The autobahn

[Gotthard Heinrici]

You are right Trincomalee. In Ireland they still did that up to the early 90's!!

[Paul Reed]

Very interesting bits of film - thanks for that.

[Owen]

Quite a modern looking Audi car!

Galleries - Time to Burn? - Top Gear

Auto Union Streamliner

Built to cleave the air at never-before-witnessed road speeds, the Auto Union Streamliner is a thing of beauty. But this is a form of visual seduction with a killer twist: on January 28 1938, the car was ripped apart as it barrel-rolled off the Frankfurt-Darmstadt autobahn at 270mph, taking one of Germany's great racing heroes, Bernd Rosemeyer, to the grave with it.

Grand Prix Hall of Fame - Bernd Rosemeyer - Biography

At the end of the season Mercedes feeling that their reputation was taking a beating by the upstart Auto Union team and its brash driver decided to undertake an attempt to regain the land speed record from Auto Union. The attempt would take place on the Frankfurt-Darmstadt-Heidelberg autobahn.
Rosemeyer in describing his record setting run stated that "... at about 240 mph the joints in the concrete road surface are felt like blows, setting up a corresponding resonance through the car, but this disappears at a greater speed. Passing under bridges the driver receives a terrific blow to the chest, because the car is pushing air aside, which is trapped by the bridge. When you go under a bridge, for a split second the engine noise completely disappears and then returns like a thunderclap when you are through....

....Traveling at over 270 mph a crosswind caught his car and caused the Auto Union to somersault flinging Rosemeyer to his death.

I liked this bit of anti-Nazism at the German Grand Prix...

As they mounted the victors rostrum they were congratulated by the ranking Nazi, Adolf Huhnlein. Caracciola was presented with a large trophy depicting the Goddess of Speed. Showing his disdain for bureaucrats in general and National Socialism in particular he placed a lighted cigarette between the statues lips while Huhnlein's back was turned. Alerted by the crowds burst of laughter Huhnlein turned back only to see Rosemeyer's feigned innocence.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

240 mph?? Thats an incredible speed for the 1930's. No wonder Rosemeyer died. He wouldnt have stood a chance at that speed.

[Owen]

Little bit about the Streamliner at 1 min 50 sec on this bit of footage.
They have a replica on track too.
There is a replica on show at Laguna Seca.

YouTube - Auto Union V16 & V 12


Here too.
See the Wehrmacht are involved in this one.
YouTube - Bernd Rosemeyer und die Auto Union Stromlinie

[von Poop]

Since this is gradually spreading into covering all German motoring of the period, nice page here on the personalities:

The People

All those Silver Arrow drivers may have had to be members of the NSKK but you can't help feeling fighter pilot would be their military destiny.

[Owen]

Another Streamliner of the era.
Wanderer Stromlinie Spezial
Prova Wanderer Stromlinie Spezial Aufbau Ost



Classics.com - Techno Classica 2006

[Trincomalee]

Originally Posted by Gotthard Heinrici

You are right Trincomalee. In Ireland they still did that up to the early 90's!!

Someone told me about a car journey from Dublin to Belfast with a blind Granny in the back . She suddenly asked if they were now in the North - the road was smoother .

If you remember the German Autobahn in the '50's do you know what has happened to the old YMCA windmill - I'd love to see a picture of it today .

[Jan7]

See at this in Nazi Posters: 1933-1945 A tourist poster promoting the German highway system. This is from the 1930's.



http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/g...s/autobahn.jpg






Jan.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

Originally Posted by Trincomalee

Someone told me about a car journey from Dublin to Belfast with a blind Granny in the back . She suddenly asked if they were now in the North - the road was smoother .

Funny but in the last 10 years or so that situation has now reversed. Thanks to EU funding the Motorways are better in the South - but not by much!!