Honor Room - autobau erlebniswelt

Clay Regazzoni Honor Room

The story of a man that never loses its relevance. Order the new book about Clay now. Now available. Watch the article on RSI.

Clay Regazzoni Honor Room in Romanshorn

The "autobau erlebniswelt" in Romanshorn is showing a Clay Regazzoni memorial collection as a permanent exhibition. The former entrepreneur and racing driver Fredy Lienhard received these from the Regazzoni family and has been exhibiting them in a new building since October 16, 2021. More than 100 classic cars as well as sports and racing cars of all makes are already on display in the local automobile museum and event venue.

Clay Regazzoni from Ticino was the most successful Swiss racing driver of all time. His Formula 1 victories with Ferrari and Williams in the 1970s are still legendary today. However, he suffered a serious accident in Long Beach (USA) in 1980 due to a broken brake pedal on his ensign, which brought his Formula 1 career to an abrupt end.

Commemorative collection

But even as a paraplegic, for whom he was strongly committed from then on, he indulged his passion and continued to drive in rallies and races. In 2006, shortly before Christmas, he died far too early on the highway near Parma. The Regazzoni family then built a "Clay Regazzoni Memorial Room" in Lugano, in which his racing cars, his sports cars, his trophies and cups as well as numerous memorabilia from his sporting days were exhibited.

New building in honor of Clay Regazzoni

This memorial collection was given to the former entrepreneur and racing driver Fredy Lienhard by the Regazzoni family. On display will be legendary racing cars, a former rally car and various sports cars from Alfa Romeo to Ferrari and Mercedes from "Clay's" private garage. The exhibition in a new building is intended to honor and pay tribute to Clay Regazzoni's sporting career and social commitment.

The Regazzoni family is delighted to give the Memorial Room a new home. The family shares the same human values, passion for the automotive world and philanthropic commitment with Fredy Lienhard. The vehicles and exhibits are all personal mementos of the deceased husband and father. The "autobau erlebniswelt" with the new "Clay Regazzoni Honor Room" provides a wonderful environment for the memorial collection as well as for all "Clay" fans worldwide.

Best solution

The transfer to Fredy Lienhard, the founder of "autobau erlebniswelt" with its well over 100 classic cars, sports cars and racing cars, is a forward-looking and unique opportunity for the family. She would therefore also like to thank "autobau erlebniswelt" for the new building, the permanent exhibition of the various vehicles, trophies and cups and for preserving the memory of Clay Regazzoni, a unique motor sportsman and man of his time.

Photos: Robin Möhl and fotoec.com

Tour of the "Clay Regazzoni Honor Room"

The "Clay Regazzoni Honor Room" can be visited free of charge every Sunday from 11 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 3 pm.
Guided tours can also be booked outside opening hours.

Press: https://www.dieostschweiz.ch/artikel/neuer-clay-regazzoni-honor-room-in-romanshorn-1pnxaoO

Press_Report_Sofia_Regazzoni_2023

To the current events! Give the gift of vouchers! Request group tickets!

You can find out more about Clay Regazzoni and the Memorial Room in Lugano at www.clayregazzoni.com.

MONZA 06/09/1970 - L'ARRIVO VITTORIOSO DI CLAY RTEGAZZONI CON LA FERRARI 312 B.

Monza 06/09/1970 - Clay Regazzoni vince con la Ferrari 312 B il G.P. di Italia sul circuito di Monza. E' la prima vittoria del pilota Ticinese in Formula Uno.
COLOMBO COLLECTION

The mission of the Honor Room

A man does not live in the memories he leaves behind, but in his deeds. Memories are an example for the future, which is why we want his story to be heard.

His cars should also be preserved and seen. A driver's car is unique - it reflects his knowledge, his style and his skills. For this reason, Clay's cars were kept in perfect condition, ready to drive. We are also preserving Clay's papers as a testament to his chapter in the history of motorsport, of which he was and still is a part.

Excerpt from the biography of Clay Regazzoni

"IT'S A QUESTION OF THE HEART"

Clay (Gian Claudio) Regazzoni was born on September 5, 1939 in Lugano. His father Pio was the mayor of the municipality of Porza and owner of an established body shop in Mendrisio, where Clay worked after leaving school in Lugano.

At this point, he was already hooked on racing. In 1963 he took part in the Swiss Championship for the first time in an Austin-Healey Sprite.

Between his many races, he still found time to marry the beautiful Mariapia. His daughter Alessia was born on January 5, 1967 and his son Gian Maria on April 28, 1968. He also secured his first victory in F3 in April.

Clay won the European F2 championship in 1970, a truly triumphant year in which he made his F1 debut with Ferrari and finished fourth.
He alternated between F2 and F1 racing when he scored his first win in his fourth race (the Italian Grand Prix at Monza) with the red No. 4 from Maranello. At the end of the season, he finished third in the world championship, although he had only competed in seven Grand Prix.

On March 30, 1980 at the Grand Prix in Long Beach, a serious accident ended his career. He was in fourth place when his titanium brake pedal broke in the braking zone after the Shoreline Drive straight (the fastest part of the track). He crashed unchecked into a concrete wall that was only poorly protected by car tires. The injuries turned out to be so severe that he was paralyzed after the accident.

After 132 World Championship Grands Prix, in which he secured five victories, 13 second places, 10 third places, a whole series of other placings and 15 fastest race laps, Regazzoni had to say goodbye to F1 and the racing he loved.

He underwent four years of hospitalization and over 60 hours of surgery - only to receive confirmation that he would never be able to walk again.

Nonetheless, Clay began to develop hand-driving systems in order to continue racing. He took part in the Paris-Dakar several times, drove kart and classic car races and became a specialist for large raids.

Clay died in tragic circumstances on December 15, 2006 in a car accident on the A1 highway not far from Parma.