Silver Arrows - Revision history

Rodhalligan at 03:37, 18 March 2009

2009-03-18T03:37:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:37, 18 March 2009
Line 28:		Line 28:
	== External link ==		== External link ==
	*[http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/silver.htm Grand Prix History], Die Silberpfeile		*[http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/silver.htm Grand Prix History], Die Silberpfeile
			*[http://carsguide.news.com.au/site/blogs-and-stuff/story/the_silver_arrows_75th_anniversary/ The Silver Arrows - 75th Anniversary], Carsguide Historical article

	[[Category:Racing cars]]		[[Category:Racing cars]]
	[[Category:Formula One cars\|*Silver Arrows]]		[[Category:Formula One cars\|*Silver Arrows]]

Red marquis at 13:15, 16 February 2007

2007-02-16T13:15:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:15, 16 February 2007
Line 8:		Line 8:
	German cars like the [[Blitzen Benz]] were white. For example, the big supercharged 200 [[horsepower\|hp]] [[Mercedes-Benz SSK]] with which [[Rudolf Caracciola]] won the 1931 [[Mille Miglia]] was called ''White Elephant''.		German cars like the [[Blitzen Benz]] were white. For example, the big supercharged 200 [[horsepower\|hp]] [[Mercedes-Benz SSK]] with which [[Rudolf Caracciola]] won the 1931 [[Mille Miglia]] was called ''White Elephant''.

	The origin of the Silver Arrows was accidental. The international governing body of motor sport prescribed for 1934 onwards a maximum weight limit of 750 ~~[[kilogram]]s~~ for Grand Prix racing cars, excluding tyres and fuel. When the Mercedes-Benz team placed its new [[Mercedes-Benz W25]] on the scrutineering scales prior to the first race (the [[Eifelrennen]] at the [[Nürburgring]]) in spring 1934, it recorded 751 kg. Racing manager [[Alfred Neubauer]] and his driver [[Manfred von Brauchitsch]] were at first baffled, before hitting on the idea of scraping all the white paint from the bodywork. The next day, the shining silver aluminium beneath was exposed and the scrutineering was passed. After a successful race of the 320 hp cars, the nickname Silver Arrow was born.		The origin of the Silver Arrows was accidental. The international governing body of motor sport prescribed for 1934 onwards a maximum weight limit of 750 kilograms for Grand Prix racing cars, excluding tyres and fuel. When the Mercedes-Benz team placed its new [[Mercedes-Benz W25]] on the scrutineering scales prior to the first race (the [[Eifelrennen]] at the [[Nürburgring]]) in spring 1934, it recorded 751 kg. Racing manager [[Alfred Neubauer]] and his driver [[Manfred von Brauchitsch]] were at first baffled, before hitting on the idea of scraping all the white paint from the bodywork. The next day, the shining silver aluminium beneath was exposed and the scrutineering was passed. After a successful race of the 320 hp cars, the nickname Silver Arrow was born.

	Until 1937, the supercharged engine of a [[Mercedes-Benz W125]] attained an output of 646 hp (475 ~~[[watt\|~~kW]]), a figure not exceeded in Grand Prix Racing until the early 1980s, with the appearance of turbo-charged engines in [[Formula One]]. The Silver Arrows of Mercedes and Auto Union cars reached speeds of well over 300 ~~[[Kilometre per hour\|~~km/h]] in 1937, and well over 400 km/h during land speed record runs.		Until 1937, the supercharged engine of a [[Mercedes-Benz W125]] attained an output of 646 hp (475 kW), a figure not exceeded in Grand Prix Racing until the early 1980s, with the appearance of turbo-charged engines in [[Formula One]]. The Silver Arrows of Mercedes and Auto Union cars reached speeds of well over 300 km/h in 1937, and well over 400 km/h during land speed record runs.

	The superiority of these vehicles in international motor racing established the term "Silver Arrow" as a legend, for example by usually winning the first race in which they were entered. The names [[Rudolf Caracciola]], [[Bernd Rosemeyer]], [[Hermann Lang]], and later [[Stirling Moss]] and [[Juan Manuel Fangio]], will for ever be associated with the eras of these racing cars.		The superiority of these vehicles in international motor racing established the term "Silver Arrow" as a legend, for example by usually winning the first race in which they were entered. The names [[Rudolf Caracciola]], [[Bernd Rosemeyer]], [[Hermann Lang]], and later [[Stirling Moss]] and [[Juan Manuel Fangio]], will for ever be associated with the eras of these racing cars.

	Mercedes-Benz recalled its great past in the 1970s with rallye cars, and in the 1980s with the [[Sauber]] sportscars as well as the [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft\|DTM]] touring cars. In 1995 and 1996, the [[McLaren-Mercedes]] F1 cars were still painted in the red&white colors of [[Marlboro ~~(cigarette)\|Marlboro]]~~ but in 1997, ~~[[West (cigarette)\|~~West]] brought silver and black colors. As his predecessors did, the new ''silver arrow'' won on his first appearance, in [[Melbourne]] with [[David Coulthard]]. The latest incarnation of the McLaren-Mercedes [[livery]] further continues this tradition by being dominated by highly reflective chrome-silver.		Mercedes-Benz recalled its great past in the 1970s with rallye cars, and in the 1980s with the [[Sauber]] sportscars as well as the [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft\|DTM]] touring cars. In 1995 and 1996, the [[McLaren-Mercedes]] F1 cars were still painted in the red&white colors of Marlboro but in 1997, West brought silver and black colors. As his predecessors did, the new ''silver arrow'' won on his first appearance, in Melbourne with [[David Coulthard]]. The latest incarnation of the McLaren-Mercedes livery further continues this tradition by being dominated by highly reflective chrome-silver.

	Other German companies, like [[Porsche]] and [[BMW]], still favour mainly the [[List of international auto racing colors\|traditional white]], while [[Audi]] also uses silver in to carry on the tradition of [[Auto Union]].		Other German companies, like [[Porsche]] and [[BMW]], still favour mainly the [[List of international auto racing colors\|traditional white]], while [[Audi]] also uses silver in to carry on the tradition of [[Auto Union]].

Red marquis at 13:07, 16 February 2007

2007-02-16T13:07:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:07, 16 February 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Image:Silberpfeil-W25 1934 Rueckansicht.jpg\|thumb\|240px\|1934 ''Silberpfeil-W25'']]		[[Image:Silberpfeil-W25 1934 Rueckansicht.jpg\|thumb\|240px\|1934 ''Silberpfeil-W25'']]
	[[Image:LangH-MB-W125-1977.jpg\|thumb\|240px\|1937 ''Mercedes-Benz W 125'']]		[[Image:LangH-MB-W125-1977.jpg\|thumb\|240px\|1937 ''Mercedes-Benz W 125'']]
			[[Image:Autouniontyped.jpg\|thumb\|240px\|Auto Union D-Type]]
	'''Silver Arrows''' was the name given by the press to Germany's dominant [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Auto Union]] [[Grand Prix motor racing]] cars between 1934 and 1939, and also later applied to the [[Mercedes-Benz]] [[Formula One]] and sports cars in 1954/55.		'''Silver Arrows''' was the name given by the press to Germany's dominant [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Auto Union]] [[Grand Prix motor racing]] cars between 1934 and 1939, and also later applied to the [[Mercedes-Benz]] [[Formula One]] and sports cars in 1954/55.

Red marquis at 06:05, 13 December 2006

2006-12-13T06:05:58Z

New page

[[Image:Silberpfeil-W25 1934 Rueckansicht.jpg|thumb|240px|1934 ''Silberpfeil-W25'']]
[[Image:LangH-MB-W125-1977.jpg|thumb|240px|1937 ''Mercedes-Benz W 125'']]

'''Silver Arrows''' was the name given by the press to Germany's dominant [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Auto Union]] [[Grand Prix motor racing]] cars between 1934 and 1939, and also later applied to the [[Mercedes-Benz]] [[Formula One]] and sports cars in 1954/55.

For decades until the introduction of sponsorship liveries, each country had its [[List of international auto racing colors|traditional color in automobile racing]]. Italian race cars are still famous for their [[Rosso Corsa]] red color, English ones are [[British racing green|British Racing Green]], French blue, etc.

German cars like the [[Blitzen Benz]] were white. For example, the big supercharged 200 [[horsepower|hp]] [[Mercedes-Benz SSK]] with which [[Rudolf Caracciola]] won the 1931 [[Mille Miglia]] was called ''White Elephant''.

The origin of the Silver Arrows was accidental. The international governing body of motor sport prescribed for 1934 onwards a maximum weight limit of 750 [[kilogram]]s for Grand Prix racing cars, excluding tyres and fuel. When the Mercedes-Benz team placed its new [[Mercedes-Benz W25]] on the scrutineering scales prior to the first race (the [[Eifelrennen]] at the [[Nürburgring]]) in spring 1934, it recorded 751 kg. Racing manager [[Alfred Neubauer]] and his driver [[Manfred von Brauchitsch]] were at first baffled, before hitting on the idea of scraping all the white paint from the bodywork. The next day, the shining silver aluminium beneath was exposed and the scrutineering was passed. After a successful race of the 320 hp cars, the nickname Silver Arrow was born.

Until 1937, the supercharged engine of a [[Mercedes-Benz W125]] attained an output of 646 hp (475 [[watt|kW]]), a figure not exceeded in Grand Prix Racing until the early 1980s, with the appearance of turbo-charged engines in [[Formula One]]. The Silver Arrows of Mercedes and Auto Union cars reached speeds of well over 300 [[Kilometre per hour|km/h]] in 1937, and well over 400 km/h during land speed record runs.

The superiority of these vehicles in international motor racing established the term "Silver Arrow" as a legend, for example by usually winning the first race in which they were entered. The names [[Rudolf Caracciola]], [[Bernd Rosemeyer]], [[Hermann Lang]], and later [[Stirling Moss]] and [[Juan Manuel Fangio]], will for ever be associated with the eras of these racing cars.

Mercedes-Benz recalled its great past in the 1970s with rallye cars, and in the 1980s with the [[Sauber]] sportscars as well as the [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft|DTM]] touring cars. In 1995 and 1996, the [[McLaren-Mercedes]] F1 cars were still painted in the red&white colors of [[Marlboro (cigarette)|Marlboro]] but in 1997, [[West (cigarette)|West]] brought silver and black colors. As his predecessors did, the new ''silver arrow'' won on his first appearance, in [[Melbourne]] with [[David Coulthard]]. The latest incarnation of the McLaren-Mercedes [[livery]] further continues this tradition by being dominated by highly reflective chrome-silver.

Other German companies, like [[Porsche]] and [[BMW]], still favour mainly the [[List of international auto racing colors|traditional white]], while [[Audi]] also uses silver in to carry on the tradition of [[Auto Union]].

At the 1999 [[Le Mans 24 Hours]], a total of seven Silver Arrows were entered in the [[Le Mans Prototype]] class:
*three ill-fated [[Mercedes-Benz CLR]]
*two unreliable British-built LM-GT1 [[Audi R8 Race Car|Audi R8]]C
*two [[Joest Racing]] LMP [[Audi R8 Race Car|Audi R8R]] that scored third and fourth.

==Further reading==
* Chris Nixon, ''Racing the Silver Arrows: Mercedes-Benz versus Auto Union 1934-1939'' (Osprey, London, 1986) pp. 30-37, 164-168

== External link ==
*[http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/silver.htm Grand Prix History], Die Silberpfeile

[[Category:Racing cars]]
[[Category:Formula One cars|*Silver Arrows]]