Jump to content


Photo

AWE EMW DAMW


  • Please log in to reply
29 replies to this topic

#1 uechtel

uechtel
  • Member

  • 1,960 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 08 October 2002 - 15:12

Well, on Holger Merten´s request from the Auto Union E-Type thread I try to start over that DAMW / EMW / AWE theme again.

By reading my 8W article you will notice, that there remain still a lot of secrets in the history of this official East German manufacturer yet to be uncovered.

So one of the next efforts for me will be an attempt to complete this story (as well as those of the other German Specials) by inviting the members of the TNF to join in with their knowledge.

This has worked well in the past (for all who have missed it: see this first thread on the subject) and so I think I will use this thread to ask the open questions that I still have.

But for the start back to Holger´s request, here is a brief overview of the various DAMW / EMW / AWE race and sports car models, picture by picture:

1.) DAMW "R1" (1951-54):

The cars appeared in 1951 in offset open-wheeled dual purpose configuration, suitable for Formula 2 and 2l and 1.5l sports car races

Posted Image

For high-speed circuits there existed a special streamlined variant:

Posted Image

And later in 1952 the cycle-wings of the sports version had to be replaced by firmly attached ones:

Posted Image

Still the very same design these cars became EMWs after the move of the Rennkollektiv from Berlin-Johannisthal to Eisenach in 1953. At the same time the suspension was overworked and for the 1500 cc sports car class one car appeared with this new bodywork:

Posted Image

All these variants were still based on the first design, which remained technically close to the original BMW 328.

2.) EMW "R2" (1953-54)

At the end of 1953 a true Formula 2 car with central driver position appeared:

Posted Image

With this car the Rennkollektiv adopted the de DIon rear axle, but the rest of the design was close to the previous "R1" model.

3.) EMW "R3" (1954-55)

In 1954 the Rennkollektiv started its serious attempt on the 1500 cc sports car class with a completely new car:

Posted Image

The de Dion rear axle was maintained, as well as the original dimensions of the BMW 328 motor block. But the rest of the engine was totally new: Aluminium cylinder head, DOHC layout, double ignition and horizontal carburettors.

After some aerodynamic experiments at the end of 1954 the cars reappered in this final shape for the 1955 / 56 seasons:

Posted Image

In 1956 a final name change resulted in the cars now being callled AWEs, in spite of being totally unchanged.

Besides the still somewhat mysterious origins of the team at the moment my questions concern the race results of the later years from 1954 - 1956. Being rather firm in Formula 2 than in sports car racing my records are very scarcely filled there. So can anybody help me with EMW / AWE race results of that time?

Advertisement

#2 Brun

Brun
  • Member

  • 511 posts
  • Joined: April 02

Posted 08 October 2002 - 15:18

Uechtel,

As it happens, I've scheduled a day in the German National Library in Leipzig somewhere in the next weeks. (more Auto Union stuff more Auto Union stuff more Auto Union stuff more Auto Union stuff :drunk: :stoned: ) They might have some old magazines of those days, I'll try to look them up for you.

#3 Don Capps

Don Capps
  • Member

  • 5,933 posts
  • Joined: May 99

Posted 08 October 2002 - 15:28

Uechtel,

You are to be commended for not only your excellent series on German F2 at 8W, but your continuing efforts to remind us of how much we have yet to uncover on this area of the sport.

Hopefully, the ever resourceful Brun can assist you in this endeavor.

Another example of why this forum and its companions exist.

#4 dretceterini

dretceterini
  • Member

  • 2,991 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 09 October 2002 - 21:43

woukld be nice if we saw some of these cars in historic races, but I have no idea what still exists...

#5 Holger Merten

Holger Merten
  • Member

  • 1,836 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 10 October 2002 - 07:33

Uechtel, it' s really very hard with the history, but thank you for this brief overview of the cars of the Rennkollektiv Johannisthal (DAMW), later Rennkollektiv Eisenach (EMW) and later on AWE?

Would be nice if you could complete it. I'm sure you know about that full closed streamline-body for speed record attempts? Otherwise I'll scan a photo of this car and mail it to you.

I also had a look in M. von Brauchitschs Book about "Dr. Ring". I have the original version from 1956. As Hans Etzrodt posted before on another thread, I'm the same opinion: This book is "nothing to write home about": An egomania biography filled with propaganda phrases. But what would be interesting, is that there is not a word about that mysteries "Dr. Ring" in that book, or any race MvB took part. What would be interesting, if we read that informative post of Michael Müller about "Dr. Ring" and MVB, some month ago here on TNF.

#6 uechtel

uechtel
  • Member

  • 1,960 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 10 October 2002 - 13:47

Holger,

I can only recommend to read the whole of my 8W article about the race cars from Eisenach. It contains most of what you are looking for, among them Michael Müller´s statement about Dr. Ring / von Brauchitsch and a photo of the 1954 record breaker.

But if you have another picture of the car I would be glad to receive that from you! Here´s my e-mail address:

uechtel@gmx.de

or simply post it here...

#7 Holger Merten

Holger Merten
  • Member

  • 1,836 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 10 October 2002 - 14:46

Uechtel

I saw that streamliner in the morning in an old book at home, didn't remember your article and just want to give you a feedback about MvB Book, so therefore it's in my post.

And indeed I have another photo of that car from rear, and if you like it, I'll scan it, and sent it to you.

#8 uechtel

uechtel
  • Member

  • 1,960 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 10 October 2002 - 21:11

Of course I´d like that!!! :love:

#9 uechtel

uechtel
  • Member

  • 1,960 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 10 October 2002 - 21:14

woukld be nice if we saw some of these cars in historic races, but I have no idea what still exists...



just look here...

http://www.ennstal-c...genshow_awe.htm

or even in this thread:

http://www.atlasf1.c...760#post1038760

#10 Holger Merten

Holger Merten
  • Member

  • 1,836 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 11 October 2002 - 06:23

Thanks Uechtel, seen them already, but fogotten the photo. So you have to wait until monday. sorry. But if I have the weekend, I could seriosly look for all photos for this DAMW/EMW/AWE case, which could be interesting for you.

#11 uechtel

uechtel
  • Member

  • 1,960 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 11 October 2002 - 07:52

For that I have all the time in the world... ;)

#12 Brun

Brun
  • Member

  • 511 posts
  • Joined: April 02

Posted 11 October 2002 - 08:17

Uechtel, perhaps you and I should take a small vacation and visit Holger's archive? :lol:

#13 Holger Merten

Holger Merten
  • Member

  • 1,836 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 11 October 2002 - 08:30

Than I've to prepare it, since I'm on TNF, it's always managing all that documents and photos and books and newspapers, from one system to another: FOR EXAMPLE: Sokol: Okay into the AU case, oh no thanks to uechtels thread, back to EMW, oh no, back to ATB, oh no, it's the history after 1950. Oh no :confused: :drunk: :stoned: .

So I had prepared everything last week, also the photos, but it's now good organized, but I've always to search
And you are always very warm welcome in switzerland. Take your archive with you. There is enough space in Bruns Coupé. :wave:

#14 Brun

Brun
  • Member

  • 511 posts
  • Joined: April 02

Posted 11 October 2002 - 08:41

That will be another 2500 km added to its respectable 341.000 then... cool. Don't get too gastfrei Holger, we'll be on your doorstep before you know it. Wintertime is coming up and Switzerland is the place to be ;)

#15 Holger Merten

Holger Merten
  • Member

  • 1,836 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 11 October 2002 - 09:03

gastfrei =gastfreundlich.

And Basel is not the place to stay for wintertime, but it's near to those places. But whats better than looking to old pictures and discuss it in a warm light with some tea or wine, and dream about, mmmhhhh, an excisting Typ E. I knwo something :D

#16 Brun

Brun
  • Member

  • 511 posts
  • Joined: April 02

Posted 11 October 2002 - 09:08

Of course, this switching between languages makes me dizzy, excuse my mistake :-)

Hmmmm... what do you say about it, Uechtel? Maybe in a few months?

#17 uechtel

uechtel
  • Member

  • 1,960 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 11 October 2002 - 17:39

Very good idea! You can pick me up anytime! My home lies just halfway...

So until then I hope we can keep Holger busy :lol:

#18 Holger Merten

Holger Merten
  • Member

  • 1,836 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 11 October 2002 - 18:01

Uechtel, Mainz isn't so far away, takes three hours by train.

Or 10 hours by boat, there is always a ship along the rhine. May Brun pick you up on one of those boats of the KD-line. Than in Basle harbour it's just 5 min to walk, but with your archive I'll pick you up. It's safer. May I take the Avant? :rotfl: ;)

#19 uechtel

uechtel
  • Member

  • 1,960 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 11 October 2002 - 19:05

So a true Rhinelander connection...

But it´s Wiesbaden now (again), forgot to date that information up. So the distance has got about 5 km longer now.

And don´t worry about my archive. I have a VW Multivan, which is certainly much slower than Brun´s Coupe but it has olenty of room and is allowed to take a 1 ton load.

Advertisement

#20 dretceterini

dretceterini
  • Member

  • 2,991 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 11 October 2002 - 19:11

Thanks for the links! :wave: :clap:

#21 Holger Merten

Holger Merten
  • Member

  • 1,836 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 11 October 2002 - 19:12

I know Wiesbaden very well, a good friend of mine is living in Taunusstein, and so I visisted the town very often. "Man spricht deutsh".

#22 Holger Merten

Holger Merten
  • Member

  • 1,836 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 11 October 2002 - 19:25

Uechtel, back to some facts:

Was that fully streamlined S1 with that streamline bodyand "plexiglas" drivers cab the base for the S1, which was used on september 25th 1949 for the first race "Sachsenring rennen" where Adolf Bruders made the 4th place? They look very similar..?

#23 uechtel

uechtel
  • Member

  • 1,960 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 12 October 2002 - 01:08

ok, back to serious business again:

Posted Image

Holger, the caption of the picture in an article of a GDR journal (probably an 80´s issue of Illustrierter Motorsport, but I lost the source in a recent computer crash) says, that that was in fact the car, which was used in that race:

"Der Stromlinien-Rennwagen S1 wurde erstmalig zum Sachsenring-Rennen 1949 eingesetzt"

But of course I have my doubts about its purposefulness. As you say, perhaps the picture shows a civilized version.

Do you have a picture of the car in the race?

#24 Holger Merten

Holger Merten
  • Member

  • 1,836 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 12 October 2002 - 08:40

Not that, it looks like that, buz without plexiglass-cab.

But from this S1 I have som more. Yes.

#25 dmj

dmj
  • Member

  • 2,250 posts
  • Joined: August 01

Posted 12 October 2002 - 12:48

Fabolous looking car! That's how bizzare I like them! It has a trace of Gatso in it, too...

#26 uechtel

uechtel
  • Member

  • 1,960 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 12 October 2002 - 20:28

It has a trace of Gatso in it, too...



Trace of what???

Not that, it looks like that, buz without plexiglass-cab.



Yeah, I could not believe that they raced it in this configuration. Would have meant, that the nice streamlining was spoilt by the amount of drag caused by such a huge windscreen.

#27 Vitesse2

Vitesse2
  • Administrator

  • 41,782 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 12 October 2002 - 21:48

One of these, Uechtel:

Posted Image

No doubt our Dutch friends can tell us more about it. About all I know is that it was built by 'Maus' Gatsonides, the man who later invented the Gatso speed camera.

Dino - amazing how both of them look very Tatra-ish, don't you think?

#28 dmj

dmj
  • Member

  • 2,250 posts
  • Joined: August 01

Posted 13 October 2002 - 13:35

That is why I like them, Richard... These curvaceous products from late '40s led it to become my favorite era of car design. But, of course, Tatra was there 10 years before...

Uechtel, I am sure this link is already provided in some other thread but I hope you will find it interesting: http://www.geocities...ak/gatford.html

#29 uechtel

uechtel
  • Member

  • 1,960 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 13 October 2002 - 14:04

Amazing car!

From when is it? Did it appear in races?

#30 uechtel

uechtel
  • Member

  • 1,960 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 13 October 2002 - 14:06

ah, dmj, thank you for answering even before I posted the question!

Should have made a click on the refresh button before posting...