Record run at Daytona Beach, 1911 - On 17th March 1910 Barney Oldfield achieves two American records with the 200 hp/147 kW record-making car at Daytona Beach, Florida/USA. He achieves with a flying start what at that time is an absolute world record with a speed of 211.4 km/h (131.36 mph): However, because he only drives the car in one direction, the record is not officially recognised.
On 23rd April 1911 Bob Burman lines up at Daytona Beach with the car – now referred to by Americans in German as the "Blitzen-Benz". The beach at Daytona Beach is long and wide and hence eminently suited for high speeds. Burman clocks an average speed of 225.65 km/h (140.22 mph) over a flying mile and 228.1 km/h (141.74 mph) over a flying kilometre – a new land speed-record which remains unbeaten until 1919. This makes the Benz twice as fast as the aeroplanes of the day; it also beat the 1903 rail vehicle record of 210 km/h (130.49 mph). The "Blitzen-Benz" spends the rest of the season decked out in "war-paint", with a large German Imperial Eagle and thick trim lines added to the paintwork. The car is now also fitted with a speedometer and the transfer shaft is located outside the car and extended past the right front wheel.
- Archive number: R2559
- Caption: On 17th March 1910 Barney Oldfield achieves two American records with the 200 hp/147 kW record-making car at Daytona Beach, Florida/USA. He achieves with a flying start what at that time is an absolute world record with a speed of 211.4 km/h (131.36 mph): However, because he only drives the car in one direction, the record is not officially recognised.
On 23rd April 1911 Bob Burman lines up at Daytona Beach with the car – now referred to by Americans in German as the "Blitzen-Benz". The beach at Daytona Beach is long and wide and hence eminently suited for high speeds. Burman clocks an average speed of 225.65 km/h (140.22 mph) over a flying mile and 228.1 km/h (141.74 mph) over a flying kilometre – a new land speed-record which remains unbeaten until 1919. This makes the Benz twice as fast as the aeroplanes of the day; it also beat the 1903 rail vehicle record of 210 km/h (130.49 mph). The "Blitzen-Benz" spends the rest of the season decked out in "war-paint", with a large German Imperial Eagle and thick trim lines added to the paintwork. The car is now also fitted with a speedometer and the transfer shaft is located outside the car and extended past the right front wheel. - Info: Additional picture number: 89479-1
- Topics:
