Feature

Trial – Walther ‘Oscar’ Awards in Austria

(Main photo: Walther Luft in the SSDT – Iain Lawrie photo)

The ‘Oscars of Trialsports’ is awarded by ÖTSV (Austrian Trial Sports Association) to outstanding personalities who have rendered outstanding services in motorcycle trial sport.

The so-called ‘Trial – Walther’ is the Austrian Motorcycle Trial prize, named after the Austrian trials legend, Walther Luft who shaped the sport of trial in Austria in the 1960s and 1970s.

Joe Wallmann

In 2024, the award was presented to two icons of the Austrian trial sport: Joe Wallmann (76) and Hartwig Kamarad (75), both founding members of the Laakirchen Motorclub, which was founded forty-five years ago.

Hartwig Kamarad is a Trials Guru VIP! Here is Hartwig with his cap and the booklet which details the history of trial, available from the museum at Ohlsdorf. (Photo: Trials Guru/Moffat)

Together they contested seventy-five World Championship trials. Wallmann, who won twelve championship titles and holds two world records in the Guinness Book of Records, and Kamarad, who was multiple runner-up and founded the first European Motorcycle Trial Museum, were honoured for their extraordinary achievements. In addition, over twenty years ago, Kamarad founded the Raika Trial Garden at Ohlsdorf, which has now produced twenty championship titles.

Erich Diestinger, President of ÖTSV

The award ceremony took place in Traisen, in Lower Austria, where the president of the ÖTSV, Erich Diestinger, paid tribute to a festive sports gala.

Trial Friends at Ohlsdorf, Austria in August 2025. Hartwig Kamarad; Walther Luft; John Moffat and Joe Wallmann. Photo: Alfred Wagner

Other recipients of the ‘Trial – Walther’ awards are: Walther Luft – presented on 28/08/2024 at Lunz; Ernst Enöckl (rider and organiser) – presented 28/04/2024 at Lunz; Mrs. Helene Beisteiner – presented 18/08/2024 at Ramsau/Hainfeld and Alfred Koch – Photographer presented 18/08/2024 at Ramsau/Hainfeld, who are event organisers; Uli Leitner and Max Hengl – presented 08/11/2025.

Alfred Wagner left with recipients, Uli Leitner, Max Hengl and ÖTSV President, Erich Diestinger.
The ‘Trial – Walther’ award.

The award itself is hand crafted with a stylised trials rider with the front wheel placed upon a sphere of polished solid granite stone, which is specially made by Walther Luft himself.