Race Cars Out of the Past

[blueline]

"16 cylinders, 270 mph. In 1938. The Auto Union V-16 was an audacious engineering feat."


https://imola.motorsportreg.com/16-cyli ... d568259d8a

1938 Auto Union V-16, 270 mph.jpeg (119.56 KiB) Viewed 4700 times

[blueline]

Porsche!

FIA’s Group C superstars of that era, the alpha males, were the Porsche 956's from 1982 - 1985 and the 962's from 1984 - 1994, awesome race cars that got the job done, race in and race out. They are still beyond amazing performers today. And such great-looking race cars to boot.

So many races were won with the 956's and the 962's during their reign - it's one of those records whose existence simply says "Wow!"

Here's another almost unimaginable bit of history:

Correction edit: "The incredible ̶9̶6̶2̶ 956 also held the Nürburgring Nordschliefe record for an amazing 35 years after Steffan Bellof recorded a 6:11 time in qualifying in 1983."


https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/class ... en-museum/

Porsche 962 Alpha Male (1).jpeg (59.06 KiB) Viewed 4648 times

Porsche 962 Alpha Male (2).jpeg (36.85 KiB) Viewed 4648 times

Porsche 962 Alpha Male (3).jpeg (41.96 KiB) Viewed 4648 times

[eurojapan]

A great way of mentioning and including the1938 Auto union among the monstrously fast and capable in your "Race cars out of the past" !
I get the Sports car digest on line and they also wrote a very similar article with all exact pictures (a couple of the pics. are actually, subtle video in nature) .
Best,
eurojapan

[blueline]

A great way of mentioning and including the1938 Auto union among the monstrously fast and capable in your "Race cars out of the past" !
I get the Sports car digest on line and they also wrote a very similar article with all exact pictures (a couple of the pics. are actually, subtle video in nature) .
Best,
eurojapan

Thank you for your comments @eurojapan !!

There are many very good engine mechanics and others highly knowledgeable about motor technology that would be most impressed I think if they read the recent (March 13, 2023) Auto Union article by Don Sherman of Hagerty Motorsports that I linked in the original post. (https://imola.motorsportreg.com/16-cyli ... d568259d8a)

Few realize that it was Ferdinand Porsche who was key in the brilliant engineering feats of that V-16. So many great pioneers of the age such as F. Porsche are the masters who supplied the DNA for the fantastic cars we all rave about today on Carpokes and elsewhere. Unbridled brilliance.

A good short read if any are interested in that brilliance of Porsche and other geniuses of the era. A few quotes from the article:

"Well before putting his name on his own automobiles, [Ferdinand] Porsche was prone to the kind of audacious engineering that produced feats worth remembering and celebrating today, such as the Auto Union V-16."

"... upstart Auto Union, the new firm formed by the merging of Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer, raised its hand for a slice of the backing, intending to field a brilliant race car designed by Ferdinand Porsche."

"Though he never completed any formal engineering training, Porsche’s résumé was already long before he set upon the task. He had built the first hybrid-electric car, in 1901, fitted superchargers to Mercedes-Benz SSK race cars in the 1920s, and drew the first sketch of the original VW Beetle on the back of an envelope. He was also a brilliant organizer, harnessing the talents of those working in his engineering consultancy such as chassis specialist Karl Rabe and Josef Kales, an aircraft-engine designer whom Porsche put to work on the Auto Union."

"Indeed, everything about the Auto Union V-16 was revolutionary."

"Gasoline in the 1930s lacked the octane necessary to forestall detonation, so a witch’s brew of fuel was used consisting of 60 percent alcohol, 20 percent benzol, 10 percent diethyl ether, 8 percent gasoline, and traces of toluene and castor oil."

Ferdinand Porsche.jpeg (101.31 KiB) Viewed 4634 times

V16 Auto Union cutaway (F. Porsche & Audi consrtium).jpeg (265.54 KiB) Viewed 4634 times

V-16 Auto Union.jpeg (166.16 KiB) Viewed 4634 times

[ROB III]

That engine with its HP and torque through that last pix of the frame and the twists and turns of Nurburgring just shows what the drivers of that era were capable of, its amazing that any survived. What it also shows is the development and improvement in carrying speed through the turns and ability to scrub off speed through advances in brake technology.

[blueline]

That engine with its HP and torque through that last pix of the frame and the twists and turns of Nurburgring just shows what the drivers of that era were capable of, its amazing that any survived. What it also shows is the development and improvement in carrying speed through the turns and ability to scrub off speed through advances in brake technology.

Unfortunately, many of that era did not survive. However, they were paving the way for what came after.

"On the first leg of his record attempt at an estimated 270 mph, an intense crosswind bunted Rosemeyer’s car off course. As his streamliner tumbled out of control, the 28-year-old fair-haired Rosemeyer was spit from the cockpit. The exact spot where he perished with a broken neck is marked by a memorial at a rest area near the Mörfelden-Langen autobahn exit."

[blueline]

The Incredible Rediscovery Of A Le Mans Porsche 356 SL

Below is a seven minute video of something special.

Porsche's are timeless and they do engender emotional attachments as stated in the documentary. There are other marques that do that, but probably none to the extent that Porsche's do overall. Timeless indeed.

Le Mans in 1951 marked Porsche's first year to enter the already fabled 24-hour race with an aluminum bodied 356 SL ("Super Light") that featured an 1100cc engine w/approx 47 hp.

The little car weighed 680kg (1500 lbs) and averaged 118km per hour (73 mph) for the 24-hour race, reaching speeds of 100 mph on the straights, not only finishing the race but winning its class!

Only two drivers shared driving duties which must have been grueling. In addition, the the car was also driven via country roads from Zuffenhausen to the race and then back home again afterwards.

The car was thought lost forever but in was discovered in Northern CA in the 90's. The 7-minute YouTube video documents the passion and love behind this car and, I would add, the passion and love for all Porsche's in general.






This Porsche Newsroom links to an article with a bit more about the 356 SL.

https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2021/hi ... 24792.html

[blueline]

Two new 2023 additions to the ranks of the many significant vehicles at the Library of Congress: Amelia Earhart’s 1937 Cord 812, and one of Porsche’s first factory racers, a 1952 Porsche America Roadster.

1952 Porsche America Roadster – NHVR No. 34

"The "America Roadster" No. 12336 is one of 16 aluminum-bodied Porsches built specifically for U.S. racers, thanks to the impetus of importer Max Hoffman and famed racer and dealer John von Neumann. Neumann and Hoffman recognized the potential competition and sales success for a modified roadster in the burgeoning sports-car-crazed, post-war U.S., and rallied the upstart German automaker to build a more competitive model than their standard 356. Josie von Neumann raced this America Roadster after it was sold by her stepfather to entrepreneur John Crean. Josie took home victories in the America Roadster as she began her short career, besting many of the most significant European sports cars in the 1950s California racing scene. The America Roadster helped launch Porsche's success and longstanding heritage as a competition leader. Today the Porsche is owned by the Ingram Collection and recently underwent a nuts-and-bolts restoration led by Cam Ingram and Road Scholars."

https://driversfoundation.org/register/36?hashed_email=

1952 Porsche America Roadster (Type 540).jpg (120.39 KiB) Viewed 4479 times

[Pefa]

Porsche!

FIA’s Group C superstars of that era were the Porsche 962's - the Alpha Males from 1984 - 1994, awesome race cars that got the job done, race in and race out. They are still beyond amazing performers today. And such great-looking race cars to boot.

So many races were won with the 962's during their reign - it's one of those whose existence simply says "Wow!"

Here's another almost unimaginable bit of history:

"The incredible 962 also held the Nürburgring Nordschliefe record for an amazing 35 years after Steffan Bellof recorded a 6:11 time in qualifying in 1983."


https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/class ... en-museum/



Porsche 962 Alpha Male (1).jpeg

Porsche 962 Alpha Male (2).jpeg

Porsche 962 Alpha Male (3).jpeg

Bellofs record was in a Porsche 956.
The 962 evolved from the 956.

Both fantastic racecars!

[blueline]

@Pefa
Thanks for the correction! The Autoweek article that I referenced was about both the 956 & 962 but didn't mention that it was the 956 that had the record. On top of that, yours truly (me) neglected to mention the 956.

I'll edit my post so others aren't derailed.


And definitely a yes to both being incredible race cars!