93 replies to this topic

[Hans Etzrodt]

Hans Stuck supposedly raced on Wednesday, October 5, 1938 at the Feleac climb near Bukarest. He won on this 7.000 km Cluy-Brasov course but different speeds and times were given, either 2m49s or 2m56s. Questions remain to the correct time, whether this was a solo run or was it a contest with other racing or sports cars participating? Why was the event held on a Wednesday and is the date correct?

At another Romanian race on Sunday, October 16, Stuck’s Auto Union won the Schulerau event, near Kronstadt. His time was a conceivable 3m18.4s, followed by Peter Christea’s BMW 328. Question: Was this a hill climb? If so, what length was the course and what other pertinent information can be found about this 1938 event?

I hope that our Auto Union experts here at TNF will manage to shed some more light at these small events, considering their unlimited archive and other connections to AU.

[Holger Merten]

I hope that our Auto Union experts here at TNF will manage to shed some more light at these small events, considering their unlimited archive and other connections to AU.

I thought, that you will come up with that question Hans ;), I will have a look in my sources, when I'm at home. But we need some other specialists, cause AU is not well documentated about that romania races. The race near Bukarest was a solo run for Stuck, sure with other race cars, but no GP racers. Stuck was invited by the king.

For Kronstadt, I must have a look in my data. Give me some hours to connect Hans Stuck with Hans Etzrodt.

[Marcor]

Feleac: Les Sports (Belgium) gave 2' 56" (142 km/h).
no other info about the other event, I just had Stuck (Auto Union)...

[Holger Merten]

Just to add something to the thread I found on this site.



Look at the legend: 1940 . Impossible for me.

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Holger Merten
Just to add something to the thread I found on this site.



Look at the legend: 1940 . Impossible for me.

I queried this picture a while back in the thread Ettiwed started about Romania and was met by a deafening silence. Unlikely but not impossible though Holger - Romania was still neutral in 1940, although heavily involved with Nazi Germany. And didn't one of the AUs surface in Romania? Maybe the car in the picture?

Somewhere in my library (but it may be packed away) I have a very turgid book about Romania in this period, written by a diplomat who was there at the time. I don't think there's anything about racing in it, but I'll try to dig it out.

[Vitesse2]

I've revisited that site a few times and am starting to get the gist of Romanian - it's not too far away from French - it appears that in 1938 and 1939 the event was called "Marele Premiu al Brasovului" (Brasov Grand Prix). Of course that doesn't preclude it being a hillclimb, but the word "coasta" seems relevant there.

I'm getting thoroughly confused by the references to Feleac and Brasov, but it appears to me that there just might have been a race of some sort as well as one or more hillclimbs.

Anybody know any Romanians?

[Holger Merten]

And didn't one of the AUs surface in Romania? Maybe the car in the picture?

No, that was Prague, a Typ D, which now stands near Frankfurt (owned by an Asian businessman, who couldn’t export the car.).

And don't underestimate, how much work is was to prepare an AU for a race. I saw it many times with a Typ C (from the Deutsches Museum) at Kesselberg in 1992 and at the Eifel Klassik (Nürburgring 1994), when they prepared the two Typ D for their first rollout after 55 years. To make an AU run, it takes under best circumstances 30-45 min, changing plugs and so on.

By the moment I couldn't believe in that picture. The picture shows not a Typ D – I think it’s a Typ C., but we know, that AU used every part from the Typ C to built up new Typ D's. They only used the V16 engines for the Typ C/D Hillclimbers (Typ C engine- Typ D body).

But everything could be possible. Perhaps Brun knows more. I will have a look in my data files – Kirchberg says, after Belgrade there was no more rollout for the Silverarros from Zwickau.

[Marcor]

BRASOV and FELEAC

I've got references to the Feleac hillclimb from 1930, September 29th (or 28th), which was part of the European Mountain Championship. Racing car class was won by Hans Stuck (Austro Daimler 4 L) and Sportscar class by Lichtenstein (Bugatti).

In 1931 Feleac had to be part of the European championship again, planned date was September 27th, but was cancelled. Other cancelled rounds of the E.C. were Malchamps (B), La Bernina (CH) and Semmering (Austria),

I've also dates for 1932, 1933 and 1936 but no results (except that Basadonna was there in 1936).

Also a race at Brasov in 1935, September 1st, 102 km organised by the Moto Club Român Brasov and won by Misu Sontag (Bugatti) in 1h 24m 03s (72.6 km/h). 2nd was Ing. Petre Carpe (also Bugatti).

Also an event at Brasov in 1939, don't know more....

[Holger Merten]

Hans Stuck supposedly raced on Wednesday, October 5, 1938 at the Feleac climb near Bukarest. He won on this 7.000 km Cluy-Brasov course but different speeds and times were given, either 2m49s or 2m56s.

Hans, same date, some track as a Hillclimb. I have a racedistance from about 7 km and a Average speed from about 149.18km/h. No more informations about the race by the moment.

[Holger Merten]

At another Romanian race on Sunday, October 16, Stuck’s Auto Union won the Schulerau event, near Kronstadt. His time was a conceivable 3m18.4s, followed by Peter Christea’s BMW 328. Question: Was this a hill climb? If so, what length was the course and what other pertinent information can be found about this 1938 event?

Hans for the moment I could only confirm the date and Stuck as winner. And that it was a hillclimb. No trackname, no distances, no Average Speed. But the search will go on.;)

[Vitesse2]

Okay, here's an attempt at translation (without the benefit of ever having studied Romanian, or even a dictionary)

Petre Cristea

In 1939, la Nurburgring (Germania), iese primul la categoria sport, pe un BMW de 2000 cmc. Stabileste viteza medie de 115 km/h, record batut abia in 1953 de catre Stirling Moss. Reuseste primul loc, categoria curse, la cursa La Turbie (Franta). Iese al doilea in Marele Premiu al Finlandei, al saselea in Marele Premiu al Luxemburgului si al doilea in Marele Premiu al Brasovului. In MP al Bucurestiului iese al doilea, dupa Hans Stuck (Auto Union de 600 CP).

In 1939, at the Nurburgring, won sports car class in 2 litre BMW. Set fastest lap at 115km/h, a record not beaten until 1953, by Stirling Moss. Placed first [??????] in [??????] class at La Turbie. Second in Finnish GP, sixth in Luxembourg GP and second also in the Brasov GP. In Bucharest GP, second again, behind Hans Stuck in a 600HP[????] (6-litre????) Auto Union.

So there's your second place man Marc. Can you or Hans fill in the La Turbie gaps?

[Brun]

An Auto Union in Romania in 1940? Impossible, I say! I dare add: impossible indeed! (add smiley for foaming-at-the-mouth).

Last time AU visited Romania was on June 25th 1939. Stuck raced a mountain near Bukarest and apparently won.

After the Belgrade Grand Prix, both Mercedes and AU quickly made their way back home. Germany had gone to war a couple of days before. When the AU team finally reached Zwickau, the German army was already waiting at the gate to impound their trucks. The cars never raced for Auto Union again.

As for Schulerau and Feleac: nothing to add from my limited sources...

[Holger Merten]

Hans as I confirmened:

In my Cheminitz original proofen datafiles: Feleac took part on oct. 2nd. (that solves your Wednesday problem - and makes it a sunday event).

Brun would confirm that with a look in our sources bible.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Brun
.....When the AU team finally reached Zwickau, the German army was already waiting at the gate to impound their trucks.....

What an interesting sidelight...

Did the same happen at the M-B works?

[Holger Merten]

Interesting question Ray.

But I think both German companies more or less closed their racing deprtments, waiting for oppurtunities for 1940.

(Brun described the AU situation on 8W in his Typ E article. Perhaps MB was in a better position after Tripolis to wait for their chance.)

What do you know (mean) more?

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Ray Bell


What an interesting sidelight...

Did the same happen at the M-B works?

I believe so - I've seen reference to this somewhere (Nixon?). In his autobiography Lang describes the journey back from Belgrade and how, in Vienna, Neubauer distributed the last of the fuel in the team's tanker to the individual team members so that they could get home.

[Ray Bell]

No, Holger, I know no more, nor need to know any more...

Thanks Richard. I don't think that's mentioned in Neubauer's book either... they must have been tense times for some of them.

[uechtel]

As the lucky owner of a brand new copy of Rainer Simons book about the BMW 328 perhaps I can add a little bit more of information about the 1940 event. Here my translation effort:

"... while in September 1940 there was a final effort to run two events of some greater importance: The Grand Prix of Kronstadt and the Romanian Grand Prix.

On invitation of the Romanian king BMW had agreed to attend the race with their Mille Miglia roadsters. Auto Union promised to bring one of their Silver Arrows to the start. Both German teams made the journey to Romania together in a convoi.

Already in 1939 there had been a Kronstadt GP which had been won by Dr. Fritz Werneck in the 1.5 litre class (BMW 315/1). He joined the caravan, too, to be there also in 1940. BMW had intended von Hanstein, Briem and Bäumer as their drivers... They were accompanied by Ernst Loof in a BMW 321 with a 328 engine. The team - some of the men were soldiers and were on extra holidays - had intended to stay a little longer in Romania to take poart also in the Romanian GP which was scheduled a week later.

WHEN PRACTISE AT KRONSTADT WAS IN FULL GOING came the signal for retirement. Hungarian troops had invaded Romania and so also this part of Europe had been grasped by the war. It lasted some concerning weeks until the convoi of racecars returned at home safely..."

[uechtel]

So with Mercedes not involved certainly no reason for Neubauer to write anything about this.

And I forgot also to mention, that to proof this there is also a picture in the book, showing the Mille Miglia car of Briem with No. 14 (!!! - so NO Mille Miglia shot!) and in front of that Werneck´s Special (No. 2), just being passed by some Romanian horse carriages!

[Vitesse2]

Uechtel: that is an AMAZING post

So it looks like Stuck WAS in Romania in 1940!!

[uechtel]

Yes, I would conclude that, but his name is not mentioned in the text. Of course the book concerns only with the BMW part of the adventure.

[Vitesse2]

Another attempt:

In anul 1937, pe Ford V8, iese al 7-lea din 172 de concurenti in Raliul Monte Carlo, pierzind locul 1 prin penalizare pentru dimensiunile aripilor. In MP al Brasovului obtine locul 1 la categoria sport si 2 la categoria curse. Cistiga Coasta de la Poiana Brasov si Sinaia (locul 2 la categoria curse), coasta internationala de la Feleac la categoria sport si locul 2 la categoria curse.

In 1938, pe BMW, participa la Marele Premiu al Portugaliei unde obtine locul 1 la categoria sport. La Gross Glockner (Austria) iese pe locul 2 la categoria sport. Cistiga MP al Bucurestiului, MP al Brasovului (categ. sport), Coasta de la Sinaia si Cupa Carpatilor. Iese al doilea la Coasta de la Feleac si cea de la Poiana Brasov.

In 1937 came 7th of 172 starters in the Monte Carlo Rally in a V8 Ford [????] 1 penalty point [?????]. In Brasov GP took 1st place in sports category and second overall. Took part in [???] Brasov-Sinaia Hill Climb (2nd in racing car class), second in racing car class in Feleac International Hill Climb.

In 1938, participated in Portuguese GP in a BMW, winning sports car class. Second in sports car class at the Grossglockner. Took part in [?????] Bucharest GP, Brasov GP (sports car class), Sinaia hillclimb for the Carpathian Cup. Second in the Feleac hillclimb [and also???] in the Brasov hillclimb [or sprint perhaps?]

[Vitesse2]

Hmm - Brasov to Sinaia is a distance of 24 miles! Long, even for a European hillclimb, I'd have thought.

[Ray Bell]

Perhaps it's on a road between the two towns?

[Holger Merten]

Uechtel, Richard, yes that is new information. GREAT to know that, yestserday I didn't find anything in my datafiles from Chemnitz. There the racing period end in 1939 with an outlook on 1940/1941, (as Brun wrote in his 8W article).

[Hans Etzrodt]

Originally posted by Holger Merten
Hans as I confirmened:

In my Cheminitz original proofen datafiles: Feleac took part on oct. 2nd. (that solves your Wednesday problem - and makes it a sunday event).

Brun would confirm that with a look in our sources bible.

Holger - Thank you for your information regarding the correct date.

In reference to your source details provided above, I have to disclose that there is a big difference between my old list now displayed on Leif's home page and my upcoming list of mountain climb winners. The newer list often includes very specific and sometimes rather detailed source information (in non-visible fields), which I thought essential to help eliminate the various contradictions. It also serves as a quick reference guide. Therefore it has become necessary for me to accept information only if backed up by detailed source information.

Consequently, I will very much appreciate if you would please provide a more detailed source with the October 2, 1938 date. Some kind of magazine, document or file number, which can be referred to in the future, will suffice.

[Holger Merten]

The 2nd October is from the register of the riginal AU documents from the Findbuch Auto Union -Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, publishe doin 2000 which contains an overview and a description about all AU documents in Chemnitz. Therefor I believe in the 2nd October.

I found the 5th October in the Cancelierri book from 1978 and afterwards on in every other book about AU race results, like Kirchberg and so on.

[Brun]

Originally posted by Ray Bell


What an interesting sidelight...

Did the same happen at the M-B works?

Not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised.

I am sure I read this story somewhere, but I can't dig it up :

[Brun]

Uechtel, you've left me stunned. Now I have to find a handkerchief to wipe away the angry spit I earlier mentioned and retire to a dark corner in deep deep shame. From there, I will probe at this story with some very careful thought.

This event is completely new to me, I've never read about it before and found no reference to it in the archives. That is a little puzzling though, because the Auto Union bean counters tracked every little bit of expense spent on racing. I remember clearly that there were no 1940 entries for hotel bills, preparing and running a race car, fuel costs for transportation etc. For comparison: those figures are there for all earlier years.

Of course, with NSKK support, Auto Union could've made it to Romania in that year. The racing department still had the people and resources to do it, too. But I mean, Romania: that's not like a testrun on the next-door Sachsenring. I wonder why the archives did not mention it at all...?

[Holger Merten]

[QUOTE]wonder why the archives did not mention it at all...? [QUOTE]

Perhaps it was a job by someone from romania, invitation of the king, the romanian importer, whatelse, and the bill was payed by someelse.....?

[Brun]

Just took a peek in some of my books and enlarged the picture from the Romanian website. Of course, I wanted to make sure that it didn't show the Typ E on a secret testrun

The car shown is a hillclimber Typ C/D, with its 16-cylinder tail and the Typ D-front. I couldn't verify the number on it (40 or 41, I believe), but it looks identical to Stuck's 1939 car that landed up in Riga. Including the details like the small rear view mirror next to the cockpit and the air intake on the tail.

The guy with the white cap is Stuck of course. And the man he's talking to on our right (his left) has a striking resemblance to Von Eberan.

If the picture really does show a 1940 event, then it's the last image of an Auto Union in action before the factory ceased to exist. Wow

[anjakub]

From BMW Archiv:

Brasov Grand Prix 1940

The BMW work team cars took part in the practice session, but did not start the actual race due to the war situation.
In Brasov were Huschke von Hanstein - BMW 328 "Mille Miglia" Bügelfalten-Roadster (reg. IIA-52114, #15), Wilhelm Briem - BMW 328 "Mille Miglia" Touring Roadster (reg. IIA-43269, #16) and Walter Bäumer - BMW 328 "Mille Miglia" Touring Roadster (reg. IIA-43379, #17).

Details: www.historischesarchiv.bmw.de

[uechtel]

Originally posted by Brun
Uechtel, you've left me stunned. Now I have to find a handkerchief to wipe away the angry spit I earlier mentioned and retire to a dark corner in deep deep shame. From there, I will probe at this story with some very careful thought.

This event is completely new to me, I've never read about it before and found no reference to it in the archives. That is a little puzzling though, because the Auto Union bean counters tracked every little bit of expense spent on racing. I remember clearly that there were no 1940 entries for hotel bills, preparing and running a race car, fuel costs for transportation etc. For comparison: those figures are there for all earlier years.

Of course, with NSKK support, Auto Union could've made it to Romania in that year. The racing department still had the people and resources to do it, too. But I mean, Romania: that's not like a testrun on the next-door Sachsenring. I wonder why the archives did not mention it at all...?

Brun, what have I done? I think there is no need for YOU to get ashamed. I don´t think that many of the other TNFers here had been aware of that, too. I for myself know about this since less than a week...

And like you I am very surprised, too, to see the amount of information, that pops up everywhere around at the moment. And I wonder why all this happens now and has not bekome known earlier. The information must have been available all the time.

[rtcoman]

Petre Cristea


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 1939, la Nurburgring (Germania), iese primul la categoria sport, pe un BMW de 2000 cmc. Stabileste viteza medie de 115 km/h, record batut abia in 1953 de catre Stirling Moss. Reuseste primul loc, categoria curse, la cursa La Turbie (Franta). Iese al doilea in Marele Premiu al Finlandei, al saselea in Marele Premiu al Luxemburgului si al doilea in Marele Premiu al Brasovului. In MP al Bucurestiului iese al doilea, dupa Hans Stuck (Auto Union de 600 CP).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



In 1939, at the Nurburgring, won sports car class in 2 litre BMW. Set fastest lap at 115km/h, a record not beaten until 1953, by Stirling Moss. Placed first [??????] in [??????] class at La Turbie. Second in Finnish GP, sixth in Luxembourg GP and second also in the Brasov GP. In Bucharest GP, second again, behind Hans Stuck in a 600HP[????] (6-litre????) Auto Union.

Set average speed at 115 km/h
racing car category
600 HP Auto Union

[rtcoman]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In anul 1937, pe Ford V8, iese al 7-lea din 172 de concurenti in Raliul Monte Carlo, pierzind locul 1 prin penalizare pentru dimensiunile aripilor. In MP al Brasovului obtine locul 1 la categoria sport si 2 la categoria curse. Cistiga Coasta de la Poiana Brasov si Sinaia (locul 2 la categoria curse), coasta internationala de la Feleac la categoria sport si locul 2 la categoria curse.

In 1938, pe BMW, participa la Marele Premiu al Portugaliei unde obtine locul 1 la categoria sport. La Gross Glockner (Austria) iese pe locul 2 la categoria sport. Cistiga MP al Bucurestiului, MP al Brasovului (categ. sport), Coasta de la Sinaia si Cupa Carpatilor. Iese al doilea la Coasta de la Feleac si cea de la Poiana Brasov.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



In 1937 came 7th of 172 starters in the Monte Carlo Rally in a V8 Ford [????] 1 penalty point [?????]. In Brasov GP took 1st place in sports category and second overall. Took part in [???] Brasov-Sinaia Hill Climb (2nd in racing car class), second in racing car class in Feleac International Hill Climb.

In 1938, participated in Portuguese GP in a BMW, winning sports car class. Second in sports car class at the Grossglockner. Took part in [?????] Bucharest GP, Brasov GP (sports car class), Sinaia hillclimb for the Carpathian Cup. Second in the Feleac hillclimb [and also???] in the Brasov hillclimb [or sprint perhaps?]

losing 1st place because of a penalty for wing dimensions
2nd place racing category
Wins Poiana Brasov hillclimb and Sinaia hillclimb (2nd place racing class), Feleac International hillclimb in sports car and 2nd place in racing category.
Wins Bucharest GP, Brasov GP (sports car class), Sinaia hillclimb and the Carpathians` Cup.
<2nd place> in Poiana Brasov hillclimb.

[Marcor]

13 Avril 1939, La Turbie
Racing car 2 L class: 1st Cristea, BMW 328 #37, 3m 54s 3/5, 5th overall

Overall (and racing cars) results
1- Stuck, Auto Union #20, 3m 28s 1/5 (8 L class)
2- Wimille, Bugatti T59/50B 4700 cc #23, 3m 31s 1/5 (5 L class)
3- Sommer, Alfa Romeo 308 #48, 3m 41s (3 L class)
3ex- Le Bègue, Talbot #24, 3m 41s (5 L class)
5- Cristea, BMW 328 #37, 3m 54s 3/5 (2 L class)
6- de Graffenried, Maserati #27, 3m 57s 4/5 (3 L class)

[Don Capps]

Editorial Comment: This is exactly why we have this forum.

[anjakub]

near by thread:

Petre G. Cristea
rallies and races results:
1931
11th in Monte-Carlo Rally.
1935
1st in Feleac Hillclimb (sports cars),
1st in Brasov Grand Prix (sports cars).
1936
1st in Monte-Carlo Rally,
1st in Bucharest Grand Prix (sports cars),
1st in Poiana Brasov hillclimb (overall).
1937
1st in Brasov Grand Prix (sports cars),
1st in Inter-Balkan Rally (overall).
1st in Carpathian Trophy (overall),
1st in Sibiu Hillclimb (sports cars),
1st in Poiana Brasov hillclimb (record),
1st in Sinaia Hillclimb (sports cars).
1938:
1st in Bucharest Grand Prix (racing cars and sports cars),
1st in Grand Prix of Villa Real, Portugal (up to 2000 cc),
1st in Carpathian Trophy (overall),
1st in Brasov Grand Prix (sports cars), 1st in Brasov Grand Prix (racing cars),
1st in Sinaia Hillclimb (racing cars, record),
1st in Feleac Grand Prix (sports cars), 2nd in Feleac Grand Prix (racing cars),
2nd in Grossglockner Hillclimb (sports cars),
2nd in Schwarzenberg Hillclimb, Romania (racing cars).
1939:
1st in La Turbie Hillclimb (racing cars),
2nd in Bucharest Grand Prix.

In 1938 and 1939 at the wheel of the BMW

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Don Capps
Editorial Comment: This is exactly why we have this forum.

"Some days are diamonds..."

[Doug Nye]

Fantastic - TNF is a genuine gold mine inhabited by truly golden miners...

Well done fellers....

DCN (HIF - Hugely Impressed of Farnham, I have the Simons book too and had not yet had the chance to browse through it sufficiently deeply to discover these gems)

[uechtel]

Originally posted by Don Capps
Editorial Comment: This is exactly why we have this forum.

yes, a wonderful place! And highly addictive...


And Anjakub, thanx for reminding me to the link to the BMW archive! There are lots of pictures from the journey to this event there! And this shot from parctise:

[Marcor]

More about Cristea.
24 January 1931, Mont des Mules hillclimb, 5th Touring cars 5 L, Dodge #204
1933, Rallye de Monte Carlo, started from Athens, Dodge #42
21 June 1936, Hungary GP at Budapest, NA, Ford Special V9 #30
28 May 1939, GP des Frontières at Chimay, DNF, BMW 328
10 September 1939, 12 Heures de Paris at Monthléry, Entered (race cancelled), BMW 328

[uechtel]

More Kronstadt pictures from the BMW archive:





But alas, no sign of the Auto Union. Only the car in the background of the second picture seems to be of Saxonian origin. An Audi?

Perhaps I should leave that to our Auto Union experts here

[Vitesse2]

In Uechtel's first BMW picture, is that de Vassal's car (seen here post war) in the background?

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by uechtel
Already in 1939 there had been a Kronstadt GP which had been won by Dr. Fritz Werneck in the 1.5 litre class (BMW 315/1). He joined the caravan, too, to be there also in 1940. BMW had intended von Hanstein, Briem and Bäumer as their drivers... They were accompanied by Ernst Loof in a BMW 321 with a 328 engine. The team - some of the men were soldiers and were on extra holidays - had intended to stay a little longer in Romania to take poart also in the Romanian GP which was scheduled a week later.

WHEN PRACTISE AT KRONSTADT WAS IN FULL GOING came the signal for retirement. Hungarian troops had invaded Romania and so also this part of Europe had been grasped by the war. It lasted some concerning weeks until the convoi of racecars returned at home safely..."

From Bartleby.com:

Aug. 30 Under pressure from Berlin and Rome, the government agreed to yield an area of 16,642 square miles with a population of almost 2.4 million to Hungary (Vienna conference).
Sept. 6 Under pressure from the Iron Guard, King Carol fled and was replaced by his son, Michael.
Sept. 8 A further territorial cession of some 3,000 square miles (southern Dobrudja) was demanded by, and yielded to, Bulgaria (Treaty of Craiova).
Oct. 8 German troops entered Romania to “protect” the oil fields.

No mention of a Hungarian "invasion" , but presumably they moved into their new lands quite quickly.

My guess for the dates of the two races would therefore be September 1st (Kronstadt GP) and 8th (Romanian GP). BUT the Italian GP had originally been scheduled for the 8th too, so who knows? Perhaps AU had already set transport aside to get to Italy and decided to use it to go to Romania instead?

In the WW2 Racing thread, Tony Kaye posted a date for the Feleac hillclimb in 1940, which was to take place on October 6th.

[Vitesse2]

Dammit, this picture is annoying! The car in the background seems to be Cristea's - presumably his BMW: compare the grille to the cars in the 1940 pictures - yet it looks to have been converted to an open-wheel configuration, perhaps with the usual removable cycle-type mudguards as demonstrated on de Vassal's car? I'd love to know whether it had been converted to a single-seater too ....

[Holger Merten]

Yes it is Cristea's BMW, we found it out in a german forum by checking the starter list.

[Brun]

Originally posted by uechtel
But alas, no sign of the Auto Union. Only the car in the background of the second picture seems to be of Saxonian origin. An Audi?

Perhaps I should leave that to our Auto Union experts here

Well, I'm sure it was never BMW's and Audi's intention that someone compared their archives, but I did it anyway and found a picture of an identical car. It's an Audi Front of the late '30s model. Well guessed Uechtel

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Holger Merten
Yes it is Cristea's BMW, we found it out in a german forum by checking the starter list.

But what did the rest of it look like?

[Holger Merten]

I think Uechtel knows more.