15 replies to this topic

[HistoryFan]

I'm looking for Romanian single seater drivers in history (so from 1910-1990).

I find here at TNF the following Romanian racing drivers:

Iorgu Ghica
Matei Ghica
Jean Calcianu
George Nadu

Are there more, especially on single seaters?

[David McKinney]

You've missed probably the best-known of them all, Petre Cristea. Not to mention Prince Nicolas

Other pre-war Romania drivers, according to an earlier thread, included Alexe de Vassal, Titu Manicatide, Alex Berlescu, Sandu Costaforu, Alex Papana, M. Butuculescu and Dudu Frim

Calcianu, Crsitea and de Vassal also raced after the War, as did Marin Dumitrescu and presumably many others

Edited by David McKinney, 25 May 2010 - 16:12.

[Nick Wa]

Dan Marguiles was Romanian by birth but almost certainly a naturalised Brit by the time he took up racing.

[Vitesse2]

Others I've come across - both pre-war - Ionel Zamfirescu and one I have no first name for: Fabiny, who was supposed to partner Cristea at Brescia in 1940. And Prince Iorgu Ghica, who was also a CSI member for a while

Recent blog entry on Bucharest GP (in Romanian - translation welcome!)

http://www.topgear.r...sti-grand-prix/

[arttidesco]

Recent blog entry on Bucharest GP (in Romanian - translation welcome!)

http://www.topgear.r...sti-grand-prix/

It's probably a bit rough but you might be able to glean something useful out of the is jumble of words courtesy Google Translator :

Romanian to English translation

A large car market in the SEE region, Romania had hosted several wars competitive events. Bucharest and Iasi, cities were starting points in the Monte Carlo Rally, Cluj have a coastal race which was part of "Mountain Championship of Europe and, along with capital and Brasov, organized its Grand Prix automobile. Although the Germans came in Brasov travel frequently or to "coast" in Poiana Brasov, the capital has benefited the most important event.

Street circuit that hosted the Grand Prix was located in interwar Bucharest Jianu Road (now Avenue Aviators). Start the Aviators gave in front of the statue on which direction the market today named Charles de Gaulle, where avoiding the solid middle rounds and return is made in a place called "board" near the bridge over Lake Herastrau. On the way back to the Statue Aviators is run on the left. Surface was dirt, just like in a better state than now.
The first edition (1936) "Bucharest Grand Prix", in this configuration, was won by Iorgu Ghica a Maserati race category, that of Peter Cristea, the Sports category. From next year, the competition is international, sending his BMW team rider, logo, Ernst Henne. Mercenary career, Neamt won casual sports car race. Author of 76 motorcycle speed records with BMW, Mercedes Henne started in 1934, first racing season in which to survive a terrible accident at the Nürburgring trials, then the fishermen were involved in the accident Guy Moll who died lived in final stage of separation dramatic roof during a land speed record attempts.

True vocation and discovered a sports car racing with the BMW 328 (Prototype), which won Eifelrennen 1936 and a year later in Bucharest. Henne went into nonexistence in 2005 at the venerable age of 101. After an email from BMW Historisches Archiv, I was surprised to receive by mail a CD with these images of the Bavarian company's historical heritage, it infatisandu Ernst Henne Grand Prix Bucharest.
All the 1937 edition, held a Grand Prix car race, won by Swiss Hans Rusch (Alfa Romeo 8C-35), a private pilot's warm. Petre Cristea wins in 1938 driving a BMW 328, an edition in which he struggled with official BMW driver Paul Heinemann. Like tennis tournament today in the world in the '30s there were up to 60 races bearing the title of Grand Prix. But most important were the National, some of which (GP France, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium etc.) point in European Championship, the precursor of Formula 1.

The first important were honored to present the best riders of the moment, the car top. Other local riders were on hand when any big team decides to not provide a test session in the competition regime. Grand Prix Bucharest was part of this second category of value. And just like in tennis today, if those races smaller scale, number and size of competitors registered in the home largely depends on the prizes at stake by the organizer.
Moment of glory circuit Boulevard Jianu was consumed on June 25, 1939 when Hans Stuck start in Bucharest, Auto Union driving a Grand Prix. As the German pilot even writes in his book of memoirs in 1967, won the race detached. His participation in a race rated poorly as it had a propaganda purpose, namely to highlight the strength of Germany in the eyes of the Romanian public. Second place went to Peter Christ, a BMW 328. Another great novel pilot Jean Calcianu, finished third, driving a "quaint" Ford V8. This was preceded by a race reserved for sports cars (carrying spare wheels and mud guards), where he won Germany's Paul Heinemann, followed by our representative, Theo Kunz (both on the BMW 328).

The next day he was invited to submit Stuck Auto Union bolide royal family of Romania in the Royal Palace in Bucharest, where he was brutal resonate v16. Bolide, a masterpiece of genius Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, was a curiosity in that huge engine of 6000 cc was placed behind the pilot and tailpipes (each one for each cylinder) engine came out on top. The 16 cylinders were the result of two V8 engines offered in tandem with a single cam shaft mounted in the middle. The real monster was able to engineer an extraordinary performance for the decade '30: 100 hp / liter! A year earlier, German record established Feleac - legendary coast of our country sample - at 3'54 "was not beaten up today. Stuck in Romania and has competed in two other occasions: in races from coast Feleac (1929) Poiana Brasov (1938).

In the '70s, Bucharest Grand Prix has been reprinted, this time being about one race cars on a street circuit improvised Floreasca district. Having this many a competitor occasionally in Italy, which won detached, this race was very appreciated by the public stores, eager for such events.

PHOTOS: BMW Historisches Archiv

[Richard Jenkins]

George Fernic was a racing driver in the 1920's & 1930's, who appeared at the Indianapolis 500, plus he was a noted aviator.

[hansfohr]

George Fernic was a racing driver in the 1920's & 1930's, who appeared at the Indianapolis 500, plus he was a noted aviator.

An earlier thread was dedicated to George Fernic, who died in his own plane after crashing during an air show. Ironically his cousin Ionel (composer, parachutist and amateur flyer!) also lost his life in a planecrash, although as a passenger on a regular flight.
http://forums.autosp...showtopic=83760

Just check this site on Romanian motorsport history and its drivers:
http://autoturism.rdslink.ro/gbist.htm

Edited by hansfohr, 26 May 2010 - 09:43.

[HistoryFan]

Thank you very much!

[Comgar]

I'm looking for Romanian single seater drivers in history (so from 1910-1990).

George Nadu

 

 

George Nadu

 

 

Edited by Comgar, 10 September 2013 - 16:53.

[Comgar]

British Grand Prix , Brooklands 1927

Ionel Ghica

[William Hunt]

You've missed probably the best-known of them all, Petre Cristea.

 

Oh, for sure Petre Cristea was the best one. He won the prestigeous Monte Carlo rally in 1936 in a Ford! He also finished 2nd in a Sportscar race at the Nürburgring in 1939 and in that same year he finished 2nd in the Finish GP at Helsinki (although there wasn't much competition there).

[Comgar]

Petre G. Cristea – Palmares în competiţii

În perioada 1931-1950 Petre G. Cristea a participat la 80 de competiții automobilistice, urcând de 55 de ori pe podium, în 45 de curse naționale și 35 internaționale.

 

Automobile cu care a concurat:

1931 – Dodge Victory Six

1933-1937 Ford V8 Special

1938–1950 BMW 328 Special (excepție Cupa Carpaților 1938)

 

Cele mai importante rezultate:

1931

Locul 11 Rallye Monte Carlo (copilot Zoltan Molnar – 152 de participanți)

Locul 6   Cursa Internaţională de Coastă – Mont de Mules

 

1933

DNF Rallye Monte Carlo

 

1934

Locul 18 Rallye Monte Carlo (copilotul lui Alexandru Berlescu – 177 de participanți)

Locul 3  Cupa Carpaților – Clasament General (copilotul lui L. Fabiny)

DNF      Coppa d’Oro del Littorio (Grupa V – peste 3000 cmc, copilotul lui Alexandru Berlescu)

(data desfăşurării 26.05-02.06) (nr. de concurs 217)

 

1935

Locul 15 Rallye Monte Carlo (copilotul lui Mihai Sontag-169 de participanți)

Locul 1   Marele Premiu al orașului Brașov – Categoria Sport (1.09) (nr.12) (30 ture/54 km) (44’15’’9)

Locul 1   Cursa Internațională de Coastă – Feleac – Categoria Sport (Hors Concours) (6.10)

Locul 2   Cursa de Costă – Sinaia – Categoria Curse (8.09)

Locul 4   Cupa Carpaților – Clasament General (5.09)

DNS       Rallye Bucureşti (5.06) (nr. 2)

 

1936

Locul 1   Rallye Monte Carlo (copilot Ionel Zamfirescu – 107 de participanți) (nr.16)

Locul 1   Marele Premiu al orașului București – Categoria Sport

Locul 3   Marele Premiu al orașului București – Categoria Curse

Locul 1   Cursă de Costă – Poiana Brașov – Clasament General

Locul 2   Cursă de Coastă – Sibiu (Brad) – Categoria Curse

Locul 2   Marele Premiu al orașului Brașov – Categoria Curse (12.07)

Locul 3   Cursa de Coastă – Sinaia – Categoria Curse

Locul 4   Cursa Internațională de Coastă – Feleac – Categoria Curse

Locul 10 Cupa Carpaților- Clasament General

 

1937

Locul 7 Rallye Monte Carlo (copilot Carlo Cielo – a pierdut prima poziţie ca urmare a unei penalizări pentru dimensiunea neconformă a aripilor spate – roţile duble depăşeau limita aripilor) (nr.1)

Locul 1 Raliul Interbalcanic – Clasament General (copilot Ionel Zamfirescu)

Locul 1 Marele Premiu al orașului Brașov  – Categoria Sport

Locul 2 Marele Premiu al orașului Brașov  – Categoria Curse

Locul 3 Marele Premiu al orașului București – Categoria Sport (30.05)

Locul 4 Marele Premiu orașului București – Categoria Curse

Locul 1 Cupa Carpaților – Clasament General

Locul 2 Raliul Sibiu – Clasament General

Locul 1 Cursa de Coastă – Poiana Brașov – Clasament General (Record)

Locul 2 Cursa de Coastă – Sibiu (Brad) – Categoria Sport

Locul 1 Cursa de Coastă – Sibiu (Brad) – Categoria Curse

Locul 1 Cursa de Coastă – Sinaia – Categoria SportLocul 2 Cursa de Coastă – Sinaia – Categoria Curse

Locul 1 Cursa Internațională de Coastă – Feleac – Categoria Sport

Locul 2 Cursa Internațională de Coastă – Feleac – Categoria Curse

 

1938

DNF      Rallye Monte Carlo (copilot Alexe de Vassal)

Locul 1 Marele Premiu Portugalia (Circuito Internacional de Vila Real) – Categoria Sport-Formula E (nr.9)

Locul 2 Marele Premiu Portugalia – Clasament General

Locul 1 Marele Premiu al orașului București – Categoria Curse (19.06)

Locul 1 Marele Premiu al orașului Brașov  – Categoria Sport (7.08)

Locul 1 Marele Premiu al orașului Brașov  – Categoria Curse

Locul 1 Cursa de Coastă – Sinaia – Clasament General (Record) (4.09)

Locul 1 Cursa de Coastă –  Poiana Brașov – Clasament General

Locul 2 Grosser Bergpreis von Deutchland am Grossglockner (Austria – Etapă a Campionatului German – Categoria Sport) (28.08) (nr. 53)

Locul 1 Cursa Internațională de Coastă – Feleac – Categoria Sport (2.10) (nr. 3)

Locul 2 Cursa Internațională de Coastă – Feleac – Clasament General

(după Hans Stuck – Auto Union) (2.10) (nr. 3)

Locul 1 Cupa Carpaților – Clasament General

 

1939

Locul 1 Cursa Internațională de Coastă – La Turbie  (Franța – Categoria Curse >2000 cmc – Record 97 km/h)

Locul 1 Cursa Eifelrennen Germania (Circuit Nurburgring) (21.05) (nr. 11)

(Categoria Sport >2000 cmc – Record 115 km/h – Primul pilot care a câștigat o cursă

la debutul pe circuit, al doilea a fost britanicul Stirling Moss în 1953)

Locul 2 Marele Premiu Finlanda – Clasament General

Locul 6 Marele Premiu Luxemburg – Clasament General

Locul 2 Marele Premiu al orașului Brașov – Clasament General (după Fritz Werneck) (13.08) (nr. 3)

Locul 2 Marele Premiu al orașului București – Categoria Curse (după Hans Stuck) (25.06)

 

1940

DNS  Marele Premiu al orașului Brașov (Cursa a fost anulată) (1.09)

 

1948

Locul 2 – Marele Premiu R.P.R.(Clasament General – după Alexe de Vassal)

 

http://www.auto-bild...ndar-22667.html

Edited by Comgar, 12 September 2013 - 10:44.

[BRG]

Petre G. Cristea – Palmares în competiţii

 

1936

Locul 1   Rallye Monte Carlo (copilot Ionel Zamfirescu – 107 de participanți) (nr.16)

 

http://rallyemontecarlo1936.unblog.fr/ suggests that he was the 'co-pilote', not the driver.  Although in those days, it was perhaps less of a difference as both shared duties.

Edited by BRG, 12 September 2013 - 11:54.

[Vitesse2]

http://rallyemontecarlo1936.unblog.fr/ suggests that he was the 'co-pilote', not the driver.  Although in those days, it was perhaps less of a difference as both shared duties.

As I understand it, the car was owned and built by Cristea, with substantial help from Ford of Romania. I doubt the order of driver names is significant - see Siko/DesForest, Lahaye/Quatresous, Schell/Schell and Wisdom/Black on the same entry list for example. Might it be that only named drivers were allowed to drive in the competitive - as opposed to regularity - stages?  (O/T - how did the Schells manage to start from both Tallin and Athens? )

[Comgar]

I'm looking for Romanian single seater drivers in history (so from 1910-1990).
Matei Ghica
 

 

 

Matei Ghica

https://www.youtube....h?v=WWqtFZA4VjQ

Edited by Comgar, 12 September 2013 - 13:23.

[Comgar]

George Burianu