Caracciola at Zbraslav Jiloviste

I have come across a photo of Rudi Caracciola supposedly at the 1930 Zbraslav Jiloviste hillclimb. The source is 'Mercedes Kompressorwagen' by Halwart Schrader & Carlo Demand, 1979 - page 36. His Mercedes SSK is stripped of mudguards and headlights and carries race number 72.

I have seen other pictures from the 1930 event and Caracciola’s Mercedes SSK features mudguards, inward facing headlights and race number 144. (‘Silberpfeile’ published by Heel, page 27 & ‘M-B Quicksilver Century’ by Ludvigsen, page 125). In this configuration he was competing in the sports car class.

I suspect the Schrader/Demand photo is from 1929 when Caracciola competed in the racing class. In which case it looks like the caption misquoted the year. I am hoping that the caption is correct as regards Zbraslav Jiloviste.

Can anyone verify this?

PS - I would attach a copy of the photo in question if I knew how!!!

Found this. See item 12190, which would seem to confirm that #72 was in 1929:

http://www.cohascodp...oductory_4.html

I also have "A Racing Car Driver's World" by Caracciola, which has statistical info on both events (though no photos or car numbers).

Vince H.

In 1930, Caracciola competed in the sports car class up to 8000cc:

1. Rudolf Caracciola - Mercedes-Benz Type SS - 2.57,2 (new class record)
2. Otto Spandel - Mercedes-Benz - 3.20,5

"Motor und Sport" has a close-up photo of Caracciola, but his start number is not visible.

"Motor und Sport" explicitly states Caracciola drove a Type-SS in 1930. Furthermore, the time looks a lot like a mistake: 2.57,2 vs 2.52,7.


The results for 1930 also indicate that Caracciola was the current record holder in the racing car class up to 8000cc, with a time of 2.49,2 - presumably set the year before.

Graf Arco-Zinneberg won this class in 1930 with a time of 2.56,6 with a Mercedes-Benz, carrying start number 159 as shown by a photograph.


Let's face it: if Caracciola had participated in the racing car class with a Type-SSK, he would probably have won, or at the very least it would have been mentioned in the article.

Erwin Tragatsch, „Die großen Rennjahre“ (1973), p. 99, about 1929:

Hauptattraktion war der Zweikampf zwischen „Bergmeister“ Hans Stuck auf dem 3614-ccm-Austro-Daimler und Rudolf Caracciola mit dem 7020-ccm-SSK von Mercedes, und es war Stuck, der mit 2’45,8“ gegen Caracciola (2’49,2“) gewann.

Martin Pfundner, „Vom Semmering zum Grand Prix“ (2003), p. 171, about 1930:

Die Saison begann mit dem Prager Bergrennen Königsaal-Jilowischt ( Zbraslav-Jílovištĕ ), wo Hans Stuck auf dem Austro-Daimler-Rennwagen mit Vierlitermotor seinen eigenen Vorjahrsrekord um eine Zehntelsekunde auf 2’45,7“ verbesserte. Zweiter wurde Henryk Liefeldt (Austro-Daimler, 2’49,8“) vor dem Sportwagensieger Rudi Caracciola (Mercedes SSK, 2’52,7“) und dem Ungarn László Hartmann (2,3-Liter-Bugatti-Rennwagen, ex-Zichy, 2’55,5“).

Tragatsch, p. 118, about 1930:

Die 8000-ccm-Rennwagen-Klasse […] gewann Max Graf Arco-Zinneberg mit seinem Mercedes SSK in 2’55,6“, erzielte aber nicht die 1929 von Rudolf Caracciola auf einem SSK gefahrene Zeit von 2’49,2“. In der 3000-ccm-Rennwagen-Klasse gab es den Überraschungssieg des Ungarn Lászlo Hartmann, der mit dem Bugatti 35B 2’55,5“ fuhr und damit H.J. von Morgen auf einem gleichen Wagen, der „nur“ 2’56,5“ erzielte, schlug. […] Rudolf Caracciola fuhr 1930 den Mercedes SSK in der Sportwagenklasse, schaffte die Strecke in 2’52,7“ und war natürlich hier der schnellste Fahrer, dem der Zweite, Otto Spandel mit einem Mercedes SS, nicht gefährlich werden konnte.

Thank you, Reinhard. Unfortunately I unnecessarily caused confusion: "Motor und Sport" has Caracciola's time as 2.52,7 as well. Sorry for that misleading typo!

Perhaps Hans Etzroth has some further sources that can settle what type of car Caracciola drove?

Out of curiosity I have just looked up Zbraslav and Jiloviste in the Czech Republic on the wonderful GoogleEarth. I must say the road which links the two looks as dull as ditchwater...until you check the relative elevations on the roadway. But the prize for the most disappointing hill-climb I have yet encountered surely goes to Gaillon in France, about which I had read so much. The first time I went there I was crushed to find it was dead straight - just remarkably steep.

DCN

It might be worthwhile to mention that the author of the "Motor und Sport" article, Ernst Rosemann, starts his piece by saying how he arrived in Prague by train, so his article was a first-hand report. But in the absence of another contemporary source, Caracciola's car remains unconfirmed.

The course measured 5.6 km and climbed 3.5% on average, with the steepest bit of 9.5% just before the finish. There was a tricky corner in the town of Bano halfway the climb.

Incidentally, promising German motorcycle rider Karl Stegmann was killed during practice for the 1930 event. He held the motorcycle record at the Zbraslav-Jiloviste hilllimb.

Simon, or anyone else, if you are interested in the article, I'd be more than happy to send it to you.

Yes Simon, no problem. Drop me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll send it over.

GEL has a map of the course:



From: http://www.silhouet....s/centrahc.html

April 20, 1924 - Zbraslav-Jiloviste
3m13.4s - Otto Salzer (Mercedes 2.0 1923 Indy) racecar class, FTD
3m49.0s - Rosenberger (Mercedes 1500 cc S) - racecar class up to 1.5 liter, 1st in class
3m57.6s - Caracciola (Mercedes 1500 cc S) - touring car class up to 1.75 liter, 1st in class, new record, no start # found
AAZ(D) times are incorrect, MOTOR times are more accurate.

April 28, 1929 - Zbraslav-Jiloviste
2m45.8s - Stuck (Austro-Daimler ADM-R 3.0 R) racecar class, FTD
2m57.5s - Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz SSK) white body/chasis stripped down, start #72
Racecar class up to 8000 cc, 1st in class

MAY 11, 1930 - Zbraslav-Jiloviste
2m45.7s - Stuck (Austro-Daimler ADM-R 3.6 R) – racecar class, FTD
2m52.7s - Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz SSK) white body/chasis, red fenders - sports car class, start #144
Sports car class up to 8000 cc, 1st in class, fastest sports car

May 31, 1931 - Zbraslav-Jiloviste
2m42.84s - Stuck (Mercedes-Benz SSKL) racecar class up to 8000 cc
2m43.86s - von Morgen (Bugatti T35B)
2m42.73s - Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz SSKL) white body/chassis, red fenders - sports car class, start #149
Sports car class up to 8000 cc, 1st in class, fastest sports car, FTD

Originally posted by Simon Davis
...1924
So was AAZ (D) incorrect in its report from 26th April 1924 (Nr 17)? As well as showing Rosenberger winning the 1.5 litre racing class (3m 49s) it also shows him winning the 1.75 litre Touring class (3m 48s). Does the MOTOR report clarify this point?...

AAZ(D) #17 p34 – April 26, 1924
Up to 1.75-liter touring cars:
1. - Rosenberger (Mercedes) 3m48s
2. – Caracciola (Mercedes) 3m50s

Up to 1.5-liter Racecars:
1. – Rosenberger (Mercedes) 3m49s


MOTOR – May 1924, #5 p128
Up to 1.75-liter touring cars:
1. - Caracciola (Mercedes) 3m57.6s
2. – Loge (Aga) 4m09.9s
3. – Lhatta (Walter) 4m12.7s

Up to 1.5-liter Racecars:
1. – Rosenberger (Mercedes) 3m49s


AAZ(A) #9 p31 – May 1, 1924
Up to 1.75-liter touring cars:
1. - Caracciola (Mercedes) 3m57.6s
2. – Loge (Aga) 4m09.9s
3. – Lhota (Walter) 4m12.7s

Up to 1.5-liter Racecars:
1. – Rosenberger (Mercedes) 3m49s
2. – Havel (Fiat) 4m11.4s
3. – Kern (Wolseley) 5m04.3s


AUTOMOBIL-REVUE #20 p38 – May 9, 1924
Up to 1.75-liter touring cars:
1. - Caracciola (Mercedes) 3m57.6s
2. – Loge (Aga) 4m09s

Up to 1.5-liter Racecars:
1. – Rosenberger (Mercedes) 3m49.5s
2. – Havel (Fiat) 4m11.4s

Originally posted by Simon Davis
...1929
2m 57.5s??? What is the source of this time? It contradicts the MotorUndSport 1930 report that Rob kindly sent me (it states that the 1929 8 litre racing car record of Caracciola was 2m 49.2s. A Racing Driver's World also states 2m 49.2s.

2m 57.5s??? appears to be a mistake.


AAZ(D) #18 p28 – May 4, 1929
1. – Stuck
2. – Caracciola (Mercedes) 2m51s

MOTOR #5 p32 – May 1929
1. – Stuck (Austro Daimler) 2m45.8
2. – Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz) 2m49.2s

AAZ(A) #10 p19 – May 4, 1929
1. – Stuck (Austro Daimler) 2m45.8
2. – Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz) 2m49.2s

AUTOMOBIL-REVUE #39 p2 – May 1, 1929
1. – Stuck (Austro Daimler) 2m45.8
2. – Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz) 2m57.5s

AZ-Motorwelt #12 p6 – May 4, 1929
1. – Stuck (Austro Daimler) 2m45.8 – racecars up to 5000 cc
2. – Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz) 2m49.2s – racecars up to 8000 cc

Results from Prager Tagblatt:

No 96 s.6 (23.04.1924) :
Touring car bis 1.75 liter
1 - Caracciola (Mercedes) 3m57,6s
Racing car bis 1.5 liter
1 - Rosenberger (Mercedes) 3m49s

No 102 s.9 (30.04.1929) :
Racing car bis 8000 ccm
1 - Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz) 2m49,2s