From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Article from 'The Motor' magazine about Rudolf Caracciola's record-breaking performance in a 12-cylinder Mercedes-Benz.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161\1\ scan0027 | |
| Date | 3rd November 1936 | |
| November 3, 1936. 695. The Motor ROAD! Caracciola's Marvellous Performance with the New 12-cylinder Mercedes-Benz: Records Established on a German Highway SPEEDS on the road such as have never before been obtained under similar conditions were established by Rudolf Caracciola last week (Monday, October 26, to be precise) when driving the new Mercedes—a beautifully streamlined job with a 12-cylinder engine which develops 600 b.h.p.—in a Grand Prix chassis. With typical respect of any attempt to uphold national prestige, the German authorities allowed the new motor road between Frankfurt and Darmstadt to be closed for the purpose. His final records (given in detail below) include the flying mile at over 228 m.p.h., the flying kilometre at over 226 m.p.h. and finally the flying five kilometres at over 211 m.p.h. — all International Class B (5-litres-8-litres) records. Actually, the highest timed speed reached during his attempts was 231.16 m.p.h. (372 k.p.h.). These figures have only been exceeded by Sir Malcolm Campbell when making his world's record attempts with Blue Bird; but compare the size of his power unit with that of the Mercedes — a matter of 24-litres as opposed to 5.6-litres. Appreciation of this comparison makes the Mercedes attempt even more remarkable. “Carratsch” (as Caracciola is popularly known) started his attempts at 7 o'clock in the morning on an absolutely dry road. He went out ostensibly to test the Continental racing tyres, the surface of which is devoid of all tread, but in actual fact made five different runs over the timed distances, each time putting his figures higher and higher. That for the mile was finally some 28 m.p.h. better than that previously held by Nuvolari with the Alfa-Romeo. The engine turns over at 7,000 r.p.m., when the corresponding road wheel speed, on top, is 2,500 r.p.m. The type of car used will compete, with standard body, at Avus track, near Berlin, and at Tripoli early next year, later at other international events. It was intended to carry out a further series of trials during last week, but unfavourable weather conditions, including a heavy rainfall and storms, prevented it. Consequently Herr Neubauer, the Mercedes-Benz racing manager, packed up his car and crew and returned to Stuttgart. Further attempts will, however, be made to-day week, so that by the time the next issue of The Motor is in most readers' hands, the mile record may have been put up to an even more astonishing figure. Caracciola will go out also for the 5 and 10 miles and 10 kilometres records, together with the standing start mile and kilometre. All the figures given for the new records are, of course, subject to official A.I.A.C.R. confirmation. Caracciola, as happy as ever, just before setting out on his wonderful record-breaking attempt, and his car—the new 12-cylinder 5.6-litre Mercedes-Benz. It has two banks of six cylinders, each set with a separate supercharger. The small hole by the side of the body is an exhaust outlet, there being a corresponding outlet on the opposite side of the car. Terrific wind pressure on the front caused the nose to cave-in, as if the car had been in a collision. c19 | ||