Anyone know Avus?

[Tom]

I found this video a few days back... http://youtube.com/watch?v=o3pXXIIzvI8

It shows the 1937 Avus GP with a wall of death, and claims of cars reaching 240mph!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVUS wiki says that average speeds reached 260 km/h, pre war, quite incredable. I suppose you have to bare in mind that these cars had supercharged V16 aero engines and far less stringent regulations, mind you I'd be terrified reaching 40mph, never mind the extra 200, in one of those streamlined metal coffins.


Avus 43 degree 'wall of death' banking.

[RH1300S]

Those were very brave men in those days.

I believe the Avus (like Indy) was a brick construction and lethally slippery in the wet. Practically nothing to stop you going over the top either. I think it's safe to say that this was built to demonstrate German superiority as much as anything else - their cars were mightily fast and the other Europeans still had an edge on handling circuits (although the Alfa Romeo Bimotore delivered quite a punch ).

I think that 1937 was the first time the banking was seen at the Avus - prior to that the corner was flat.

It hardly bears thinking about these days; but in the context of the time Europe had recently been through the Great War, some people still settled arguments by duelling - I suppose this didn't seem too dangerous at all.

[DaveKillens]

Avus had a very simple layout, two very long straights connected by two hairpins. Each straight was about 9 km long, and arrow straight.
Speed, sheer, unadulterated speed.. go fast.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVUS

[Spyker MF1]

That is a pretty cool track

No barriers on that banking though

[wrk]

now those guys had balls.................

[abarth850]

you can virtually race on this track, and many others like brooklands, monza, etc.
there's a race simulator called "spirit of speed 1937", by microprose.
Not the greatest graphics, but you get a sense of how difficult these cars were.
I think you can download a free version somewhere, just do a google search.

[DaveKillens]

I got my first taste of Avus from an add-on track for the racing simulator by Papyrus "NASCAR Racing 2003"
http://www.nr2k3tracks.com/n2k3speed.html
I think rFactor has it too.