Old Race Cars from the 1930's

[Olen McGuire]

Here's an interesting sample of some old pics taken in the 1930's. To see the rest of them click on the little race car::sprint: (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Old_style_photographs_of_auto_racing_in_t he_1930s) Click on each pic to enlarge and for a discription.




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=199&pictureid=1275
René Stapp, racing driver, and his 1932 land speed record car at Daytona Beach, Florida



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=199&pictureid=1279
First rear engine car? Photo taken in Germany 1937.



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=199&pictureid=1277
Also taken in Germany about 1932.
Description: The first big training on the Avus on the biggest international motor race in the
world! The rider von Brauchitsch ratchet his Rennstromlinienwagen pace in the 200 Klm north
curve of the Avus.



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=199&pictureid=1278
Taken 1931
Description: Heavy duty car accident on the racetrack! In the car race in Los Angeles,
the car was a participant in a skid and rolled over. Guides and passengers were
ejected in a high arc and badly injured.

[lakeside #29]

Hi Olen,
These are great and the ones under the little race car are wonderful to look at. My question.....if you are setting a land speed record why do you have the weight of a spare wheel/tire on the car?

Miss Peggy

[Olen McGuire]

Believe it or not the 1932 land speed record was 253.96 mph set by Malcolm Campbell's "Blue Bird", also shown in those pics.

As for the spare tire,looking at the surroundings, he must have carried it just for touring. Did any one notice the quick change hubs on that monster?

René Stapp was a French racing driver who in 1932 attempted to break the land speed record with one of the most outlandish, and ugliest, cars to ever attempt to do so.

The car was built in Paris between 1930 and 1932, then taken to the popular Daytona Beach venue for an attempt at the land speed record.

Power was supplied by two Bristol Jupiter radial aero engines. Some web sources also describe the car itself as being named "Jupiter". Assuming a generous 600 bhp per engine in racing trim, this would have given a power comparable to Campbell's cars and so it wasn't an obviously impossible contender. However the general engineering was at the Heath Robinson level and fails to inspire confidence.

Sadly the car was destroyed by fire on the beach at La Baule, a popular motor-racing venue of the period.

[carc7]

The second picture, the rear-engined car, looks to be the legendary Tazio Nuvolari at the Karrussel curve (Carousel) at the old original North Nurburgring. Not only was this monster a true rear-engined car but it was a V-16 of 4.36 litres (about 262 cubic inches) designed by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. Supercharged, it cranked out about 295 HP at 4,500 RPM. Nuvo was one of the few drivers who learned how to control this beast. Hans Stuck was one of the others. It was terrible at places like Monaco but at Avus or Rheims, which were mostly straightaways, it went like a rocket! They were run from about 1934 through 1939. :jawdrop:

[indybigjohn]

Great pics, Olen! Especially the one of the Avus track banking.

[parrot]

Most were big and ugly by todays standards, but pretty amazing engineering and accomplishments for that many years ago. Imagine standing along the course and seeing those cars fly by.

By the way, speaking of land speed records, current Hot Rod Magazine has nice piece on this year's Bonneville trials. George Poteet did something like 435 mph at one point. Originally said all he wanted to do was to get to 400, but now that he's done it. reports saying that now he wants to try for 500 mph! Saw this car at the SEMA show, unbelievable engineering!

[Olen McGuire]

Most were big and ugly by todays standards, but pretty amazing engineering and accomplishments for that many years ago. Imagine standing along the course and seeing those cars fly by.

By the way, speaking of land speed records, current Hot Rod Magazine has nice piece on this year's Bonneville trials. George Poteet did something like 435 mph at one point. Originally said all he wanted to do was to get to 400, but now that he's done it. reports saying that now he wants to try for 500 mph! Saw this car at the SEMA show, unbelievable engineering!

Thanks Bill, for those interested in the 2009 Bonneville run, here's the pics of the Speed Demon:


http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=200&pictureid=1284 http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=200&pictureid=1285



YouTube- Speed Demon 435 mph Run

[VintageBuzz]

And, don't forget about the efforts of Nish Motorsports out of SLC, UT. ~VB

"And over the past few years, Terry and his sons have been chasing the Sommers Brothers record set in 1965 at the Bonneville Salt Flats (UT). The Nishs are more determined than ever to eclipse 425 MPH in their 2300-horsepower single-engine two-wheel drive streamliner."

To see an interview with Terry Nish and his teams Royal Purple Streamliner, click Here (http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27)

See also:
Hey, Bruce! Thanks for re-posting this article. Rick Wasilko was really surprised when I informed him that Ab Jenkin's Mormon Meteor race car was restored and sitting inside the Utah State Capital Building out here in SLC, UT. ~VB
http://www.indy500.com/news/2132/Speedway_Played_Role_In_Early_Speed_Records_At_Bon neville
http://historytogo.utah.gov/salt_lake_tribune/in_another_time/101793.html
I just found this video! ~VB
http://pricemuseumofspeed.org/video.html
http://pricemuseumofspeed.org/pages/?page_id=10

[Jerry Lee]

I thought that driver had on some sort of a mask in that first "big torpedo on wheels" photo, but maybe that's some sort of rear view mirror. Neat old cars and site. Thanks Dad!

[Olen McGuire]

I thought that driver had on some sort of a mask in that first "big torpedo on wheels" photo, but maybe that's some sort of rear view mirror. Neat old cars and site. Thanks Dad!


I did too at first, but in those days they were called "Retro-sight enhancers".