8 replies to this topic

[Jon Saltinstall]

Photo histories of the Nürburgring Nordschleife are peppered with images of cars in flight, notably at Brünnchen, Pflanzgarten and Flugplatz. It's well documented that many of the "jumps" were reduced in the 1970 remodelling, though cars still "take air" to this day, but I've been wondering - when did cars start going fast enough to get airborne at the 'Ring? I can't recall seeing any historical accounts noting that this was a new phenomenon at the track (though no doubt cars were getting off the ground at open road tracks in the pioneering days, and certainly did so over the rutted concrete of Brooklands in the '30s).  

Edited by Jon Saltinstall, 26 February 2019 - 20:14.

[D-Type]

There is the well-known photo of Von Brauchitch in a Mercedes W125 aviating at Donington in 1937, so I think it is reasonable to assume that they also did so at  the 'Ring.

[Jon Saltinstall]

That crest either side of the Melbourne Hairpin was one of the most severe anywhere - I've walked up and down it many times and can attest to that!

 

I'm pretty certain that the Silver Arrows would have got airborne at the "Ring, but I'm not sure that (say) a few years earlier, a Bugatti Type 35 or a Delage would have enjoyed that kind of treatment.......

[Lee Nicolle]

A sports car went over backwards as the air got under it a few years back. Look at You tube clips for cars getting very light. Very common. Racecars, racing. road cars in a hurry as well as racecars practicing.

[Jon Saltinstall]

It's more when it started than whether it's still happening that intrigues me, Lee; the first races at the Nurburgring took place in 1927, and I was just wondering whether cars were quick enough then to get airborne (as I've not seen any photographs that show they were). The Mercedes-Benz and Auto-Union cars were certainly "jumping" there in the mid-1930s.

Edited by Jon Saltinstall, 27 February 2019 - 10:06.

[Michael Ferner]

I have seen pictures of cars getting airborne during the 1903 Gordon-Bennett races, or the 1910s Elgin Road Races, so yes, I'm pretty sure an inspiredly driven Bugatti or Delage would have gotten some air time at the 'Ring, too.

[Jon Saltinstall]

If Caracciola managed to make that brute of Mercedes-Benz Model S leap in 1927, he would have been going some !    

 

Not saying that he didn't, of course.....

[Jon Saltinstall]

Going slightly off-topic, from what I recall, the "jump" that seemed to cause drivers the most difficulty in the 1970s was the brow before El Angulo at Montjuich Park - the turn-in point for the hairpin was about the same place as the landing point. 

Edited by Jon Saltinstall, 27 February 2019 - 20:19.

[john aston]

And you can still leaping action at my favourite circuit, Cadwell. On what turned out to be contemporary F3's last visit in June 1983  Senna tried to achieve new heights for his Ralt  at the Mountain. It ended badly .    . Infuriatingly, this was the  only Cadwell F3 race I missed between 75 and 83