A Tesla for Christmas!

 

Seriously, the Tesla S is a car I desire, even though it has been around for quite some time. It is perhaps the most important car of the 21st century.

Merry Christmas And A Happy 2024!

 

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

 

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run -- November 5, 2023

Photograph of the “Emancipation Run” from London to Brighton on 14 November 1896, taken in front of the Hotel Metropole in Brighton. (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archives: U77666)

Mercedes-Benz Classic will take part in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (LBVCR) on 5 November 2023 with a 1904 Mercedes Simplex 28/32 hp. The vehicle from the Mercedes-Benz Classic collection is currently a highlight exhibit at Mercedes-Benz World in Brooklands. Only vehicles built up to and including 1904 are permitted at the LBVCR. It dates back to 1896, making it one of the oldest motoring events in the world. Automobile pioneer Gottlieb Daimler also took part in the first event 127 years ago.

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

The history goes back to the “Highway Act” of 1865, also called the “Red Flag Act”: this restricted the maximum speed of self-propelled vehicles with steam propulsion in England to 6.4 km/h (4 mph). In built-up areas, the limit was as low as 3.2 km/h (2 mph). Until 1878, a person with a red flag was required to walk ahead of the vehicle and warn other road users.

In 1896, the speed limit for road vehicles was raised to 19.2 km/h (12 mph). On 14 November 1896, motorists celebrated this liberalisation with the “Emancipation Run” from London to the seaside resort of Brighton, 96 kilometres (60 miles) away. A total of 33 vehicles took part. The vast majority were powered by internal combustion engines, but there were also five steam cars and five electric cars. Automobile inventor Gottlieb Daimler took part as a passenger in a Daimler Vis-à-Vis 3 hp. He was a guest of his business partner, Frederick R. Simms. In 1890, Simms acquired the rights to use Daimler’s engine patents in Great Britain and founded Daimler Motor Syndicate Limited in 1893. In addition to models from Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie., the starting field included several cars from Panhard & Levassor with Daimler engines and at least one Arnold Motor Car derived from the Benz Velo under licence.

In 1927, the historic run was commemorated and reinaugurated. The date was fixed as the beginning of November, with usually rather inhospitable weather. The first Sunday in November quickly established itself for the “Run”, hosted by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC). The gathering of the vehicles in London’s Hyde Park in the early morning hours, and the preparation of their propulsion systems ranging from steamers to combustion engines, is an impressive spectacle. The RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run – as it is currently known – will start at sunrise, i.e. at 7:01 a.m., on 5 November 2023. Two-, three- or four-wheeled vehicles built before 1905 are permitted. The drive systems obtain their energy from steam, batteries, petrol – or muscle power: since 2017, historic bicycles have also been allowed to participate.

Mercedes-Simplex 28/32 hp touring car, built in 1904. Contemporary crack drawing from the left. (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archives: Mercedes-Simplex_28-32_HP_5137)

Mercedes-Simplex 28/32 hp, 1904

The Mercedes Simplex models were among the outstanding innovators in automotive history. With their modern concept of a flat vehicle design, the engine installed low down in the frame and the honeycomb radiator, they fundamentally changed the history of mobility from 1902 onwards. The Mercedes 35 hp with this completely new vehicle architecture appeared in 1900. From 1902 onwards, the Mercedes Simplex model family paved the way for the brand’s success and ushered in the breathtaking development of the entire automotive industry: 120 years ago, the Simplex models created the blueprint for modern automotive engineering. The 1904 Mercedes-Simplex 28/32 hp taking part in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2023 was in production until 1909. Its four-cylinder engine has a displacement of 5,322 cubic centimetres and delivers an output of 24 kW (32 hp) at 1,200 rpm.

Technical data – Mercedes-Simplex 28/32 hp
Production year: 1904
Cylinders: 4/In-line
Displacement: 5,322 cc
Output: 24 kW (32 hp)
Top speed: 60 km/h

A Halloween Decoration for your Yard

 Hi folks -- for only about $115 at Walmart, you too can place a VW Bus with Scary figures in your yard

I never did understand why people do this! But the Bus is iconic in popular culture, and makes everyone smile.

IMAGES FROM HERSHEY, PART II: A 1935 RILEY, DASH SHOTS OF A DUAL GHIA AND 1955 MERCEDES 300S

YES, PAULA, ALL THESE CARS WERE FOR SALE!  YOU COULD NOW BE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A 1955 MERCEDES 300S, OR DUAL GHIA, OR 1935 RILEY, ZIPPING THROUGH THE RURAL ROADS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!

Images from the AACA Eastern Fall Meet at Hershey, October, 2023 -- a 1921 Mercer, 1947 Fiat Topolino, and More

 Great time at the event.  Attached are a few photos of cars that were for sale at the Car Corral. Actually, the Mercer was on the Field. I wish I could spend the whole week scouring the areas around the Giant Center. 

The Mercer ran at Indianapolis in 1931. The Topolino is an iconic design and one of the important small cars designed in the 1930s. It marks the democratization  of the motor car in Europe beginning in the Fascist 1930s that extended the automobile to the middle and working classes after World War II. 

Preview: Qatar Grand Prix: 2023

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   Fact File: Qatar Grand Prix

   • The F1 Sprint returns for the first time since the Belgian Grand Prix back in August.

   • This will be the fourth sprint event of the season, following Baku, Austria, and Spa.

   • There are still two more sprint events to come before the end of the season: the

     United States Grand Prix in Austin and the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos.

   • Following F1's inaugural visit to the Lusail International Circuit back in 2021, the

     circuit has been completely resurfaced.

     • Understanding how this has impacted on grip and tyre degradation will be a key focus for the team during FP1.

     • That will be particularly crucial this weekend as we enter parc fermé conditions ahead of qualifying on Friday evening.

     • A completely new pit and paddock complex has been constructed at the track in time for this year's race.

     • This will include larger pit garages, new team buildings, and new access tunnels.

     • Temperatures during the day in Doha are forecast to reach close to 40°C this week.

     • Qualifying, the F1 Sprint, and the Grand Prix itself take place at night, and therefore

       temperatures are expected to average a more comfortable 27°C.

     • However, FP1 and the Sprint Shootout will take place before sunset and

       temperatures, and thus track conditions, could therefore vary quite dramatically.

     • The race in 2021 saw a number of punctures attributed to the flatter kerbs of the

       Lusail circuit. Unspecified work has been carried out on these ahead of this year's

       race so that will be a focus of understanding ahead of running on Friday.

     • The track has a fast and flowing nature as it is predominantly used for motorcycle

       racing.

     • There is only one corner, turn six, that sees the minimum speed drop below 100

       km/h.

     • There are therefore no heavy braking events for us to tackle, a unique occurrence on

       the 2023 calendar.

     • The braking energy requirement is therefore low; there are still six braking events

       that the cars encounter across the lap.

     • There are 16 corners in total: 10 to the right and six to the left. The track's main

       straight covers over 1km of the total lap distance and is the sole DRS zone on the

       circuit.

     • The pit lane in Qatar is the third longest of any circuit we visit on the calendar, behind

       only Imola and Silverstone.

     • It clocks in at 450 metres and the expected pit lane time is over 20 seconds.

       
       

Singapore Grand Prix Preview 2023

Fact File: Singapore Grand Prix

• This year's Singapore Grand Prix will feature a new layout as redevelopment works take place in the vicinity of the track.
• The circuit between what was Turns 16 to 19 will now become one long 397.9m straight, reducing the number of corners from 23 down to 19.
• The circuit length has therefore reduced from 5.063 km to 4.928 km and the number of laps of the Grand Prix increased from 61 to 62.
• Lap times are expected to be reduced by roughly 10 seconds due to the changes.
• The new layout will likely be beneficial for the tyres; previously, they would begin to overheat towards the end of the lap, but the removal of four 90-degree corners should help them stay closer to the optimum operating window.
• Track evolution is incredibly high in Singapore, given that it is a street circuit. The surface can ramp up by as much as three seconds between FP1 on Friday and Qualifying on Saturday evening.
• The Singapore Grand Prix is one of the most physically demanding races of the season. The intense humidity, warm temperatures, combined with the stop/start nature of the track, make it very challenging.
• Due to these factors, drivers can lose around 3kg of weight during the race through sweating alone.
• That stop/start nature, with a requirement for constant re-acceleration, ensures the circuit has the biggest fuel effect of the year. In simple terms, that means the amount of time you lose each lap is higher for every kilogram of extra fuel in the car.
• Owing to the large amount of time spent in corners, just 50% of lap time is spent at full throttle.
• That is one of the lowest percentages of the season, with only Monaco, the Hungaroring, and the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico with lower amounts.
• The Marina Bay Street Circuit has the largest number of heavy braking events of any circuit we visit at four.
• The lack of long straights and short distance between turns also puts less air through the brakes. Cooling is therefore a big focus for the team.
• The track is also very bumpy. That adds to the stress that the drivers and cars are put through - that is particularly true with these new generation cars that run lower to the ground.
• The circuit also impacts the tyres as the surface temperatures can never properly cool down. The tarmac is also aggressive on the tyres, increasing wear and degradation.
• With a speed limit of 60 km/h, and a layout that feeds in at turn two, the total pit lane time is the highest of the season at 25 seconds.
• Owing to the layout changes, the number of gear changes per lap has dropped to 64. It was previously the circuit with the highest amount of gear changes but now ranks fourth overall.
• Given the nature of a street track, it is perhaps no surprise that all 13 of the previous Singapore Grands Prix have featured at least one Safety Car deployment.
• In the last five editions, we have seen 10 Safety Car deployments.

Stat Sheet: Singapore Grand Prix

2023 Singapore Grand Prix
Session	Local Time (SGT)	Brackley (BST)	Stuttgart (CEST)
Practice One - Friday	17:30 - 18:30	10:30 - 11:30	11:30 - 12:30
Practice Two - Friday	21:00 - 22:00	14:00 - 15:00	15:00 - 16:00
Practice Three - Saturday	17:30 - 18:30	10:30 - 11:30	11:30 - 12:30
Qualifying - Saturday	21:00 - 22:00	14:00 - 15:00	15:00 - 16:00
Grand Prix - Sunday	20:00	13:00	14:00

 

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupé (W 198), 1955

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 198, 1954 to 1957). Photo from Le Mans Classic 2022. 

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupé (W 198), 1955

In February 1954, the 300 SL series production sports car (W 198) celebrated its world premiere at the International Motor Sport Show in New York. The Coupé was called the “Gullwing” or the “Papillon” (butterfly) owing to its distinctive roof-mounted doors, which resembled a gull’s wings. However, the solution is not an aesthetic end in itself, but technically necessary. This was because the tubular roll cage was so high at the sills that conventional door designs were simply not possible. The high-performance sports car was based on the legendary 300 SL racing sports car (W 194) from the 1952 season. The enhanced W 198 was the world’s first series production passenger car with a four-stroke engine and direct petrol injection. With an engine output of 158 kW (215 hp) – a good 25 per cent more than the carburettor motor racing version of 1952 – and a top speed of up to 250 km/h, the W 198 was in the top echelon of production sports cars in its day, which also predestined it for racing. The triple class victory with the 300 SL “Gullwing” at the Mille Miglia 1955 by John Cooper Fitch and co-driver Kurt Gessl is legendary. From 1954 to 1957, a total of 1,400 units of the 300 SL Coupé were built, 29 of them with an aluminium body.

Technical data of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupé (W 198)

Production year: 1955
Cylinders: 6/in-line
Displacement: 2,996 cc
Output: 158 kW (215 hp) at 5,800 rpm
Top speed: Up to 250 km/h

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194), 1952

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194), 1952. Winning vehicle of the 1952 Le Mans 24 Hours. Photo from the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194), 1952

Mercedes-Benz re-entered motor racing in 1952 with the 300 SL (W 194). The limited resources initially spoke against the development of a racing car for Formula One in 1952 because new regulations had already been announced for the 1954 season. Axles, transmission and engine of the new racing car were developed from components stemming from the Mercedes-Benz 300 (W 186) representation vehicle. A brand new feature is an extremely lightweight, yet very torsionally stiff tubular frame, which is enclosed by a streamlined light-alloy body. As a result of the elevated tubular frame around the doors, the racing car was equipped with characteristic gullwing doors, which were hinged on the roof. In 1952, the 300 SL was successful from the outset: amongst its major racing victories were the one-two-three victory at the Grand Prix of Bern (Switzerland), spectacular one-two finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (France) and at the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico as well as the top four positions in the Nürburgring Jubilee Grand Prix. The Le Mans winning car of 1952 belongs to a private collector.

Technical data of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194)

Deployment: 1952
Cylinders: 6/in-line
Displacement: 2,996 cc
Output: 125 kW (170 hp) at 5,200 rpm
Top speed: 240 km/h

Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner (W 29), 1938

Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner (W 29), 1938. In 2014, Mercedes-Benz Classic meticulously rebuilt the vehicle to its original state as part of a highly demanding and elaborate restoration project. The subsequently measured drag coefficient was Cd = 0.36. That is an excellent value for a 1930s car. 

Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner (W 29), 1938

The 540 K Streamliner was developed in 1937/38 in the special car construction department of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen. From today’s perspective, the vehicle would be described as a coupé in the style of a Gran Turismo. But in keeping with the conventions of the 1930s, stylists call the body shape a streamlined saloon or simply the Streamliner. Based on the chassis of the 540 K production car, the vehicle was built to reach very high speeds quickly and maintain them over longer distances with its powerful supercharged engine. Thanks to the lightweight aluminium body developed in the wind tunnel, this one-off was a model of efficiency in its performance class. In addition to lightweight construction and sophisticated aerodynamics, it was also the outstanding exterior and interior design, the dignified finish and the generous interior comfort that made the 540 K Streamliner an absolutely singular vehicle. At the time it was created with the potential of taking part in the long-distance Berlin-Rome tour planned for autumn 1938, which was initially postponed until 1939 and finally cancelled altogether owing to the start of the Second World War. From mid-1938, the Streamliner was used by the German subsidiary of tyre manufacturer Dunlop to subject high-speed tyres for fast vehicles to punishing everyday testing. After the war, it was put into storage. In 2014, Mercedes-Benz Classic meticulously rebuilt the vehicle to its original state as part of a highly demanding and elaborate restoration project. The subsequently measured drag coefficient was C_d = 0.36. This is an excellent value for a 1930s car.

Technical data of the Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner (W 29)

Production year: 1938
Cylinders: 8/in-line
Displacement: 5,401 cc
Output: 85 kW (115 hp), with supercharger 132 kW (180 hp)
Top speed: 185 km/h

2923 Italian Grand Prix Preview at Monza

Formula One - Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, 2023 Italian GP. Lewis Hamilton

A mixed day for the team in Monza, with a solid FP1 session followed by a more challenging FP2, with performance still to be found on all tyre compounds.

• On this Alternative Tyre Allocation weekend, both drivers ran a single set of Hard tyres in FP1, completing a programme of set-up evaluation and development experiments.
• For FP2, George completed the planned programme of Medium and Soft tyres, combining single timed laps on both tyres and long running on the Medium
• Lewis ran a higher downforce level in FP2, which cost straight line speed and did not deliver the expected gains in the corners. With time not available to revert in-session, he elected to save the Soft tyre for tomorrow and only ran the Medium.
• Overall, the day left the team with plenty of opportunities for overnight gains, with Mick Schumacher running in the simulator in Brackley this evening to evaluate improvements.

Driver	FP1	FP2
George Russell	28 laps	1:23.189	P5	Hard	20 laps	1:22.176	P9	Medium, Soft
Lewis Hamilton	26 laps	1:23.269	P8	Hard	23 laps	1:22.783	P17	Medium

George Russell

It’s great to be back in Monza and driving the car at these high speeds and with low downforce levels. The characteristics are very different to what we had last week in Zandvoort, and that’s something that it’s fun to adapt to. The car was feeling reasonably good, but we have some improvements to make on the soft tyre. The high fuel pace was looking pretty strong, so the focus tomorrow will be on finding more speed for qualifying.

Lewis Hamilton

It was a relatively normal Friday programme for me. The reliability was strong, and we got through the work that we needed to, checking off the different tests we had to do. There’s lots of learning from today, and we will have a bit of work tonight to try and improve for Saturday – as we always manage to do. I know that the team will do great work overnight to improve the set-up and car balance, so that we can be quicker tomorrow.

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

It’s been a messy day, partly with red flags but also because we’ve not got the car in a good place at the moment. That means we have a bit of work to do overnight to get the setup in the right place for the rest of the weekend. Single lap and long run both need work if we want to be competitive. There’s not much else to say; we just need to get on with the job of sorting the car out.

Mercedes-Benz Type 180: the 1955 Pontoon

 

Mercedes-Benz 180 (W 120) from 1955

Presence: The black Mercedes-Benz 180 looks quite unassuming amidst the other vehicles in Legend Room 4 of the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Directly behind it a “Kurzhauber” short-nosed truck. On the right an “Adenauer”, in front of it a 300 SL, a 300 SL Roadster (both W 198) and a 300 SLR (W 196 S), all cars that simply ooze charisma. But the Mercedes-Benz 180 stands absolutely confidently in the spotlight: the upper mid-range vehicle exudes the values of the brand and thus asserts itself effortlessly in this environment. It was no different at its premiere 70 years ago: anyone driving a 1950s Mercedes-Benz 180 was making a statement in terms of prestigious elegance, comfort, quality and durability.

All change: The Type 180 (W 120) with its body in a modern “pontoon” shape, along with the complexity of many of its technical details, marks a highpoint in what is known as the era of the economic miracle. The title “Post-war Miracle – Form and Diversity” of Legend Room 4 reflects this. The room covers the period from 1945 to 1960.

Successful: The W 120/121 “Ponton” model series with four-cylinder engines were built from 1953 to 1962. With them, the company also entered a new realm in terms of volume, thanks to increased exports: around 443,000 customers from all over the world chose one of these vehicles. The most successful variant was the 180 D with diesel engine, of which almost 150,000 vehicles were produced. The Type 180 with petrol engine was produced from 1953 to 1962, of which 117,192 were built. By way of comparison, 91,048 vehicles of all variants of the 170 V (W 136), also in the upper mid-range, rolled off the production line before the Second World War.

What might perhaps seem curious today: The comfort features of the “Ponton” four-cylinder saloons include separately adjustable heating and ventilation for the driver and front passenger. The Mercedes-Benz 180 shown in the museum was built in 1955. Its special equipment includes the exterior mirror on the left, which is shown in the price list at DM 15 (“rear-view mirror on the outside of the box-section pillar”). In Germany, an additional mirror does not become compulsory until mid-1956. The front fog lamps, which are also fitted here, appear in the price list at DM 120.

The first “Erlkönig” spy photo: It is interesting to know that the premiere of the Mercedes-Benz 180 continues to shape reporting on new vehicle models in the German-speaking world to this day. In 1952, a first picture of a prototype of the new saloon appeared in the magazine “auto motor und sport” together with a parody of Goethe’s ballad, “Erlkönig” (Erl King). This led to the term “Erlkönig” being commonly used in German for a camouflaged prototype.

Appearance: For the “pontoon”, the stylists used design criteria that reflected the state of the art at the time. The design follows the “three box” principle with front section, passenger compartment and rear section. The elimination of running boards and free-standing headlamps, as well as integrated wings, reduce drag and fuel consumption. Further effect: the interior is significantly more spacious than was the case with older body forms. In addition, rounded shapes typical of the 1950s, including round front headlamps. It is the family face of Mercedes-Benz at the time. All vehicles in Legend Room 4 have this look – including the trucks.

Lighter and more stable: The change also takes place inside the vehicle. The body is firmly welded to the floor assembly and forms a static unit. With this vehicle, Mercedes-Benz says goodbye to the traditional construction comprising chassis and independent body. Compared to the previously common construction method, the torsional rigidity increases and the weight decreases.

Complexity: Added to this is a suspension with important safety and comfort features. The front wheels, which are guided by double wishbones, are no longer suspended directly from the frame, but from a so-called “suspension subframe”. This is a U-shaped axle carrier welded together from two pressed sheet metal parts, to which the engine, transmission and steering are also attached. It is mounted on the frame via three noise-reducing decoupling elements.

Powerful: Under the bonnet of the 180 is a four-cylinder unit. From a displacement of 1,767 cubic centimetres, it develops 38 kW (52 hp) at 4,000 rpm. On the roads of that time, this was absolutely sufficient. Its maximum design speed was 126 km/h. Mercedes-Benz expanded its engine range with the 180 D diesel variant as early as 1954. The third model to enter the range was the significantly more powerful Mercedes-Benz 190 (W 121) with 55 kW(75 hp) in 1956.

Evolution: Mercedes-Benz updated the 120 and 121 model series several times. Important steps included the single-joint swing axle at the rear with a low pivot point introduced in 1955, the facelift in August 1957, the début of the 190 D in 1958 and the design refresh in 1959. Also from 1959 onwards, the latest findings provided for a less sharp-edged interior and thus an improved level of safety. The dashboard was padded and featured retracting controls that in some cases were recessed. The steering wheel had a cushioned centre section. In the same year, the wedge-pin door lock with two safety catches was introduced. This prevents the doors from bursting open. This is because people were often thrown out of the car in an accident and suffered serious injuries – seat belts were not yet widespread.

MB F1 Preview - Spa-Francorchamps, 2023

Formula One - Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, 2023 Hungarian GP. Lewis Hamilton

Hungary was a weekend of highs and lows. Our pace was strong on Saturday and Sunday, but we didn’t maximise that across the weekend. Lewis produced a brilliant lap to take pole position. However, on Sunday, we were too conservative with some of our decisions and ultimately missed out on a podium. George meanwhile was compromised in qualifying but drove a strong race from P18 to take P6.

We also encountered cooling limitations across both cars; we likely had the second-fastest car, but we must execute better if we are to deliver our full potential. Nevertheless, we scored good points with both drivers, and consolidated our P2 championship position.

We will be aiming to turn those learnings into actions for this weekend. Spa-Francorchamps is a classic venue and a true challenge for both the cars and drivers, especially in the Sprint format with such limited practice time on a long and challenging lap.

We will be bringing updates this weekend as part of our ongoing development programme. We hope this will be another small step forward in improving the W14. As we have seen at many races this year though, it is hard to predict where we will be relative to our competitors. Wherever the true pace of our car is here, we want to maximise the outcome in this final race before the summer shutdown.

Fact File: Belgian Grand Prix

• Spa-Francorchamps is the longest circuit we visit, measuring 7.004km.
• Given the length of the track, it is perhaps no surprise that the Grand Prix has the lowest number of race laps at just 44.
• That is six less than the next lowest which are Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas which feature 50 laps.
• Despite several long, flat-out sections, Spa is middle of the pack when it comes to fuel consumption. Constant stop/start is what uses the most fuel, so tracks such as Hungary where we raced last week are higher on fuel consumption.
• Tyre duty and wear are some of the greatest of the season at Spa, with high averages across all four corners of the car.
• The long lap distance brings with it a few unique challenges. For example, if a car gets damaged early in the lap, more time is lost getting back, and the weather is very changeable so conditions can vary massively from corner to corner.
• It also means that the lap takes longer to complete, therefore you can’t fit as many laps into practice and qualifying run plans to test different setup configurations. That will be of particular interest this weekend with the Sprint format and parc fermé conditions after FP1.
• The distance from pole position to the braking zone to the first corner at La Source is just over 150 metres so there is limited opportunity to gain positions immediately off the line.
• However, from the exit of La Source to the braking zone for Les Combes, the drivers have their foot firmly on the throttle for over 20 seconds (and 1,875 metres) of track layout.
• Because of this flat-out section, the exit of La Source is incredibly important, as it leads down the long straight to Eau Rouge and Raidillon.
• There’s a difference of around 100 metres between the highest (Les Combes, Turn 7) and the lowest point (Stavelot, Turn 15) on the track, the highest elevation change of the season.
• The first and third sectors at Spa feature long straights and flat-out sections, but the second sector is twisty. This makes it challenging to find the right balance and set-up compromise, particularly with the wing level. A bigger wing will gain time in the middle sector but leave you vulnerable on the straights, while a smaller wing will provide less drag for the flat-out sections but not providing the same level of grip in the twisty corners. This is a similar predicament to Baku.

Insight: Preparing for the Shutdown

The summer shutdown, introduced several years ago, is a mandated two-week break that all teams must observe. No F1 activities may take place and is incredibly important in enabling team members time to recharge ahead of the second half of the season. “In my opinion, it’s one of the best rules that has been brought into Formula One,” says Rob Thomas, Chief Operation Officer.

"It’s not easy to suddenly switch off and then suddenly go again. It’s quite unique to have to do this mid-season,” Ron Meadows, Sporting Director, comments. What does it take then for an F1 team to efficiently come to a halt, and then restart rapidly and get back racing? We spoke with Rob, Ron, and Chief Technical Officer Mike Elliott, to find out more.

Watch the full video here. The full video, including broadcast versions, along with transcript, can be downloaded here.

Three world records and nine class records for the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 (W 201) -- 1983 at the Nardo Track

 

World record drive on the high-speed track in Nardò/Italy with the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 (W 201), 13 to 21 August 1983. The vehicle covered 50,000 kilometres and set a total of three world records and nine class records. In the photo, a service stop. (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archives: 83F167)

Nardò: Three world records and nine class records for the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 (W 201)

• Full-load drive over 50,000 kilometres in just under eight and a half days
• Impressive proof of reliability for the sports version of the “Baby Benz”
• Daytime temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius, and more than 50 degrees inside the vehicles

The Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 was a star of 1983, setting several world records at the same time on the high-speed track in Nardò, southern Italy, from 13 to 21 August. In 201 hours, 39 minutes and 43 seconds, it covered a distance of 50,000 kilometres. The average speed was 247.9 km/h. In addition to this achievement, two other world records over 25,000 kilometres and nine class records were set. The record-breaking runs on the 12.6-kilometre circular test track took place in outside temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius during the day and more than 50 degrees Celsius inside the vehicles. They provided impressive proof of reliability over an extreme long distance for the cars – and especially for the then new four-valve engine. In all, three identical vehicles of the sporty version of the Mercedes-Benz 190 (W 201) were used in Nardò, which were then presented to the public for the first time four weeks later at the 1983 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt am Main. The standard 2.3-litre four-cylinder engines with 136 kW (185 hp) ran like proverbial clockwork during the almost eight and a half days of full-load driving.

The world’s first automobile with a four-cylinder engine: Daimler “Phoenix”

Daimler “Phoenix” four-cylinder engine. Wilhelm Maybach designed a whole family of engines with four cylinders and up to 16.9 kW (23 hp). The “Phoenix” 8 hp was the world’s first vehicle with a four-cylinder engine. On 12 September 1898, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) delivered the very first model to Emil Jellinek. (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archives: 1989M1331)

Shelf number:

The world’s first automobile with a four-cylinder engine: Daimler “Phoenix”

• The first vehicle was delivered by Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) to Emil Jellinek
• The tubular radiator was a crucial innovation in the drive for higher engine performance
• Wilhelm Maybach designed a whole family of four-cylinder engines

Flashback to the early days of the automobile: the world’s first vehicle with a four-cylinder engine was the Daimler “Phoenix”. On 12 September 1898, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) delivered the very first model to businessman Emil Jellinek, who lived in Nice. He not only sold cars, a new technological product at the time, in the highest social circles, but also from time to time provided DMG with feedback that led to improvements and thus to eminently sellable new vehicles. He called for more power – so the “Phoenix” engine designed by Wilhelm Maybach developed 5.9 kW (8 hp) at 720 rpm from 2.1 litres of displacement. Between 1898 and 1899, a whole family of four-cylinder engines with up to 16.9 kW (23 hp) was created. They each featured two pairs of cast cylinders on a crankcase. In 1897, DMG had introduced the “Phoenix” motor carriages with two-cylinder engines, which were installed at the front for the first time. Compared to the motor carriages with belt drive, this was the first decisive step towards the modern automobile. A key factor in the significantly increased engine power was the tubular radiator developed by Maybach, which was registered as a German utility model in December 1897 and was used for the first time in the “Phoenix”. It consisted of many small tubes, around which the cooling water flowed and through which the air flowed. This innovative design paved the way to the high-performance automobile and represents a significant milestone in automotive development.