Postscript

When EMW/AWE withdrew from racing, it seemed that Edgar Barth’s promising career was over. He’d done enough, though, to be invited to drive a works Porsche in the 1957 Nurburgring 1000km. His employers said he could go as a spectator, but couldn’t take part.

It seems to have been a formula to allow him the option of defecting, it would have been inconceivable for such a talent to rot.

And besides, everyone liked ‘Eddy’. He raced and stayed in the West, where his wife and son, Jurgen, were able to join him later. Jurgen also drove works Porsches he won Le Mans in 1977 and today is a respected member of the Porsche hierarchy. Eddy died of cancer in 1965.

Egon Binner defected in 1957 and opened a motor business in Koln, but didn’t race again. Rosenhammer retired from racing when Eisenach withdrew.

When AWE switched to rallying in 1957, Paul Thiel became a works driver and over the next 12 years competed in nearly 100 events including the Monte, the Tulip, 1000 Lakes, and the RAC Rally. He still lives in Eisenach.