Member of the German nobility, he started racing motorcycles as long ago as 1919. As a owner of a BMW and Auto Union dealership in Breslau, he had the opportunities to go racing, which he did from 1928 onwards, initially in Polish hillclimbs. After WW2 wiped out his trade and finance, he moved to Berlin and for a while became a mechanic, wherever he could find jobs. However he soon found a way back in the sport, and he continued until as late as 1968, in hillclimbs - an amazing career of 49 years! Brudes won the very first race to be held in East Germany, which was at the Dessau autobahn in 1949. He was also a works driver for Borgward.

Biography last updated 22 Apr 2020