Winau Berkhof: A Photographers View During the 60s and 70s

 

Opening lap of the Dutch Grand Prix in 1970

Recently we had the pleasure of interviewing Dutch motorsport photographer Winau Berkhof about his long and storied photography career. Winau was particularly active in the sixties and seventies throughout Europe, and has amassed a veritable treasure trove of historical photographic material. The extensive and candid conversation led to the report below, which we would like to share with you, accompanied by his historical photographic material.

When asked how he came to the decision to become a motorsport photographer, it was a visit with friends to a race at the Nürburgring in 1959 that laid the foundation. More visits at other racing events followed and from the moment he visited a Formula 1 race in Brussels in 1961, he decided to invest all his free time in motorsport. Nowadays a motorsport photographer has a range of equipment to choose from, with virtually unlimited possibilities. That was of course a completely different story during the sixties.

Photographers at work during the 1000 km of the Nürburgring in 1970 without any kind of protection

Winau’s first 35mm camera was a Mamiya equipped with a prime lens. Of course he had to delve into the world of photography and which equipment was most suitable for motorsport. He decided to buy better equipment which resulted in a Leica camera with Visoflex and two lenses. He approached it as professionally as possible and the purchase and furnishing of a darkroom with a Leica enlarger soon followed. Winau developed all his photographic material himself. In addition, all negatives were also stored.

Jochen Rindt (RIP) caught before the start of the Belgian Grand Prix in 1968.

Further knowledge was gained by purchasing teaching material for the study of photography. During the sixties he visited various cross competitions and trials to further develop himself in this form of photography. He came to the realisation more than once that he had an enormous task ahead of him before his quality in the field of photography was optimal. Partly due to the arrival of Formula 1 in Zandvoort and Spa-Francorchamps in 1963, Winau became even more motivated. Despite his busy day job in the automotive industry, he decided to invest even more private time in his self study, which was only completed in 1966, partly due to other training courses he had to follow in his job.

Sir Jackie Stewart (L) and Jackie Oliver (R) Austrian Grand Prix 1971

In the meantime Winau understood that a press card was necessary to be able to take good pictures from the best vantage points. A first step in that direction was to set up his own press agency, Dutch Racing Press, complete with its own letterhead. Dutch Racing Press is still registered in the Dutch Chamber of Commerce! Winau started freelance activities in 1967. Due to his first successes, he also received the coveted press card via the newspapers and magazines, after which doors began to open. Photo material was then delivered for publishing.

24 Hours Spa-Francorchamps 1970

At the end of November 1968, he decided to buy new photographic equipment. The choice fell on a Nikon SLR including a Nikon zoom lens 1:4 85-250 mm which was a necessity for motor sport. Winau then gained more experience by visiting races abroad and learned more about the best places to take pictures. Compared to today, safety in the 60s and 70s was very different (non existent?) We asked him how he dealt with that back then. There were plenty of places to take good pictures at that time, but they were not really safe. With a red bracelet you had virtually no limitations as a photographer. Although crossing the track was only allowed with permission from the marshal. In this way, Winau took pictures that are absolutely impossible today.

Francois Cevert (RIP) Dutch Grand Prix 1970

For example at Spa-Francorchamps, you stood as a photographer without protection in Eau Rouge, while in Monaco you could walk along on the track from Mirabeau towards the Grand Hotel without a crash barrier. In the years that Winau was active, there were many accidents with regular tragic outcomes. Winau further indicated that the contact with the drivers themselves remained on a low flame for two reasons. On the one hand, his knowledge of the English language was insufficient, although he could handle the German language reasonably well. On the other hand, he had contact with both Jochen Rindt and Jo Siffert. Rindt tragically died at the age of 28 in Monza, Jo Siffert died at the age of 35 in England. That was a reason for him not to let the contacts become too close. After all, death could be just around the corner..

Helmut Marko (L) and Gijs van Lennep (R) after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1971

Logically we asked him which circuits were among his absolute favorites. He indicates that race tracks from that era no longer have the same layout and that a lot has changed. The Nürburgring-Nordschleife is amongst the favorites together with Spa-Francorchamps. In his career, he visited Monza in Italy once. It would ultimately be a very short visit, after which he never returned. As far as long-distance races are concerned, Le Mans is his favorite and he indicates that a visit there is also great and at the same time incredible today.

Niki Lauda (RIP) Austrian Grand Prix 1971

Besides this he states that today’s Formula 1 is no longer comparable to how it was in the 60s and 70s. Everything was very open then and as a photographer and spectator you could experience the pit stops up close, the emotions of mechanics and drivers, as well as the partners of the drivers and get very close to the track. His intention was to capture all of this. The atmosphere at the time was unprecedentedly open and it was an enormous experience for a photographer to be in that environment and to be able to capture this with an analogue camera with all its limitations. The boundless dedication of the various teams was infectious, despite the fact that every race could be the last.

Graham Hill (RIP) Grand Prix Monaco 1970

Fatherhood arrived in 1975 and with a management position in the automotive industry, Winau had to decide with a heavy heart to stop his motorsport photography and to focus on another career. Back in 2014 he started scanning his analogue material, which is not edited to ensure that the recording as he made it at the time remains authentic. A few years ago he published a photo book of over 180 pages under the name Real Racing, in which a selection of historical photo material from his collection is depicted, a collector’s item! We would like to thank Winau very much for his time and conversation!