to be very polite to me as he knew i ran flatheads at the time. second time i meet him was when I worked for Walt. That was around 74/75. I was involved with Drag cars at this time but my first love of boat racing still burned inside. In about 1980 Ralph and Bill Hosler convinced me that i should attend the make up nationals in Lakeland. it wasnt long before a boat followed me home. ( Thanks Ralph) Later , we were at Lakland in the spring and Konig was there as well. That was the first real conversation I had with Dieter and also he had a chance to see me work and solve racing problems. At the end of the day Konig asked me to help put a A hydro with motor on top of a truck. I said ok and for him to take the front I will take the back. he said to me it was impossible for me to lift a boat with motor over my head and I said to him to just watch. he grab the front and i the back and I beched pressed this rig to the roof. after we were done Konig said to me that I was Hurculan. The next spring Ralph and I was at a race In Leesburg sharing patrol boat duties. i had made a comment about learning about 4 cylinder motors and more at the Konig factory. Ralphs response to me was "All you have to do is go there". I did not make enough money at the time to do this and expressed this to Ralph and that is were it was left. Several weeks later I learned that I with Ralph was going to the Factory. ( Thanks Ralph, Can't say this enough) When we walked into Konig Factory Dieter looked up at me, ( I'm 6'4') and then said to Ralph, " Ralph! You finally bring to me the right mechanic! This was how this man was. I will write more but Mrs say's grits are ready. Steve

[Steve Litzell]

Yes that is Uli, One of the best crankshaft men in the biz. What a great man. I have been out racing the past couple weeks and now just getting caught up with this thread. many memories that have been brought back. First story about Dieter from Ralph is what Dieter told me back in 86 or 87 when i asked him about the History of his factory. I first meet dieter in about 1971 or 2 at Walt Blankenstiens shop in Lakeland fl. It was just casual as I was just 19/ 20 at the time. i too found this man from germany to be very polite to me as he knew i ran flatheads at the time. second time i meet him was when I worked for Walt. That was around 74/75. I was involved with Drag cars at this time but my first love of boat racing still burned inside. In about 1980 Ralph and Bill Hosler convinced me that i should attend the make up nationals in Lakeland. it wasnt long before a boat followed me home. ( Thanks Ralph) Later , we were at Lakland in the spring and Konig was there as well. That was the first real conversation I had with Dieter and also he had a chance to see me work and solve racing problems. At the end of the day Konig asked me to help put a A hydro with motor on top of a truck. I said ok and for him to take the front I will take the back. he said to me it was impossible for me to lift a boat with motor over my head and I said to him to just watch. he grab the front and i the back and I beched pressed this rig to the roof. after we were done Konig said to me that I was Hurculan. The next spring Ralph and I was at a race In Leesburg sharing patrol boat duties. i had made a comment about learning about 4 cylinder motors and more at the Konig factory. Ralphs response to me was "All you have to do is go there". I did not make enough money at the time to do this and expressed this to Ralph and that is were it was left. Several weeks later I learned that I with Ralph was going to the Factory. ( Thanks Ralph, Can't say this enough) When we walked into Konig Factory Dieter looked up at me, ( I'm 6'4') and then said to Ralph, " Ralph! You finally bring to me the right mechanic! This was how this man was. I will write more but Mrs say's grits are ready. Steve

My first day at Factory was a little intimidating to say at least, I knew no German, I was outside USA for first time in my life and could not walk home if need be, Yikes!. First Off Dieter ask me what I wanted to learn there. I said crankshafts and gearboxes. He then introduced me to Uli all in German and then He said that Uli will speak to me in English and also teach me German words that were important to our tasks. This started a long friendship. My first day i spent all day on 1 crank. By day 3 I was doing maybe 3 a day. I then was introduced to Bernard Bayer the gearbox man. he too became friends with me and taught me gearbox fundamentals. Every night after work Konig, Ralph and myself would have dinner and long converstations about motors crankshafts and gearboxes were held. This was done in early January and also one of the coldest winters in Berlin. Seems that one night I and Ralph with the help of a member of MRC and Hans we got a little drunk and did not get to our hotel until late/ early morning. next morning I was to be at factory early and go with Dieter to the maker of cranks and rods Herkel I think was the name. Well I was late and I received my first lesson about being late. First Dieter scolded me and said that it was rude to be late and because I was late he was as well for trip to Herkel. My punishment was to to test motors on dyno for the day. The pictures of dyno room are in this thread. In this cold winter there was ice on the walls as they were not insulated. 10 or so motors were brought in to dyno room, and I was escorted to said room by Dieter and Uli. Dieter told Uli that I was not to come out of that room except for relief and lunch, and to me he said " You will be in the cooler today". with a smile on his face. When I was through with the first motors then the door would open and another cart was brought in. Good punishment for this southern boy. At end of day around 7:00 or so I was let out. and then taken to a fine meal and warm pool to heal up as they say. next day I was early for my work and was then taken to crankshaft Factory. I went back for more training in the summer as well for a couple of races with Ralph. As Time went on and I visit the factory I was always welcomed except one time. It seems that the factory was way behind do to parts not arriving from crank company and a very large motor order from the Soviets was due in a week and half. Dieter told me that he did not want me to bother anyone in factory because it was important that they all work and not speak. I asked him if I could help in some way. he said "you would help us make motors for the Russians?" I said that I was helping him and factory. then all was good. Between Uli and myself we made some 30/40 crankshafts and built engines from early morning till late at night. Ralph was doing the sight seeing and hanging out with Hans while this was going on. The next Monday after a serious week of thrashing i started testing motors on Dyno, ( Much warmer then and my head did not hurt from to much drink) I tested and logged results as Uli was doing assembly and others were busy making boxes for shipment. When I was close to end of Dyno runs Dieter came to me and said when I was finished with last motor and all was Ok, To please let him know right away. I did this and dieter ran to his office and got on phone and seemed very happy as all in factory were delighted as well. I did not understand this but later I would. next day we organized the shop and I was permitted to work on my own motor for up coming race in Berlin. That Friday is when i learned about Konig and how he dealt with each customer. bernard was making something of would that was like a podium that is used for awards at races. Tables were set out like there was going to be a party and I thought nothing of this. At noon time all work was stopped and wine cheese beer and small sandwiches were displayed on tables. It was then I was asked to join the group of workers and indulge in the offerings. at this time it was announced that because of hard work all motors for Soviets were delivered ahead of time. I thought this was strange celebration for this work. I latter learned the rest of story. It seems that when motors were ordered by soviets that they(Konig) were under contract to deliver by a certain date. This date also included a set price per motor. Everyday after delivery date or late if you will, a discount was given,but, for every day ahead of delivery date a bonus would be paid to Konig. The Soviets ordered more than they thought Konig could do and with parts shortage, it looked as though Konig would take a bath on this. What the soviets did not count on was a little help out of a southern boy. I don't know what the amount was, But we delivered order some 4/5 days ahead of time. This was the reason for factory party. Dieter always rewarded his workers with a job well done. Later I will tell of some visits to my home from Konig and some aircraft motor as well as The 3/4 midget car motors.

[Jeff Lytle]

Very cool story Steve!

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Excellent.

[Mark75H]

Its always good to get Steve in story telling mode.

[Steve Litzell]

before I go on with my story and involvement with Dieter and Konig factory, I want to explain some observances with the man and some stories he told me along the way. dieter was in his early teens during WW2 and like in past posts his mother became really upset with him when he would basically escape shelter to see how many Allied planes were shot down over Berlin. Dieter was a very curious man and though he was not a formally educated engineer, it did not keep him from becoming one of the best engineers i have ever had the pleasure to work with/ for and call as a friend. His curious nature never rested and if he did not know something or how to do something i will say by the next meeting with him he would know. I remember Ralph telling me one time in Lakeland Florida that he , Dieter and Ralph's wife Shirley and maybe others went to dinner at a place I believe was called the Fox Fire Inn. This was a neat place to go as they had great food and a dance floor for dancing to live music. I had my first ever Cherries Jubilee there with Bill Hosler. seems that after dinner Ralph and Shirley were cutting a rug ( dancing for you youngsters) and Dieter was watching as this was going on. Shirley then asked Dieter to dance and he did not know how. I guess after a few clumsy steps and a good time later all was forgotten, until next year at same time same place. I understand That Dieter asked shirley to dance and it was like Fred Astair was there. Seems that Dieter was a bit embarrassed that he could not do this a year before so he took dance lessons at home to perfect his skills. This may seem trite but it was how the man was. I was amazed when he delt with French or Italian customers as well as some Slovic countries that he spoke to them perfectly in their language. This mind set also applied to his work. he thought that everyone should be able to race a boat if they wanted to. So he made available to all boats Motors propellers a complete turn key if you will boat for racing just like he did for pleasure boats. This also applied to Cart and Aircraft use as well. The aircraft use was what Killed him in typical Konig fashion. More on this latter. There are many myths about this man and his machines and the way he was, But to me it is exactly what I would expect. You see during the war all was for the Fatherland as written before and yes he was in the Hitler Youth but, ALL youth's had to be, or was taken away. Because of Konig's factory it was important for young Konig to be in factory producing and not at Aircraft batteries like Hans Krage was at or other assignments imposed. One must understand clearly that with Allied bombs and the air raids after time ALL WAS LOST and there was nothing left. Germans had to eat from garbage pails or dead animals or for what ever they could find, Electricity was Not! Food was Not! Buildings? All but a few destroyed. At the end there was little to nothing to survive. I was told that Rudolf told the wife and kids to go and surrender to the Americans as this would guarantee some safety a s opposed to the Russians. Growing through this was hard to say the least as manufacturing was controlled by the allies. You see Germany may have unconditionally surrendered but Berlin did not and that is why it was an occupied city. Berlin youth did not have to serve in the new German army as all other German youth did. It was tough for the Konig factory to rebuild under these conditions and friendships and deals were made with others just to survive. Nothing but nothing was thrown out or wasted. This applied to Konig factory as long as Dieter was alive. Everything had a use. I remember one time dieter was at my house and we and Krage and kids and other went water skiing at my home in Sarasota Florida. After words we went to Stake and Ale for dinner. I was youg and still growing I guess as I ordered the big steak and others ordered what they wanted. Konig asked for a plate and something to drink as he said to me" it was impossible for me to eat such a big steak". After I was done I gave Dieter a bone. This was the second time I won a bet with him. Don't worry we still fed him but after this he did not wait to see if I could finish my meal in Germany or USA. This idea also applied to the factory and new motors were not released until all old ones or all previous models were sold. I remember one visit to my home dieter wanted to go to South Carolina or Kentucky Or both for meeting with Aircraft people. Like I said before I did not have much money and did not believe in owning a new car. I drove a car that was a mid 70's Malibu wagon that I loving referred to as the Jungle Cruiser. The air conditioner did not work but it ran great. Ralph was giving me hell for letting Dieter go off in that thing with no air. he was doing this in front of Konig after he returned to Florida and Konig said " Ralph! The Jungle Cruiser is a fine car!" Those that knew and seen some of the Mercedes cars that he had can relate. One of two of my favorite aircraft stories was while at the factory dieter asked me to help him test the new 5 cylinder radial motor on the dyno that was outside the back door as described in other posts. As the motor was idling Konig stood in front of propeller and reached through the swinging prop to adjust the carburetor. needless to say of the the hospital we go with a bad cut had. You see at this time I realized the pure brilliance of this man as well as the absent minded professor in him all at the same time. Another time he asked me about a year later to help him again, and I said Ok but he must stand behind me. ( I remember from last time) When the motor came to life i noticed that it was shaky on the mounts just as Konig hit the throttle. Well, as the motor left the stand and flew across the back lot straight into the factory fuel farm door that was wide open there was a small crash. Konig looked at me in amazement and said, "We are lucky". Seems that there was no less than three drums of methonal and two gas drums in there and there should of been a big bang at least! Seems Konig got interrupted when putting motor on dyno and forgot to install the nuts that held motor to stand. YIKES! never before have I or since witnessed such genius and absent minded professor ways as this. Please understand that this is no way belittling him, it is just some funny things about him that we later laffed at. I miss my friend to this day, and when I think of him as now I get a tear in my eye as I wonder in amazement what he would answer with to today's modern boat racing motors. I will write more in week or so as I have to work out of town this week.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Steve...I have to pause for a moment. You have just packed in a whole sardine can of stories about Dieter. I don't know any way better to sum up the man than you just did.

[Donald]

Steve, You beat me to one of my stories about Dieter learning to dance. He was very good. He could even do what we called jitterbug. Shirley was really impressed. One story he told me and many others also, was about the conditions right after Germany surrendered. There was no fuel for heat in the coming winter and the occupation armies assigned a tree or trees in the forest at Grunewald, I believe, to each family, which would be their fuel for heat. However, families had to form partnerships to have someone stand guard at the trees to prevent anyone from stealing their wood, which Dieter had to do on occasion. He took us to dinner one time at a restaurant which was formally the Kaiser's hunting lodge in this forest, where he told me about this.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

A very interesting story Ralph. And congrats on the National Championship you picked up. Joe and I were thrilled to hear you won at DePue.

The forest at Grunewald was next to where we used to stay in Berlin. One day Harry, Jennie, Peter, Debbie and I were taking a stroll through the forest, and I used a wide angle lens to get some dark trees in the shade and beach in the foreground and across the way was a beach loaded with people. Harry made some kind of grumbling remark in German that I didn't understand. I turned to ask Peter what he said and Peter told me it was a nude beach and Harry said something bad about it. I had planned to take some more pictures, some with the long lens, but after finding out what was going on, I thought the better of it. Sure enough, when I got home and had the film developed, it WAS a nude beach.

I would like to hear more stories of the young Dieter during and after the war Ralph and Steve. I was always curious, but I didn't know whether it would be good to bring up the subject. When Debbie and I had mentioned to Jenny and Peter that we were going to the prison camp Dachau near Munich, they kind of talked in whispers. Even though they had no part, nor believed in those crimes, it was still something that bothered them.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I am thinking this is the same place we strolled to that you mentioned was the Kaiser's hunting lodge Ralph. Does any of this look familiar? It was some sort of hunting lodge...turned into a museum. I have some B&W photos that may be the restaurant.

ADD: That is Harry Splettoesser in the first pic standing beside the map guide on one of the entrances to Grunewald Forest. When you enlarge the pic, you will see the brown streak running southwest to northeast intersecting the lower 1/3 of the Grunewald Forest. That is the AVUS. The second small lake straight above Harry's head is "Hundekehlesee" In the middle of the east side of that lake was Jenny Swartz-Nitka's place and where Harry lived.

I am not sure, but after looking at some pictures, I think the widening of the AVUS at the point may have been a turn. I do know that a solid board barrier against sound was on both sides of the road at that point, and was around 12 feet tall that I remember.