Rainer W. Schlegelmilch: "Porsche is grown fascination."

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Rainer Schlegelmilch at work. 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1971

Photo: Pete Biro / Revs Institute

Rainer W. Schlegelmilch: "Porsche is an evolved fascination. Porsche was once the "David" in motorsport and developed into the "Goliath" within a decade."

An interview about cars and Porsche in particular. Rainer W. Schlegelmilch is one of the most renowned motorsport photographers in the world. He was there from the very beginning when Porsche went from being a "David", as he calls it, to being the most powerful car due to its engine power.

Rainer W. Schlegelmilch travelled the world for half a century and has published over 40 books. Now, as was to be expected, a very special edition has been created with Cologne-based TASCHEN Verlag. It is not their first collaboration. Five years ago, for example, a Ferrari book was published with many of his pictures in a red aluminium cylinder head specially designed for Ferrari at a price of 6000 euros. The latest edition is "RAINER W. SCHLEGELMILCH - PORSCHE RACING MOMENTS, signed and limited to 962 copies. In an exclusive interview, Rainer Schlegelmilch describes the beginning of his extraordinary career.

18 October 2023

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ART/TRAVEL

Name: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch

Ocupation: Motorsport photographer, author

Education: Photography school of Munich

"It was actually a hobby."

What was the key moment in your career?

I earned my money as a commercial photographer. Before that I studied at the photography school in Munich. A friend took me to races because he needed my photos for his autograph requests. I immediately started taking portraits at car races as part of my job. After that I also did sports car events, because there weren't so many Formula 1 events back then and that wasn't enough for me. So my passion for racing developed in parallel with my commercial photography. I became quite successful and published about 40 books, about Formula 1 and the cars of the big car brands.

What makes the new book published by TASCHEN so special?

My previous publisher produced my books in large numbers in China at very low cost, and sold them for 50 DM / later in euros. The new book is completely different, an edition of 962 copies, signed and numbered, elaborately produced. Basically, the book is a Rolls Royce, if I didn't have to talk about Porsche here, (grins). Five years ago, TASCHEN published 40 of my pictures in a Ferrari book, embedded in a Ferrari aluminium cylinder. It cost 6,000 euros, and that's how I met Mrs Marlene Taschen.

"Le Mans has a unique character. It develops a momentum of its own in photographic expression."

Can you describe for the readers the beauty of racing and the beauty of a Porsche?

The term beauty does not fit racing, "fascination" is better. Automobiles are fascinating. When I got my driving licence at 18, I dreamed of owning a Porsche. At the age of 26, I fulfilled this dream. Financed by commercial photography, I could afford to go to racing events of my choice as a freelancer. It's great to be part of the racing family. To get to know the landscapes and the special features of each race track. Le Mans has a unique character. You can watch the cars drive under a bridge into the sunrise. That's a special experience every time.

Porsche itself is an evolved "FASZINATION". When the 917 was launched, they were among the most powerful cars, thanks to their powerful 12-cylinder engines. They beat Ford and Ferrari. Then when you know the drivers and engineers, the footage is even closer to the action.

Sunrise at Le Mans: a lonely Porsche 935 is passing the Dunlop Bridge in the early morning hour. 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1978

Photo: Rainer Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images

Ferry Porsche and Rico Steinemann, Porsche chief of competition, walk through the pit lane with their victorious drivers Gerhard Mitter and Udo Schütz. H Targa Florio, Sicily, 1969

Start of the race. 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1968

Photo: Rainer Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images

Which car do you drive now?

I drive a Targa GTS, my twelfth from the Stuttgart brand; I'm very loyal when it comes to cars .

"It's an extremely interesting project for engineers."

I heard you got a photographer's card for life. I also read about the Schlegelmilch Curve.

Bernie Ecclestone used to give journalists who attended more than 500 Formula One races a passport for life. That has changed now because he is no longer there and also because of Covid. My wife and I now get VIP passes every time we visit. In my book "RAINER W.SCHLEGELMILCH - 50 YEARS OF FORMULA 1 PHOTOGRAPHY" there is a double fold-out page, over 2 metres long, showing the 6 most successful F1 cars in the Constructors' Cup from each year, one below the other. For 36 years, since 1975, I have stood in a particular corner GP at the Monaco GP and photographed all the cars diagonally from above. This was important for maximum visibility of the construction, advertising panels, etc.

It's an extremely interesting project for engineers, because they can follow the development of the technology. You can see the improved safety of the petrol tanks, the spoiler positions, and how the front axle has been moved in front of the feet for safety reasons. You discover how Ferrari or any other important car has changed from year to year.

Rudi Lins / Gérard Larrousse, Porsche 908/2, passing Collesano, watched by the children of the village. Targa Florio, Sicily, 1969

Photo: Rainer Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images

The drivers of the John Wyer team: Jo Siffert, Pedro Rodríguez (horizontal), Brian Redman, and Leo Kinnunen. 1000 km Monza, 1970 N

Photo: Rainer Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images

"An explosion of colour created by the zoom movement."

I also read about your zoom shooting technique.

In 1969, magazines were finally able to print in colour. I saw the chance to use the zoom in races as well. I saw the chance to use the zoom in races as well. I bought a zoom with a tripod and sat in a ditch at the exit of a corner. When the car came straight at me, I opened the zoom angle with a longer exposure time. The car was almost sharp, especially the helmet on which I had focused. The people appeared torn apart as an explosion of colour created by the zoom movement.

"The Olympus of Publishers."

Do you still go to car races now?

Not as a photographer anymore; I am 82 now and stopped 10 years ago. Now I don't jump around the racetrack any more and I don't feel like fighting with my colleagues for the best places. Publishers trust in my work; making books is a real challenge for me. With TASCHEN Verlag, I have reached the Olympus of publishing houses and I see that as a personal success. I think I've done everything right.

Do you now also exhibit in art galleries? How can people buy your photos?

When I lived in Frankfurt, I did impressive exhibitions on motor sports at the Leica Gallery. After that worldwide. Later I found a company that markets my pictures internationally. Today, you can also buy my photographs there as gallery pictures. If you have hundreds of thousands of slides, the effort to digitise them yourself is too great. This is a financial problem for many photographers! Because this work should then be given to technicians.

Everything seems to have gone very well in your career.

What better thing could I wish for today than to use my photography from many decades to create such a complete work of art as PORSCHE RACING MOMENTS at TASCHEN?