1934
Montlhéry (F) P. Veyron Bugatti 8, 60.02 x 66 mm = 1494 cc
23.01.34	200 miles (standing start):	1h42m59.93s		187.498 km/h	116.51 mph	Class F record
Montlhéry (F) G. Eyston Panhard 8, 95 x 140 mm = 7938 cc
04.02.34	100 miles (standing start):	45m07.09s		214.017 km/h	132.98 mph	World & Class B record
04.02.34	200 km (standing start):	56m02.78s		214.109 km/h	133.04 mph	World & Class B record
04.02.34	1 hour (standing start):	1h		214.064 km/h	133.01 mph	World & Class B record
Avus (D) H. Stuck (Auto Union A.G.) Auto Union V16
06.03.34	100 miles (standing start):	44m31.47s		216.870 km/h	134.76 mph	World record
06.03.34	200 km (standing start):	55m16.66s		217.086 km/h	134.89 mph	World record
06.03.34	1 hour (standing start):	1h		217.106 km/h	134.90 mph	World record
On 6 March 1934 Stuck showed the world the speed of the brand new Auto Union, breaking 3 world records at Avus. In a way it was also an "acceptance run", Porsche proving that his rear engined construction was technically sound. The enormous interest that these new records created made the German leaders aware of the great propaganda value in speed record breaking.
Montlhéry (F) H. Rüesch Maserati
23.03.34	1 km (standing start):	25.17s		143.027 km/h	88.87 mph	World record
26.3.34 ?
Montlhéry (F) Mrs G. Stewart (W. Hawkes) Derby Spl 8, 59 x 76 mm = 1662 cc
14.04.34	5 km (flying start):	1m19.69s		225.875 km/h	140.35 mph	Class E record
14.04.34	5 miles (flying start):	2m08.42s		225.573 km/h	140.17 mph	Class E record
14.04.34	10 km (flying start):	2m39.70s		225.423 km/h	140.07 mph	Class E record
Montlhéry (F) G. Eyston/ D. Froy (G. Eyston) Panhard 8, 95 x 110 mm = 7938 cc
18.05.34	200 miles (standing start):	1h33m41.96s		206.107 km/h	128.07 mph	World & Class B record
Brooklands (GB) W. Straight Maserati 8, 68.98 x 100 mm = 2983 cc
29.06.34	1 km (flying start):	16.33s		220.453 km/h	136.98 mph	Class D record
29.06.34	1 Mile (flying start):	26.57s		218.051 km/h	135.49 mph	Class D record
Whitney Straight took his Maserati to Brooklands to take the British and International Class D records for flying start km and Mile.
Montlhéry (F) Mrs Stewart (W. Hawkes) Derby Miller 8, 59 x 76.5 mm = 1673.1 cc
25.07.34	1 km (flying start):	15.136s		237.845 km/h	147.79 mph	Class E record
25.07.34	1 Mile (flying start):	24.356s		237.845 km/h	147.79 mph	Class E record
Bonneville D. Jenkins Jenkins Spl. 12, 88.9 x 101.6 mm = 7568 cc
16-17.8.34	200 miles (standing start):	1h30m47.11s		212.723 km/h	132.18 mph	World & Class B record
Brooklands (GB) R. Mays (H. Cook) ERA 6, 57.5 x 95.3 mm = 1484.8 cc
28.08.34	1 km (standing start):	26.21s		137.352 km/h	85.35 mph	Class F record
28.08.34	1 Mile (standing start):	37.47s		154.620 km/h	96.08 mph	Class F record
The ERA team decided to have a go at the G and F class records with their new car. The team would have prefered to race at Montlhéry but time restrictions forced them to use Brooklands instead. Cook used the 1.1 litre car and after an unsuccesfull first run he broke both the km and Mile records in his second attempt. After Cook's record run Mays made his attempt in the larger 1.5 litre car taking the records in the first run.
Brooklands (GB) R. Mays (H. Cook) ERA 6, 62.8 x 106.5 mm = 1979 cc
16.10.34	1 km (standing start):	24.93s		144.404 km/h	89.73 mph	World & Class E record
Avus (D) H. Stuck (Auto Union A.G.) Auto Union
20.10.34	1 km (standing start):	22.025s		163.451 km/h	101.56 mph	World record
20.10.34	1 Mile (standing start):	30.835s		187.891 km/h	116.75 mph	World record
20.10.34	50 km (standing start):	12m24.51s		241.770 km/h	150.23 mph	World record
20.10.34	50 miles (standing start)	19m47.755s		243.890 km/h	151.55 mph	World record
20.10.34	100 km (standing start):	24m30.00s		244.898 km/h	152.17 mph	World record
After the Grand Prix season Stuck and Auto Union went back to Avus to set 5 new world records, beating the old records by a huge margin.
Gyón (H) R. Caracciola (Daimer-Benz A.G.) Mercedes-Benz 8, 82 x 94.5 mm = 3992 cc
28.10.34	1 Mile (flying start):	18.295s		316.678 km/h	196.78 mph	Class C record
30.10.34	1 km (flying start):	11.335s		317.600 km/h	197.35 mph	Class C record
30.10.34	1 Mile (standing start):	30.710s		188.656 km/h	117.23 mph	World & Class C record
03.11.34	1 km (standing start):	22.82s		157.756 km/h	98.03 mph	Class C record
Mercedes-Benz decided they had to follow Auto Union into record breaking. For their first attempts they selected a concrete road section in Hungary. Henne started with the open car but after a supercharger failure he tried the closed car insted. The car lost its canopy at high speed. The canopy construction was removed and Caracciola took over as driver, making one world and two new class records. The 1 km record made Caracciola the fastest man in the world on a road
Avus (D) R. Caracciola(Daimer-Benz A.G.) Mercedes-Benz 8, 81.77 x 94.5 mm = 3946 cc
10.12.34	5 km (flying start):	57.695s		311.985 km/h	193.86 mph	Class C record
Caracciola made a new attempt to brake the 200 mph barrier, this time at the AVUS. The day was not totally successful, Caracciola failing to reach the magic barrier and only succeeding in breaking one record. 1935
Pescia (I) H. Stuck (Auto Union A.G.) Auto Union 16, 72.63 x 75 mm = 4969 cc
15.02.35	1 Mile (flying start):	18.09s		320.267 km/h	199.00 mph	Class C record
The Auto Union team went to Gyón for record attempts but the circumstances were bad with snow so after two test runs the team went to Italy instead. After having dismissed the Milan - Varese road they finally made the record runs at Florence. On the return run of his 3rd attempt Stuck set a time of 11.01 on the kilometer, making him the first driver to run over 200 mph on a road but it was not accompanied by any good run in the other direction so Stuck failed to take Caracciola's record. But a combination of the 3rd and 4th runs gave Stuck the 1 Mile record which also was the fastest record made on a road. Stuck's 5th series gave his best km times of the day (11.34 & 11.37 s) being just short of Caracciola's speed.
Daytona (USA) Sir M. Campbell Campbell Spl 12, 152.5 x 166-172 mm = 37152 cc
07.03.35	1 km (flying start):	8.10s		444.444 km/h	276.16 mph	World & Class A record
07.03.35	1 Mile (flying start):	13.005s		445.492 km/h	276.82 mph	World & Class A record
07.03.35	5 km (flying start):	41.66s		432.069 km/h	268.47 mph	World & Class A record
07.03.35	5 miles (flying start):	1m11.60s		404.583 km/h	251.40 mph	World & Class A record
In March Campbell with a rebuilt "Bluebird" broke his own 2 year old world record (438.490 km/h / 272.465 mph) at Daytona Beach.
Firenze (I) T. Nuvolari (Scuderia Ferrari) Alfa Romeo 16, 70.89 x 100 mm = 6315.6 cc
15.06.35?	1 km (flying start):	11.20s		321.429 km/h	199.73 mph	Class B record
15.06.35?	1 Mile (flying start):	17.93s		323.125 km/h	200.78 mph	Class B record
The new Ferrari built Alfa Romeo bimotore was tested on 4 April at Maranello by Marinoni and on the 10 April by Marinoni and Nuvolari, the latter reaching 341 km/h. After having raced the car at Tripoli and Avus Nuvolari was ready for a record attempt on 16 June at the Florence - Lucca autostrada. Nuvolari was disturbed by sidewinds during both his runs making the car skid but he was able to race on scattering the road speed record and being the first to brake the 200 mph barrier. Nuvolari was back the next day for the standing start km and mile records and for the flying 5 km and 5 miles records. However, the weather was not good and after some test runs by Nuvolari the record attempts were cancelled.
Bonneville (USA) D. Jenkins Duesenberg Spl. 8, 96.8 x 120.6 mm = 7107 cc
30.06.35	5 km (flying start):	1m19.012s		227.814 km/h	141.56 mph	Class B record
30.06.35	5 miles (flying start):	2m07.707s		226.833 km/h	140.95 mph	Class B record
30.06.35	10 km (flying start):	2m38.963s		226.467 km/h	140.72 mph	Class B record
30.06.35	10 miles (flying start):	4m13.290s		228.735 km/h	142.13 mph	Class B record
30.06.35	50 km (standing start):	13m44.937s		218.198 km/h	135.58 mph	Class B record
30.06.35	50 miles (standing start)	21m44.902s		221.995 km/h	137.94 mph	Class B record
30.06.35	100 km (standing start):	26m50.051s		223.595 km/h	138.94 mph	Class B record
02.07.35	10 miles (flying start):	4m06.137s		235.382 km/h	146.26 mph	Class B record
02.07.35	50 km (standing start):	13m33.173s		221.355 km/h	137.54 mph	Class B record
02.07.35	50 miles (standing start)	21m24.106s		225.590 km/h	140.18 mph	Class B record
02.07.35	100 km (standing start):	26m25.243s		227.095 km/h	141.11 mph	Class B record
02.07.35	100 miles (standing start):	42m02.890s		229.642 km/h	142.69 mph	World & Class B record
02.07.35	200 km (standing start):	52m02.732s		230.567 km/h	143.27 mph	World & Class B record
02.07.35	1 hour (standing start):	1h		230.826 km/h	143.43 mph	World & Class B record
Bonneville (USA) J. Cobb Napier-Railton 12, 139.8 x 130.16 mm = 23953.6 cc
11.07.35	50 km (standing start):	12m04.098s		248.585 km/h	154.46 mph	World & Class A record
11.07.35	50 miles (standing start)	19m31.814s		247.297 km/h	153.61 mph	World & Class A record
11.07.35	100 km (standing start):	24m20.740s		246.459 km/h	153.14 mph	World & Class A record
11.07.35	100 miles (standing start):	39m13.638s		246.156 km/h	152.95 mph	World & Class A record
11.07.35	200 km (standing start):	48m39.418s		246.624 km/h	153.25 mph	World & Class A record
11.07.35	1 hour (standing start):	1h		244.807 km/h	152.12 mph	World & Class A record
15-16.07.35	200 miles (standing start):	1h21m52.653s		235.865 km/h	146.56 mph	World & Class A record
Bonneville (USA) D. Jenkins Duesenberg Spl. 8, 96.83 x 120.65 mm = 7108 cc
06.08.35	50 km (standing start):	12m56.050s		231.944 km/h	144.12 mph	Class B record
06.08.35	50 miles (standing start)	20m23.171s		236.828 km/h	147.16 mph	Class B record
06.08.35	100 km (standing start):	25m06.427		238.976	148.49 mph	Class B record
06.08.35	100 miles (standing start):	39m48.528s		242.569 km/h	150.72 mph	Class B record
06.08.35	200 km (standing start):	49m13.875s		243.748 km/h	151.46 mph	Class B record
06.08.35	200 miles (standing start):	1h19m05.537s		244.171 km/h	151.72 mph	World & Class B record
06.08.35	1 hour (standing start):	1h		244.855 km/h	152.15 mph	World & Class B record
Bonneville (USA) Sir M. Campbell Campbell Spl
03.09.35	1 Mile (flying start):	11.955s		484.619 km/h	301.13 mph	World record
03.09.35	5 km (flying start):	38.2875s		470.127 km/h	292.12 mph	World record
In autumn 1935 Campbell was back to better his total world record. As Campbell had come to the conclusion that Daytona was unsuitable for speeds over 300 mph he therefore decided to move his attempt to Bonneville in Utah instead. A time keeper error (12.38 s instead of 12.08 s giving a total of 12.005 s?) first gave a speed of 299.875 mph but later the time was corrected making Campbell the first to brake the 300 mph barrier.
Bonneville (USA) G. Eyston Speed of the Wind 12, 127 x 139.7 mm = 21236 cc
06.09.35	10 miles (flying start):	3m35.440s		268.921 km/h	167.10 mph	World & Class A record
08.09.35	50 km (standing start):	11m45.566s		255.114 km/h	158.52 mph	World & Class A record
08.09.35	50 miles (standing start)	18m42.290s		258.116 km/h	160.39 mph	World & Class A record
08.09.35	100 km (standing start):	23m08.236s		259.322 km/h	161.13 mph	World & Class A record
08.09.35	100 miles (standing start):	37m35.679s		256.846 km/h	159.60 mph	World & Class A record
08.09.35	200 km (standing start):	47m01.691s		255.166 km/h	158.55 mph	World & Class A record
Bonneville (USA) G. Eyston Speed of the Wind 12, 127 x 139.7 mm = 21236 cc
15.09.35	200 km (standing start):	46m50.5353s		256.179 km/h	159.18 mph	World & Class A record
15.09.35	1 hour (standing start):	1h		256.371 km/h	159.30 mph	World & Class A record
Gyón (H) Hartmann L. Hartmann Maserati 8, 69.5 x 100 mm = 2991.4 cc
17.10.35	1 Mile (standing start):	37.84s		153.108 km/h	96.14 mph	Class D record
1936
Firenze (I) G. Furmanik (Officine Maserati) Maserati 8, 69 x 100 mm = 2991.4 cc
28.01.36	1 km (flying start):	14.42s		249.653 km/h	155.13 mph	Class D record
28.01.36	1 Mile (flying start):	23.31s		238.547 km/h	154.44 mph	Class D record
29.01.36	1 km (standing start):	23.865s		150.849 km/h	93.73 mph	Class D record
29.01.36	1 Mile (standing start):	35.00s		165.532 km/h	102.86 mph	Class D record
Reichautobahn (D) H. Stuck (Auto Union A.G.) Auto Union 16, 75 x 85 mm = 6008 cc
23.03.36	5 km (flying start):	57.615s		312.419 km/h	194.13 mph	Class B record
24.03.36	5 miles (flying start):	1m39.525s		291.035 km/h	180.84 mph	Class B record
24.03.36	10 km (flying start):	2m04.735s		288.612 km/h	179.33 mph	Class B record
24.03.36	10 miles (flying start):	3m22.255s		286.451 km/h	177.99 mph	World & Class B record
24.03.36	50 km (standing start):	11m17.00s		265.879 km/h	165.21 mph	World & Class B record
24.03.36	50 miles (standing start)	17m55.40s		269.371 km/h	167.38 mph	World & Class B record
24.03.36	100 km (standing start):	22m49.00s		262.966 km/h	163.40 mph	World & Class B record
24.03.36	100 miles (standing start):	36m08.20s		267.209 km/h	166.04 mph	World & Class B record
For the long distance records the highway between Frankfurt and Heidelberg was closed for all traffic for 2 days. To the press the record runs were announced as being "tyre tests". The record runs started on 23 March with Stuck trying to beat not only the B class record but also Caracciola's C class record for the flying 5 km. The Auto Union driver succeded in his second attempt. During the return the engine overheated destroying two cylinders and Auto Union had to postpone further runs to the next day. During the night the engine was repaired but the next day started with heavy rain and it wasn't until noon that Stuck could start off his first record run. The track was still damp but that did not hinder Stuck from making 3 records on distances up to 10 Miles including a world record. Then Stuck made an attempt on the 100 Miles world record and took it also in the first attempt, making three other world records at the same time. He used a 113 km long section of the highway and at the end point Stuck had to stop and make a U turn for the last 48 kilometers of the 100 Mile run, making the 267.2 km/h record even more incredible
Montlhéry (F) R. Benoist (E. Bugatti) Bugatti 8, 72 x 100 mm = 3257cc
29.06.36	100 km (standing start):	28m29.09s		210.638 km/h	130.88 mph	Class C record
Bonneville (USA) G. Eyston Speed of the Wind V12
06.07.36	200 km (standing start):	45m54.469s		261.393 km/h	162.42 mph	World record
06.07.36	1 hour (standing start):	1h		261.566 km/h	162.53 mph	World record
Bonneville (USA) A. Jenkins Mormon Meteor V12 Curtiss Conqueror, 130.17 x 164.3 mm = 26238 cc
07.09.36	200 miles (standing start):	1h14m15.84s		260.046 km/h	161.59 mph	World & Class A record
Bonneville (USA) J. Cobb Napier-Railton 12, 139.7 x 130.17 mm = 23942 cc
09.09.36	50 km (standing start):	11m18.61s		265.248 km/h	164.87 mph	World record
09.09.36	50 miles (standing start)	17m59.30s		268.397 km/h	166.67 mph	World record
09.09.36	50 km (standing start):	11m18.61s		265.248 km/h	164.87 mph	Class A record
09.09.36	50 miles (standing start)	17m59.30s		268.397 km/h	166.67 mph	Class A record
09.09.36	100 km (standing start):	22m14.54s		269.756 km/h	167.62 mph	World & Class A record
09.09.36	100 miles (standing start):	35m35.36s		271.318 km/h	168.59 mph	World & Class A record
09.09.36	200 km (standing start):	44m18.80s		270.799 km/h	168.27 mph	World & Class A record
09.09.36	1 hour (standing start):	1h		269.870 km/h	167.69 mph	World & Class A record
Montlhéry (F) R. Benoist (E. Bugatti) Bugatti 8, 72 x 100 mm = 3257 cc
26.09.36	100 km (standing start):	27m42.79s		216.504 km/h	134.53 mph	Class C record
26.09.36	100 miles (standing start):	44m23.27s		217.538 km/h	135.17 mph	Class C record
26.09.36	200 km (standing start):	55m04.79s		217.866 km/h	135.38 mph	Class C record
26.09.36	1 hour (standing start):	1h		217.941 km/h	135.42 mph	Class C record
Bonneville (USA) A. Jenkins Mormon Meteor V12 Curtiss Conqueror, 130.17 x 164.3 mm = 26238 cc
28.09.36	100 miles (standing start):	35m23.01s		272.90 km/h	169.57 mph	World & Class A record
28.09.36	200 km (standing start):	43m47.23s		274.05 km/h	170.29 mph	World & Class A record
28.09.36	200 miles (standing start):	1h10m03.19s		275.68 km/h	171.30 mph	World & Class A record
28.09.36	1 hour (standing start):	1h		275.20 km/h	171.00 mph	World & Class A record
Montlhéry (F) P. Veyron / R. Benoist (E. Bugatti) Bugatti 8, 72 x 100 mm = 3257 cc
10.10.36	200 miles (standing start):	1h33m56.96s		205.56 km/h	127.73 mph	Class C record
Reichautobahn (D) R. Caracciola (Daimer-Benz A.G.) Mercedes-Benz 12, 82 x 88 mm = 5576 cc
26.10.36	1 km (flying start):	9.88s		364.4 km/h	226.4 mph	Class B record
26.10.36	1 Mile (flying start):	15.79s		366.9 km/h	228.0 mph	Class B record
26.10.36	5 km (flying start):	52.86s		340.5 km/h	211.6 mph	Class B record
After almost a 2 year pause Mercedes-Benz, trying to make up for their disastrous 1936 season, returned to record attempts. The short GP chassis was equipped with the V12 DAB engine and a revolutionary streamlined bodywork. Caracciola made 3 test runs with open frontwheels having problems with the gearbox each time, the car slipping out of top gear creating some valve damage. He made another try with covered wheels before starting his 1 km and 1 Mile record attempt. After taking the two records Caracciola made another set of runs achieving the 5 km record. Winds prevented further record attempts that day and the next
Reichautobahn (D) R. Caracciola (Daimer-Benz A.G.) Mercedes-Benz 12, 82 x 88 mm = 5576 cc
11.11.36	10 miles (flying start):	2m53.73s		333.48 km/h	207.22 mph	World & Class B record
11.11.36	5 miles (flying start):	1m26.00s		336.8 km/h	209.3 mph	Class B record
11.11.36	10 km (flying start):	1m48.47s		331.9 km/h	206.2 mph	Class B record
11.11.36	10 miles (flying start):	2m53.73s		333.48 km/h	207.22 mph	World & Class B record
Mercedes was back 2 weeks later with a repaired car equipped with an airplane type windshield. On Caracciola's demand the new windshield was soon removed. After 4 test runs Caracciola set out for his 10 Miles record attempts bettering the world record and taking two class records on the shorter distances at the same time The next day Caracciola tried to better his old standing start 1 Mile record. He was 2.8 seconds under the record on his first run but a supercharger failure prevented him from making the return run, ending the Mercedes team's 1936 season. 1937
Brooklands (GB) F. Lycett Bentley 6, 110.07 x 140 mm = 7992.7 cc
27.05.37	1 km (standing start):	27.46s		131.1 km/h	81.5 mph	Class B record
Firenze-Mare (I) G. Furmanik (Officine Maserati) Maserati 4, 69.5 x 100 mm = 1495.7 cc
02.06.37	1 km (standing start):	24.94s		144.3 km/h	89.7 mph	Class F record
02.06.37	1 Mile (standing start):	34.33s		168.8 km/h	104.9 mph	Class F record
03.06.37	1 km (flying start):	15.09s		238.6 km/h	148.2 mph	Class F record
Petropolis (BR) H. Stuck (Auto Union A.G.) Auto Union V16
09.06.37	1 km (standing start):	21.05s		171.021 km/h		Class B record
The day after having finished only second at the Rio Grand Prix Stuck saved his honour by taking two new standing start world records with his Grand Prix car. He bettered his own one km record and took over the one mile record set by Caracciola at Gyón 1934. However those records remained unofficial as they were not recognized by AIACR. These were to be Stuck's last speed record attempts
Reichautobahn (D) B. Rosemeyer (Auto Union A.G.) Auto Union V16, 75 x 85 mm = 6008 cc
16.06.37	1 km (flying start):	9.25s		389.2 km/h	242.0 mph	Class B record
16.06.37	1 Mile (flying start):	14.87s		389.6 km/h	242.1 mph	Class B record
16.06.37	5 km (flying start):	47.84s		376.3 km/h	233.8 mph	Class B record
16.06.37	5 miles (flying start):	1m18.62s		368.5 km/h	228.9 mph	Class B record
16.06.37	10 km (flying start):	1m40.79s		357.2 km/h	221.9 mph	Class B record
16.06.37	10 miles (flying start):	2m40.82s		360.3 km/h	223.9 mph	World & Class B record
Using the experience gained at the Avusrennen in May Auto Union decided to have a go at all class records up to 10 Miles in the fully streamlined car. After Eifelrennen, as a further demostration from Auto Union, the engine from Rosemeyer's winning car was removed and sealed to be used without service for the record attempts. After having made a practice run that nearly ended up in the traffic (incredibly the highway was closed off in only one direction) Rosemeyer started off his series of record runs. After having made two 1 mile runs setting records for 1 km and 1 mile Rosemeyer continued with two 10 Mile runs setting a new world record and two class records. A sidewind had pushed the car up on the grass twice and after the last run Rosemeyer did not jump out of his car as usual but remained sitting clearly shaken. However the incident did not hinder him from making a third set of runs for the 5 km record after finding out that the electrical timing device had failed during the first attempt. One world record and 6 class records was Rosemeyer's result for that morning
Bonneville (USA) A. Jenkins Mormon Meteor V12 Curtiss Conqueror, 130.17 x 158.75 mm = 25351 cc
08.09.37	50 km (standing start):	11m12.24s		267.76 km/h	166.38 mph	World & Class A record
08.09.37	50 miles (standing start)	17m37.13s		274.03 km/h	170.27 mph	World & Class A record
08.09.37	100 km (standing start):	21m40.82s		276.75 km/h	171.96 mph	World & Class A record
08.09.37	100 miles (standing start):	34m15.83s		281.81 km/h	175.11 mph	World & Class A record
08.09.37	200 km (standing start):	42m22.99s		283.13 km/h	175.93 mph	World & Class A record
08.09.37	200 miles (standing start):	1h07m38.00s		285.54 km/h	177.43 mph	World & Class A record
08.09.37	1 hour (standing start):	1h		284.933 km/h	177.05 mph	World & Class A record
Reichautobahn (D) R. Caracciola, Lang (Daimler-Benz A.G.) Mercedes-Benz
25.10.37
To further use the propaganda value of record breaking the ONS (Oberste Nationale Sportbehörde für die Deutsche Kraftfahrt) decided to dedicate a whole week for record attempts of all kind. The first and last official Rekordwoche was held in late October 1937. The day started off with test runs from both Auto Union and Mercedes.Benz. The new Mercedes was a developement of their 1936 record car with a new narrow streamlined body. Soon it became clear that the problem Lang had seen at the Avus race was reappearing. At top speed the nose and front wheels lifted from the ground. After having done 379 km/h Caracciola refused to make any further attempts and Lang was ordered into the car. Lang experienced the same trouble during his attempt and when then air pressure made the engine cover blow off the car the Mercedes team decided to call it a day and sent the streamliner back to Stuttgart.
Reichautobahn (D) B. Rosemeyer (Auto Union A.G.) Auto Union V16, 72.7 x 75 mm = 4981.28 cc
25.10.37	1 km (flying start):	10.445s		344.662 km/h	214.16 mph	Class C record
25.10.37	1 km (flying start):	10.23s		352.078 km/h	218.77 mph	Class C record
25.10.37	1 Mile (flying start):	16.835s		344.142 km/h	213.84 mph	Class C record
25.10.37	1 Mile (flying start):	16.40s		353.27 km/h	219.5 mph	Class C record
25.10.37	5 km (flying start):	52.02s		346.0 km/h	215.0 mph	Class C record
25.10.37	5 miles (flying start):	1m24.32s		343.6 km/h	213.5 mph	Class C record
25.10.37	10 km (flying start):	1m47.62s		334.5 km/h	207.8 mph	Class C record
25.10.37	1 Mile (standing start):	29.04s		199.504 km/h	123.97 mph	Class C record
Auto Union had held thorough test sessons at the Halle-Leipzig highway with Rosemeyer doing over 50 standing starts and were confident to brake the 400 km/h wall. They sent three cars to the Recordwoche. Rosemeyer started off with a B class streamliner fitted with a 6 litre engine and on a test run he reached 400 km/h only to have supercharger failure on the return run. Then Rosemeyer took the C class cars instead and made four new class record.
Auto Union V16, 75 x 85 mm = 6008.31 cc
25.10.37	1 km (flying start):	8.86s		406.32 km/h	252.5 mph	Class B record
25.10.37	1 Mile (flying start):	14.26s		406.285 km/h	252.5 mph	Class B record
After the supercharger in the 6 litre car had been exchanged it was time for the B class record attempts and during the runs Rosemeyer became the first person ever to officially exceed 400 km/h on an ordinary road.
Reichautobahn (D) B. Rosemeyer (Auto Union A.G.) Auto Union V16, 75 x 85 mm = 6008.31 cc
26.10.37	1 km (standing start):	19.08s		188.7 km/h	117.3 mph	World & Class B record
26.10.37	1 Mile (standing start):	26.77s		216.4 km/h	134.5 mph	World & Class B record
The next morning Rosemeyer had a go at Stuck's inofficial records set at Rio de Janeiro. He used an open car with a shortened mountain climb chassis and a 6 litre engine and made two new official world records.
Auto Union V16, 75 x 85 mm = 6008.31 cc
26.10.37	5 km (flying start):	44.49s		404.6 km/h	251.4 mph	Class B record
In the afternoon Rosemeyer made a new flying 5 km class record with the streamliner. On the return run poisonous fumes entered the cockpit and Rosemeyer expected a 400 km/h engine failure at any moment. The concentration to keep the car on the 7.5 m wide road waiting for the failure to happen was such that driver collapsed after the run and needed assistance from Peter Gläser, the team's doctor before he was able to leave the cockpit.
Reichautobahn (D) B. Rosemeyer (Auto Union A.G.) Auto Union V16, 75 x 85 mm = 6008.31 cc
27.10.37	1 Mile (standing start):	25.96s		223.2 km/h	138.7 mph	World & Class B record
On the next day, Wednesday, Rosemeyer made an attempt with a streamliner on the 1 km and 1 Mile standing start records set the day before. The heavy streamliner failed to take the 1 km record but the top speed was such that Rosemeyer bettered his own 1 Mile record with another 6 km/h.
Reichautobahn (D) B. Rosemeyer (Auto Union A.G.) Auto Union V16, 72.7 x 75 mm = 4981.28 cc
27.10.37	5 km (flying start):	52.00s		346.2 km/h	215.1 mph	Class C record
27.10.37	5 miles (flying start):	1m23.94s		345.1 km/h	214.4 mph	Class C record
27.10.37	10 km (flying start):	1m45.40s		341.6 km/h	212.3 mph	Class C record
27.10.37	10 miles (flying start):	2m49.97s		340.9 km/h	211.8 mph	Class C record
27.10.37	1 km (standing start):	21.20s		169.8 km/h	105.5 mph	Class C record
27.10.37	1 Mile (standing start):	28.74s		201.587 km/h	125.26 mph	Class C record
Rosemeyer continued his record hunt with the 4.9 litre car, taking four flying start records on distances between 5 km and 10 Miles. Later in the afternoon after the car had recieved a new rear axle ratio, he took the car out on a set of standing start runs to take his last two new class records of the Recordwoche. Rosemeyer now held three world records and 16 class records.
Reichautobahn (D) R. Caracciola (Daimler-Benz A.G.) Mercedes-Benz
28.10.37
Mercedes-Benz was back with a rebuilt car on Thursday for a further attempt. The nose was closer to the ground and the car had been fitted with a flat bottom to cure the tendency to lift. In the morning the weather was foggy but by 10 a.m. it was clear enough for Caracciola to have a try on the flying 1 km and 1 Mile with the DAB engined steamliner. Caracciola managed to achieve 397 km/h but the driver complaned on lack of grip for the rear wheels. The rear of the car was ballasted with lead and on the next attempt Caracciola just failed to reach 400 km/h. Then he made an attempt on the standing km and Mile records with an open car. But these attempts also failed, Caracciola only reaching 176 km/h, the engine clearly misfiring. In the evening Mercedes-Benz announced that they were aborting any further attempts making the Recordwoche a total catastrophe for the team.
Bonneville (USA) G. Eyston Thunderbolt 1
19.11.37	1 km (flying start):	7.17s		502.1 km/h	312.0 mph	World & Class A record
19.11.37	1 Mile (flying start):	11.56s		501.2 km/h	311.4 mph	World & Class A record
Eyston's "Thunderbolt", designed by the French couch-builder Jean Andreu, and built at the Bean works, Tipton, Staffordshire, used two of the supercharged 36.5 litre Rolls Royce engines, also installed in Campbell's Bluebird, giving a total output of 4700 bhp. The 8 wheeled (double rear wheels) vehicle weighted 7 tons. Eyston made his first run on 7.32 s (491.8 km/h) but with a return run of 7.01 s (513.6 km/h) he managed to become the first man to go faster than 500 km/h on land. 1938
Reichautobahn (D) R. Caracciola (Daimler-Benz A.G.) Mercedes-Benz
28.01.38	1 km (flying start):	8.32s		432.7 km/h	268.9 mph	Class B record
28.01.38	1 Mile (flying start):	13.40s		432.4 km/h	268.7 mph	Class B record
After their disastrous lack of results at the "Rekordwoche" Mercedes-Benz made arrangments for a new attempt with a revised car in January 1938. The nose and the rear end of the car had been rebuilt after wind tunnel experiments and the car was cooled by ice in a closed system. At 8 a.m. on 28 January Caracciola took off for his first run, making the flying km in 8.40 seconds and the flying mile in 13.42 seconds. His return run went even faster (8.24 s & 13.38 s) giving Caracciola the B class records for both the flying kilometer and the flying mile. Caracciola's times are to this day the fastest ever made by a car on a normal road.
Reichautobahn (D) B. Rosemeyer (Auto Union A.G.) Auto Union V16, 72.7 x 75 mm = 4981.28 cc
28.01.38	1 km (flying start):	8.36s		429.594 km/h	266.938 mph	one way
28.01.38	1 Mile (flying start):	-s		-	-	Fatal crash
After hearing that Mercedes was having an attempt Auto Union asked to be allowed to defend their record. Eberan-Eberhorst designed a totally new, revolutional bodywork. Completed with panels that came close to the ground and channelled the air creating a vacuum, this was in fact the first ground effect car, built almost 40 years before the Lotus 78. An attempt on 27 January was aborted due to bad weather. On the 28th after Caracciola's record runs it was Rosemeyer's turn to try to re-take his records. After a test run where he reached 429 km/h Rosemeyer started his record attempt at 10.40 a.m. Having passed the kilometer point the car continued on the flying mile, suddenly went out on the grass, went sideways, rolled and disintegated, killing the driver. Rosemeyer's time on his first run had been 8.38 seconds on the kilometer, 0.02 seconds faster than Caracciola's.
Bonneville (USA) G. Eyston Thunderbolt 1
27.08.38	1 km (flying start):	6.48s		555.6 km/h	345.2 mph	Class A record
27.08.38	1 Mile (flying start):	10.42s		556.0 km/h	345.5 mph	World & Class A record
In autumn 1938 there were two British contenders ready for the total land speed record. First out was Eyston in his rebuilt "Thunderbolt" that now featured a new nose and a closed cockpit. On a run on 24th August Eyston made an astonishing time of 6.44 s only to have a timing failure on his rerun, probably because of the low contrast between the car and the desert salt. For his next attempt Eyston painted the car matt black with yellow markings and that time nothing went wrong, Eyston bettering his old record with over 50 km/h
Bonneville (USA) J. Cobb Railton
15.09.38	1 km (flying start):	6.39s		563.4 km/h	350.1 mph	World & Class A record
15.09.38	1 Mile (flying start):	10.28s		563.6 km/h	350.2 mph	World & Class A record
On 15 September Cobb took his streamlined Railton designed car through the flying mile on times of 10.19 and 10.37 seconds for an average that was 7.6 km/h faster than Eyston's less than three weeks old record.
Bonneville (USA) G. Eyston Thunderbolt 1
16.09.38	1 km (flying start):	6.26s		575.1 km/h	357.3 mph	World & Class A record
16.09.38	1 Mile (flying start):	10.07s		575.3 km/h	357.5 mph	World & Class A record
Cobb was to hold his record for less than 24 hours as Eyston went out to make a new attempt on 16th, going almost 12 km/h faster than his friendly rival to re-take the record.
Brooklands (GB) C. Staniland Multi-Union
?.10.38	5 km (flying start):	1m20.17s		?	139.5 mph	Class D record
?.10.38	5 Miles (flying start):	2m08.69		?	139.9 mph	Class D record
?.10.38	10 km (flying start):	2m40.25s		?	139.6 mph	Class D record
?.10.38	0 Miles (flying start):	4m19.13s		?	138.9 mph	Class D record
1939
Dessau (D) R. Caracciola (Daimler-Benz A.G.) Mercedes-Benz
14.02.39	1 km (standing start):	20.29s		177.4 km/h	110.2 mph	Class D record?
08.02.39	1 Mile (standing start):	28.32s		204.6 km/h	127.1 mph	Class D record
For the standing start D class records Mercedes-Benz built a car based on the 1938 GP chassis with fully enclosed wheels and the radiator replaced by internal ice cooling. After initial tests by Lang the team took the car to Dessau where a 10 km section of the highway had been specially prepared for record attempts. The central grass strip had been filled out, making the available road 27 meters wide. However Caracciola soon learned to avoid using the dirty mid section. On 8 February Caracciola made two new D class standing start records
Dessau (D) R. Caracciola (Daimler-Benz A.G.) Mercedes-Benz
09.02.39	1 km (flying start):	9.04s		398.23 km/h	mph	Class D record
09.02.39	1 Mile (flying start):	14.50s		399.56 km/h	mph	Class D record
The next day Caracciola used the record streamliner, now equipped with a 3 litre engine, to take the D class 1 km and 1 Mile flying start records.
Dessau (D) R. Caracciola (Daimler-Benz A.G.) Mercedes-Benz
14.02.39	1 km (standing start):	20.29s		177.4 km/h	110.2 mph	Class D record
Still not satisfied, Mercedes-Benz returned to Dessau a few days later to another try on the 1 km standing start. This time Caracciola managed to raise the record another 2.3 km/h. This was to be the last prewar German record run.
Dessau (D) G. Gardner M.G.
02.06.39	1 km (flying start):	10.95s		328.767 km/h	204.2? mph	Class F record
02.06.39	1 Mile (flying start):	17.66s		328.065 km/h	203.9? mph	Class F record
Bonneville (USA) J. Cobb Railton
23.08.39	1 km (flying start):	6.05s		595.041 km/h	369.7 mph	World record
23.08.39	1 Mile (flying start):	9.785s		592.094 km/h	367.910 mph	World record
26.08.39	5 km (flying start):	34.235s		525.8 km/h		World & Class A record
26.08.39	5 miles (flying start):	59.57s		486.3 km/h		World & Class A record
26.08.39	10 km (flying start):	1m19.04s		455.5 km/h		World & Class A record
26.08.39	10 miles (flying start):	2m13.155s		435.1 km/h		World & Class A record
1940
Bonneville (USA) G. Barringer Miller spl.
30.07.40	5 km (flying start):	1m10.590s		254.993 km/h	158.446 mph	Class D record
30.07.40	5 Miles (flying start):	1m53.775s		254.609 km/h	158.207 mph	Class D record
30.07.40	10 km (flying start):	2m25.978s		246.610 km/h	153.237 mph	Class D record
30.07.40	10 Miles (flying start):	3m54.930ss		246.610 km/h	153.237 mph	Class D record
30.07.40	50 km (standing start):	12m42.086s		236.19 km/h	146.76 mph	Class D record
30.07.40	50 Miles (standing start):	20m10.674s		239.272 km/h	148.677 mph	Class D record
30.07.40	100 km (standing start):	24m58.766s		241.186 km/h	149.252 mph	Class D record
30.07.40	100 Miles (standing start):	39m55.811s		240.822 km/h	150.262 mph	Class D record
30.07.40	200 km (standing start):	49m39.587s		241.643 km/h	150.150 mph	Class D record
30.07.40	200 Miles (standing start):	1h19m56.251s		241.589 km/h	150.117 mph	Class D record
30.07.40	1 hour (standing start):	1h		241.800 km/h	150.242 mph	Class D record
Dessau (D) H. Stuck? Mercedes-Benz T80 44.5L
Jan 40?
Hans Stuck's pet project was to take the land speed record and he convinced Mercedes-Benz to build a car for the attempt. The Germans were handicapped by the fact that for political reasons the record had to be broken on German soil. Porsche aimed first at 550 km/h but after Eyston's and Cobb's runs the aim was raised to 600km/h. It was predicted that the first appearence of the T80 would be on the 1940 "Rekordwoche". However, for obvious reasons the 1940 "Rekordwoche" was never held and the futuristic Porsche designed car was never to be raced.

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© 2020 Leif Snellman - Last updated: 23.02.2020