Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: Pawel66 on September 21, 2019, 18:35:54
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I am sure a lot of you know this, but perhaps some of you do not: https://www.facebook.com/petrolicious/videos/796418177481239/UzpfSTE0ODg4MTU2NTE3NDU2MDoyNjE5MTM3NjQxNDgyMjYx/
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Pawel, yes probably the greatest race in history, and i have read the reports about
Stirlings greatest race many times over the years.
The real facts i dont think most drivers really dont understand how tuff this, race was
over 992 miles and stirling averaged 98.5 mph. on narrow, windy, town and country roads.
Another notable fact Denis Jenkinson his navigator as Stirling said, used a toilet roll ,
was true , he designed it on a wooden like rolling pin , and as they aproached a corner,
used his hands to guide Stirling around corners at in credable speeds.
Derived from the already fantastic W194 lemans style the 300SLR was increased to 2981cc,
giving 310 BHp, Tube Space frame in Aluminuim, only weighing 880kg,and the straight eight
engine canted to the right 33degres, lower gravity and reduce crank flexing,and with
direct fuel injection, taken from the V12 Messerschmitt BF 109E fighter world war 11.
Thanks Pawel for showing this video.
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Moss won the 1955 in the "Sport oltre 2000" class.
American John Cooper Fitch won the production class the same year, the "Gran Turismo oltre 1300" class.
Many, many years later, John Cooper Fitch went to Bonneville with my friend Bob Sirna's 300SL, as Bob was trying to win something with his car. He had Fitch drive it and this event was filmed and a mini documentary prepared called "A Gullwing at Twilight"
http://www.szwedo.com/main/gullwing-product.html
In one of his many interviews at the time, Fitch was asked to compare his ride then, with his race in 1955. He laughed and said something to the effect of Bonneville was a straight line under good conditions; in 1955 it was on all kinds of roads at night and in the rain...
John Cooper Fitch was perhaps one of the most interesting racers ever to grace the sport. A prodigious inventor, too.