Class: Cars, Racecar — Model origin:
Background vehicle
Author | Message |
---|---|
◊ 2007-02-07 18:15 |
Mercedes "Silberpfeile" |
◊ 2007-02-07 18:21 |
1954 Mercedes W196 'Stromlinie' Link to "www.motorsport-and-more.com" |
◊ 2007-02-07 18:26 |
Thanks Rralph, I was reasonable sure that these were Mercedes of the type that wrecked at LeMans in 1955. There was a clip of that wreck in the show but I didn't post it - raw carnage. |
◊ 2007-02-07 19:44 |
These are actually Formula 1 cars - these streamlined bodies were used only on faster circuits after British GP. Here's how they look as normal open wheelers. http://www.goodwood-racing.com/g99reval/intro/v9g1.htm -- Last edit: 2007-02-07 19:45:14 |
◊ 2007-02-07 19:51 |
the crash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXtb5eDUuQw |
◊ 2007-02-07 20:00 |
The Le Mans car was 300 SLR, type number W196S, based on this one. |
◊ 2007-02-07 20:07 |
I remember that crash when it happened, it was on the radio and saw it in a theater news reel. I saw a similar clip some years ago on a TV cars special. It also showed an interesting feature of the Mercedes. It had a air brake - a large panel that flipped up to act like a parachute. If I can find that old tape I will post a pic. Edit: Sorry for the poor pic. This was originally on a Beta tape/Transferred to VHS then DVD. The Mercedes SLR is on the right and you can see the panel in the raised position - weird. -- Last edit: 2007-02-07 20:23:02 |
◊ 2007-02-07 20:32 |
Didn't Autounion also call their early racers Silver Arrow? |
◊ 2007-02-07 20:55 |
2wrenchhead - yeah, I saw such video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMDMJYcikt4 - and wondered what it is that merc has - it is indeed the air brake - interesting, taht they did not used that in more vehicles.. Probably it caused handling problems when braking in curves .. |
◊ 2007-02-07 21:05 |
here is the picture of late Levegh braking -- Last edit: 2007-02-07 21:05:54 |
◊ 2007-02-07 21:07 |
The SLR's had drum brakes that faded badly under heavy braking. The reason for the air brake was to save the regular brakes as much as possible. It may have been used only that year. Probably more folks would have tried it but when Jaguar introduced the disk brake that did not fade with heavy usage, everyone switched to that design and didn't need the air brake. |
◊ 2007-02-07 21:22 |
you are right - unfortunately, the introduction of disc brakes by Jaguar that year by paradox partly caused The tragedy. |
◊ 2007-02-07 21:29 |
I believe that Jag actually introduced disk brakes earlier on the C type (1952/1953?) but they were touchy. However, you are right, they had perfected them on the D type and that made them very hard to compete with. |
◊ 2007-02-07 21:41 |
and to brake as fast as they can.. that is why Austin Healey had to swerve and got into the way of Levegh's SLR.. rest is a known case -- Last edit: 2007-02-07 21:41:49 |