A bold venture: ‘Bahnsport aktuell’ with a new owner and concept

Imanuel Schramm from Wellmutsweiler near Tettnang is known to almost everyone in the track racing scene: he has been competing in the international sidecar class for many years and has qualified for the European Championship final on several occasions. He is also the largest distributor of PVL and Selettra ignition systems in Europe, which makes him a sought-after figure in professional speedway too.

Since 1 July 2026, the Swabian has also been the owner of the trade journal *Bahnsport aktuell*, which has been published monthly since 1971. In the past, ‘die Bahnsport’ was the bible for all fans of this spectacular oval-track sport, but over the past two decades it has lost much of its relevance due to the internet.

The internet is a passing phenomenon.

Dieter Ziegler 2001

Co-founder Dieter Ziegler told the author of these lines in 2001 that the “internet is a passing phenomenon”. We’ve all known better for a long time – despite the new digital rival and its speed, Ziegler has never adapted the concept of his magazine.

Most methanol enthusiasts agree that ‘Die Bahnsport’ is needed, and that, as the only printed German-language specialist magazine, it is vitally important for the scene and its cohesion. ‘Immel’ Schramm, whose business career is known to only a few, shares this view.

Professional background of the new Bahnsport owner

Schramm graduated with a degree in construction and property management, making him a graduate in business administration (FH). He spent his first few years in the workforce as commercial director at Karl Elektrotechnik in Stuttgart; six years later, he was poached by a rival firm in Tuttlingen and from then on commuted daily between his old home town and his new job.

When he’d had enough of that, Schramm first devoted himself to motorcycling; then his friend Rudi Meister asked him if he’d like to get into the ignition systems business. In his first year, Schramm generated a turnover of 5,000 euros; the company now generates around one million euros a year.

“Back then, everyone thought I was completely mad,” Schramm recalled during a home visit by SPEEDWEEK.com. “Later, Rudi Meister asked me if I’d like to take over Dokutec as well – a translation agency specialising in technical manuals. I did that together with Dr Siebenäuger, who’s been with us for over 30 years.”

Der neue Eigentümer von «Bahnsport aktuell»: Imanuel Schramm

Foto: dmon-parts.de

A publisher driven by a love of sport

And now he’s also the publisher of Bahnsport aktuell. The idea of taking over this company came about in a roundabout way. Since 1 April 2026, Uwe Laurisch, a long-standing employee of Ziegler Verlag, has been working for Schramm; the Saxon is responsible for the magazine’s layout. “So at some point I asked Uwe if I could take over Bahnsport; Ziegler had to pay me for Uwe’s work anyway. I could see that everything was going down the drain and didn’t like the way things were. The magazine wasn’t appealing any more, so Uwe got in touch with Stefan Ziegler – within a few days, the matter was settled.”

The first issue, with Schramm listed as the owner in the imprint, appears in August; from the third issue onwards, subscribers have their magazine in their letterboxes, featuring an adapted but familiar-looking logo. The fact is: you can’t reinvent the wheel in four weeks. But Schramm has clear ideas about what the content of a monthly magazine should look like to make it appealing to readers again – he wants to offer a glimpse behind the scenes.

It’s all about the stories behind the scenes that you can’t read anywhere else.

Imanuel Schramm

“There’s a lot to tell about tuners, drivers from the past, technology and problems at events,” said the part-time fruit grower from Lake Constance. “What used to be different in track racing, and what’s in store for the future. It’s all about the stories behind the scenes that you can’t read anywhere else. We’ll always remain a print magazine, but of course we’ll tease certain articles or images on Facebook or Instagram. Everyone said print was dead – but vinyl records are back too. Sometimes in life, you don’t just want to look at your mobile – which you’re staring at all day anyway – but sit down in the evening or at the weekend and read a magazine – just as you might read a book. People get their up-to-the-minute news elsewhere; for us, it’s about the ‘why’.”

Uwe Laurisch will continue to be responsible for the layout of *Bahnsport aktuell*, whilst Gaby Gasche – who has been coordinating the editorial team for decades – will handle the editorial processing of the articles. “We’ve retained all our existing colleagues,” confirmed Schramm. “But we want different reports with a different perspective. In the medium term, this will only be possible if we also bring in new people who view the scene through different eyes to someone who’s been involved for 30 years. I want to move away from standard reports and try something new.”