For Titus Dittmann, the father of the skateboard movement at the beginning of the eightieth, the 32nd RCM DMB Grenzlandrennen will be his first competition in the BFGoodrich Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring 2009. The 60 years old entrepreneur will share the cockpit of a BMW 218iS entered by Bonk-Motorsport with his son Julius and Dag von Garrel. In an interview, Titus compares skateboard and race car and talks about his background in motor sports.
What do a skateboard and a race car have in common according to you?
Whether four rollers or four wheels – their function is similar. It is much more important that both skateboards and race cars start to be really fun once you move them – and this up to the limits. To control the small margin at the limits is incredibly great fun and you get a lot out of it. You have the feeling that you know how to do something that not everyone can do. That increases your self confidence and gives you some kind of identity.
So both sports are much more similar than one would think?
Both sports are not only sports but also lifestyle and people put their heart and their soul into it. Motor sport represents some means of expression for adults, riding on a skateboard for the youth. In both cases, you stand behind it and for many persons the skateboard in particular becomes almost a substitute religion over a certain period. But I am sure it is the same in motor sports.
Can you tell us something about your motor sport career?
I have been sitting behind steering wheels of race cars since 20 years now. My son and me prepare and work on the cars and take mainly part in historic events where we compete in a Ford Mustang from the year 1965 – in other words a DTM car of the year 1965.
In the endurance racing championship you drive a BMW 318iS of the team Bonk-Motorsport. So half an eight cylinder?
The cars do not have much in common. We realised this four years ago during our first 24 Hour Race. We had been so slow in practice that we finally almost were shown on the last grid position. With a BMW 3-series in the class of production cars you can anyhow not race in the leading group. But you can at least win your class. In the Mustang, you need to brake three times earlier and you must turn it sideways to manage the corners. If you brake that early in the BMW, the car will simply stop. I was very lucky at that time at the start as it was raining cats and dogs. I was thinking: “Why is everybody driving so slowly?” I was able to overtake and felt absolutely happy when the car went sideways through each turn. Under wet conditions, you must drive the BMW as you would drive the Mustang under dry conditions. At some time, we got used to the modern car and our times now are quite ok.
What is your means of transportation in the paddocks?
A skateboard of course. I have a longboard with me, with nice thick and soft rollers so that I can easily get everywhere. That’s a must.
In your opinion, what is the attraction of the endurance racing championship?
A race on the Nordschleife is always worth a visit. In addition, the atmosphere at the endurance racing championship is as relaxing as in historic motor sport. It is not like in Formula 1 where you are chased through the pits for three minutes upon payment of a high fee. You have access and a personal contact to the drivers and the cars and may observe the work on the cars. It is all like in a big family.
Are you nervous before the start?
The nervousness has decreased a little during the years. I am not at all nervous in advance. The adrenaline level, however, rises then just before the start and you begin to feel your nerves. It is like with artist who stand behind the stage after ten years and still suffers some stage-fright. It is similar with us. That is almost the nicest feeling you can have.
What is your sporting ambition for the Grenzlandrennen?
That is difficult to say. Although we scored some quite good results at the 24h Races if the car didn’t fail. We finished into third position twice and I can tell you that we are very proud of these results.
