I am currently researching the early history of the German "ONS-Staffel". As far as I know bought the ONS (today DSMB, the national motor sport association) in the earls seventies a few Porsche 911, 914 and Ford Capris RS and used them on and at the race tracks for as rescue vehicles and early pace cars.
Does anyone know more about this cars or do you have any photos where these cars are shown?
'ONS'cars in German touring car championship (Porsche & Ford Capri RS)
Started by
JBL
, Nov 03 2006 07:25
10 replies to this topic
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#2
Rob Semmeling
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Posted 03 November 2006 - 12:25
There's an article about Herbert Linge and the ONS Staffel in a magazine called "Der Ring", published specially for the inauguration of the Nürburgring's Grand Prix course in 1984. The following info comes from this article.
Linge was the one who instigated the ONS Staffel, in the autumn of 1972. Two types of safety vehicles were developed:
R-Wagen: a fast Porsche with rescue and medical equipment on-board, piloted by a former race driver, and with a doctor on the passenger's seat. Followed the field on the first lap (I believe this was first tried in a Formula 1 Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand in 1970, when Vic Elford drove a 914).
S-Wagen: similarly equiped, but otherwise a standard saloon car. Positioned at several spots around the circuit. The objective was being able to reach any particular spot within 30 seconds.
The ONS Staffel debuted at the Jim Clark Memorial Race on April 8, 1973. An orange 911 with a big 'R' on the sides, driven by Herbert Linge, followed the field on the first lap.
The 911 may have been the first ONS safety vehicle, but they later used many other cars as well. There's a photo in the article that shows 23 cars, by Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Opel and Ford. Another photo shows a white Porsche 944 'R-Wagen', with the colours of the German flag on the sides.
Finally, there's a photo of a Toyota rescue vehicle at the Nürburgring in the book "Und am Wochenende Ringkampf".
Linge was the one who instigated the ONS Staffel, in the autumn of 1972. Two types of safety vehicles were developed:
R-Wagen: a fast Porsche with rescue and medical equipment on-board, piloted by a former race driver, and with a doctor on the passenger's seat. Followed the field on the first lap (I believe this was first tried in a Formula 1 Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand in 1970, when Vic Elford drove a 914).
S-Wagen: similarly equiped, but otherwise a standard saloon car. Positioned at several spots around the circuit. The objective was being able to reach any particular spot within 30 seconds.
The ONS Staffel debuted at the Jim Clark Memorial Race on April 8, 1973. An orange 911 with a big 'R' on the sides, driven by Herbert Linge, followed the field on the first lap.
The 911 may have been the first ONS safety vehicle, but they later used many other cars as well. There's a photo in the article that shows 23 cars, by Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Opel and Ford. Another photo shows a white Porsche 944 'R-Wagen', with the colours of the German flag on the sides.
Finally, there's a photo of a Toyota rescue vehicle at the Nürburgring in the book "Und am Wochenende Ringkampf".
#3
Rob Semmeling
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Posted 03 November 2006 - 12:31
And here's an interesting PDF-file about the ONS/DMSB-Staffel:
http://www.dmsb.de/d...lbroschuere.pdf
According to this PDF article, the first rescue vehicle was a 914.
If you look at the website http://www.dmsb-staffel.de, there's some interesting info as well.
Photo: http://www.dmsb-staf...te_premiere.jpg
http://www.dmsb.de/d...lbroschuere.pdf
According to this PDF article, the first rescue vehicle was a 914.
If you look at the website http://www.dmsb-staffel.de, there's some interesting info as well.
Photo: http://www.dmsb-staf...te_premiere.jpg
#4
JBL
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Posted 03 November 2006 - 15:04
Dear Rob,
Thank you very much for the detailed information provided, it's very helpful. I am specially interested in the Ford Capris driven by the ONS, do see any Capri it your magazine?
Thank you very much for the detailed information provided, it's very helpful. I am specially interested in the Ford Capris driven by the ONS, do see any Capri it your magazine?
#5
Rob Semmeling
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Posted 03 November 2006 - 18:13
No Capris I'm afraid.
#6
rhegra
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Posted 04 November 2006 - 19:30
Hi all, just found two pictures in old german magazins:
There are two red capris 2600 Rs I think.
Best regards, Christian
There are two red capris 2600 Rs I think.
Best regards, Christian
#7
JBL
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Posted 13 November 2006 - 21:31
Thank you very much for the photos!
#8
Zoe
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Posted 14 November 2006 - 07:25
Amazing that those cars were registered and road-legal 
On the pictures it is also a weird mix of car models and age. If my eyesight doesn't fail I can spot an Escort MkI, a Capri MkIII and even an old Volkswagen TL in the back!
Zoe
On the pictures it is also a weird mix of car models and age. If my eyesight doesn't fail I can spot an Escort MkI, a Capri MkIII and even an old Volkswagen TL in the back!
Zoe
#9
adminj
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Posted 14 November 2006 - 07:49
Here´s a Porsche 914/6. Norisring June 1973.
Please try the "FOTOS"-section.
Juergen
www.norisringhistorie.de/norframe4_73.htm
Please try the "FOTOS"-section.
Juergen
www.norisringhistorie.de/norframe4_73.htm
#10
rhegra
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Posted 15 November 2006 - 07:51
Sorry, the foto is very small, so it´s not quite easy to identify the cars: 3.row from left: Ford capri (RS 2600?), Audi 80 GTE, BMW 2002 (touring?) and two VW 1600 Variant, second row: Opel Commodore GSE, Mercedes /8, Capri 2600 RS and another commodore, first row: Carrera rs and (I think Ex Rally Monte Carlo 914/6 GT). This car is for sale at www.edmondharris.com
(Description
Chassis No. 914 043 0140.
Signal Orange / Black
Original and un-restored factory car.
Driven in the 1971 Monte Carlo Rallye, as part of the Factory team effort, by Ake Anderson (dnf).
The car was subsequently used as the first Porsche Factory 'ONS' (fire engine) car.
The car is complete with all original GT components (call with regard to engine specification) and still retains the factory project No sticker , 914/57.
The car remains a benchmark for originality and one which all other GT's should be judged against.
The car is offered for sale on behalf of a friend and is located in the USA.
Seriously interested parties can discuss the car directly with the owner.
Best regards, Christian
(Description
Chassis No. 914 043 0140.
Signal Orange / Black
Original and un-restored factory car.
Driven in the 1971 Monte Carlo Rallye, as part of the Factory team effort, by Ake Anderson (dnf).
The car was subsequently used as the first Porsche Factory 'ONS' (fire engine) car.
The car is complete with all original GT components (call with regard to engine specification) and still retains the factory project No sticker , 914/57.
The car remains a benchmark for originality and one which all other GT's should be judged against.
The car is offered for sale on behalf of a friend and is located in the USA.
Seriously interested parties can discuss the car directly with the owner.
Best regards, Christian
#11
Michael Müller
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Posted 15 November 2006 - 17:19
The cars are made available to the DMSB (and before the ONS) by the automobile manufacturers as donor. They cover also all running expenses incl road tax, insurance, etc. Look at the registration plates, Porsches and Mercedes show "S" for "Stuttgart", BMW "M" for "Munich", and so on. Therefore the carpark of the rescue squad was - and is - always a mix of various makes and models.
