12 replies to this topic

[René de Boer]

This week, I had the pleasure to attend the press launch of the new Audi TT 3.2 quattro with the DSG sequental gearbox - an excellent system with some kind of pre-selector. Paul Frère was at hand to tell that a pre-selector gearbox had already been used in HWM and ERA machines, and then by Audi in the Pikes Peak-winning quattro S1, but Audi has now brought it to a new standard, with smooth shifting taking only 0.2 seconds, great fun to drive on the French mountain roads and motorways!

The launch took place in Roquebrune near Monaco, and the route of the Nice-La Turbie hill climb was included in the test itinerary. Audi even brought their Silver Arrow Type C replica down, which was on display in front of the hotel. Because I want to add a historical sidebar to my TT-story, I need a little more information about Auto Union in the Nice-La Turbie hill climb. Obviously, I know that Hans Stuck won it four times in a row for them from 1936 till 1939, but were there any other drivers taking part with Auto Union? Thanks in advance for the information!

[Vitesse2]

Hans will have the definitive answer, but from the results in Nixon it would appear no other AU drivers took part. In fact, AUs seldom climbed outside the Reich and Stuck seems to have been the only driver to venture abroad, apart from a single outing for Varzi at Stelvio in 1935 (5th place).

[Holger Merten]

René, first correction, Stuck won there between 1935 to 1938.

Since 1935 AU started with special modiefied "Mountain climbers", featured by a lightweight short- wheelbase chassis and minimized fuel tankage, but always with the V16 engine (also for the Typ D).

Twin-rim rear wheels for the AU where first used in 1936, on the 6th june 1936 by an inviation of the Midland Automible Club (Shelsey Walsh). So on 9 April Stuck didn't start with twin-rim rear wheels in France.

In 1937 at La Turbie, Stuck drove the latest Typ C for a Hillclimb. Later on (sine 1938) AU used the modified Typ D with V16 engines.

RECORDS AT LA TURBIE FOR STUCK IN_ 1936, 1937, 1938. I have no data for 1935, for the moment.

If you need more infos, send an e-mail.

[Marcor]

Even if you condider Austria as not abroad, Auto Union took part in some Mountainraces out of Germany, mainly with Hans Stuck. But yes It seems that no other driver, except a one-off Varzi appearence, drove an Auto-Union in a Mountain (Hill) race out of Germany or Austria.

Klausenpass (Switzerland), 5 August 1934, Hans Stuck, 2nd overall.
Mont Ventoux (France), 16 September 1934, Hans Stuck, 1st overall.
Stelvio (Italy), 1 September 1935, Achille Varzi, 6th overall.
La Turbie (France), 9 April 1936, Hans Stuck, 1st.
Shelsley Walsh (UK), 6 June 1936, Hans Stuck, 5th overall (1st + 4 L).
La Turbie (France), 5 August 1937, Hans Stuck, 1st.
La Turbie (France), 5 August 1938, Hans Stuck, 1st.
Maloja Pass (Switzerland), 25 September 1938, Hans Stuck, 1st.
Feleac (Romania), 05 October 1938, Hans Stuck, 1st.
Schulerau (Romania), Late 38, Hans Stuck, 1st.
Tojan (?), ? 1938, Hans Stuck, ?
La Turbie (France), 13 April 1939, Hans Stuck, 1st.

Maybe OT but some Auto Union took part in the Marathon de la Route Liège-Rome-Liège.
1)- in 1937:
W. Kraemer / Weidaner, 4 cylinder-1093 cc Auto Union DKW, 8th
August Momberger / F. Traegner, 4 cylinder-1093 cc Auto Union DKW, DNF.
Lein / Lindner, 4 cylinder-1093 cc Auto Union DKW, DNF.

2)- in 1938:
Tragner / Fritzching, 6 cylinder-1949 cc Auto Union, 8th.
Weidaner / Wenzel, 4 cylinder-1093 cc Auto Union, 18th.
Momberger / Count Sandizell, 6 cylinder-1949 cc Auto Union, DNF.
Kramer (Kraemer ?) / Munzert, 6 cylinder-1949 cc Auto Union, DNF.

3)- in 1939:
M. Muller, Wenz, 2651 cc Auto Union Wanderer, 4th.
Momberger / Waidauer (Waidaner ?), 2651 cc Auto Union Wanderer, 5th.
Tragner / Fritzching, 2651 cc Auto Union Wanderer, 12th.
U. Bigalke / Ziegler, 2651 cc Auto Union Wanderer, DNF.
Kramer / Meier, 2651 cc Auto Union Wanderer, DNF.

Auto-Union Wanderer won the Constructors Cup.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Originally posted by Vitesse2
Hans will have the definitive answer...

AFAICS, all questions have been answered.

BTW, the 1935 La Turbie climb was won by Jean Pierre Wimille (Bugatti) on April 18.

[Holger Merten]

BTW, the 1935 La Turbie climb was won by Jean Pierre Wimille (Bugatti) on April 18.

Are you sure Hans?

That's new for me.

@ René:

Hans Stuck was the "Mountain Master" of the 30s, "unfortunetly" his team mad Rosemeyer was even better, when he started im his short carreer. But overall Stuck was the man at the hill. Especiall, if we talk about the AU's and the special mid-size engine. Stuck and the wheel spin at the mountain must be great.

I saw the Typ C/D at the Klausenpass 5 years ago (with other cars). In some curves this cars must be horrable with the wheel spin.

Don't underestimate the power of the force.

[Vitesse2]

Holger: René was correct in stating that Stuck won from 1936-39.

1936 ... the record now stood to Jean-Pierre Wimille, who had recorded 3min 43.2sec .... in 1935. The Frenchman was on hand to defend his record ....

Nixon, page 260

[Marcor]

No doubt, Jean Pierre Wimille won the 1935 edition. He had indeed recorded 3min 43.2sec. He also won in 1932 and 1933.

Hans stuck first won the event in 1929, driving an Austro-Daimler, so he was a 5 times winner.

[Holger Merten]

Holger: René was correct in stating that Stuck won from 1936-39.

Richard, thanks a lot I must correct that in my datafiles

(I wrote it in an Audi broschure about the mountain climbers from 1934- 39 a few years ago)

[Leif Snellman]

Originally posted by Marcor
No doubt, Jean Pierre Wimille won the 1935 edition. He had indeed recorded 3min 43.2sec. He also won in 1932 and 1933.

And Dreyfus (Bugatti) was the 1934 (29 March) winner.

[Holger Merten]

Originally posted by Vitesse2
Holger: René was correct in stating that Stuck won from 1936-39.



Nixon, page 260

Which book?

[Hans Etzrodt]

Nixon, Chris,
Racing the Silver Arrows,
London: Osprey Publishing Limited, 1986.

[Holger Merten]

Originally posted by Vitesse2
Holger: René was correct in stating that Stuck won from 1936-39.



Nixon, page 260

Yes Richard, I had a look in some other sources, Stuck won in La Turbie for four times between 1936-1939. My Kirchberg book wans't correct.