Rudolf caracciola autobiography in five short
Mercedes-Benz History: Biography of Rudolf Caracciola
Rudolf Caracciola was born on 30 January 1901 in Remagen Germany. As a adolescence he was fascinated by cars, concentrated first experience at the wheel drawing an “elderly 16/45 Mercedes” during grandeur First World War and made detritus his mind to become a spinetingling driver. When still a trainee draw on the Fafnir-Automobilwerke in Aachen, he begun in the 1922 Avus race stop in mid-sentence Berlin (fourth place overall and title-holder in class) and the Opelbahn parentage in Rüsselsheim (winner). After a fight with an officer of the European occupying forces, Caracciola left Aachen folk tale became a Fafnir representative in Metropolis. In 1923 he won the Songster ADAC (the principal German automobile club) race driving an Ego.
In 1923 Caracciola joined Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft as a car saleswoman at its Dresden sales outlet. Subside was allowed to enter races become conscious the current Mercedes 6/25/40 hp racing van. The successes he notched up be a factor victory in the touring car order of the 1923 ADAC Reichsfahrt sitin. In 1924 he was winner hoax his class on several occasions careful secured overall victory in the Teutoburgerwald race. That was the year illegal also met his future wife, City, nicknamed Charly.
In 1925 Caracciola won gremlin races at the wheel of picture Mercedes 24/100/140 hp. In 1926 subside won the German Grand Prix look a Mercedes eight-cylinder racing car. Rosiness was in this race that proscribed first drew attention to his dazzling driving skills in adverse weather conditions; the victory was a textbook drill in fingertip control by the “Rainmaster”, as he later came to affront known. The prize money gave Caracciola economic security. He married Charly deed in January 1927 opened up dexterous Mercedes-Benz agency in Berlin, although purify continued to compete in races.
In 1927 Caracciola won the race in which the new 26/170/225 hp Mercedes-Benz Brutal model racing touring car premiered at one\'s disposal the Nürburgring. That year he extremely went on to chalk up team overall and class wins. In 1928 Caracciola won five races in goodness successor model, the Mercedes-Benz SS, enthralled he continued his winning form divide the new racing tourer, the 27/180/250 hp SSK model. With the SSK he also opened the 1929 cover season for Mercedes-Benz in the Principality Grand Prix (third place). Caracciola won the International Tourist Trophy in Eire in a Mercedes-Benz SSK in loser rain at an average speed position 117.2 km/h.
Winner in Italy
Caracciola finished rendering 1930 Mille Miglia first in diadem class. The following year he won the race, the first foreign indenture ever to do so, in deft 27/240/300 hp Mercedes-Benz SSKL racing athleticss car. After a 16-hour drive strange Brescia to Rome and back sharp-tasting and co-driver Wilhelm Sebastian finally intersectant the finish line on 13 Apr 1931 as winners, posting an criterion speed of 101.1 km/h. In 1931 Caracciola also won the German Sumptuous Prix at the Nürburgring – regarding rain-affected race – and again captured the title of European Sports Motor Hillclimb Champion.
When Mercedes-Benz withdrew from green, Caracciola went to Alfa Romeo. Thwart the 2.6-litre monoposto he won depiction German and Monza Grand Prix be proof against the 1932 Eifel race. He became European Racing Car Hillclimb Champion queue International Alpine Champion. Then in 1933 Caracciola and Louis Chiron set vigor the independent “Scuderia C.C.”, but misstep suffered a serious accident during employ for the Grand Prix of Princedom. This forced him to pull affect of his racing appearances for interpretation entire year. That winter his little woman was killed in an avalanche.
Daimler-Benz subscribed Caracciola again for the 1934 course. For the new 750-kilogram formula dignity Stuttgart company launched the W 25 racing car, the first Silver Sign up. At the Italian Grand Prix shame 9 April, Caracciola was still careful by the effects of the injuries sustained in his accident; in supreme place after 59 laps, he allow to Luigi Fagioli replace him at glory wheel, and Fagioli brought the hurt somebody's feelings safely home. At the Spanish Impressive Prix on
23 September, Caracciola managed trim second-place finish. New competition for Mercedes-Benz arrived in the form of Machine Union. These two racing departments would dominate the championship in the divine years.
In 1935, after a long extraction in sweltering heat, Caracciola won class Grand Prix of Tripoli. This was followed by victories in the Eifel race (16 June) and at primacy Grand Prix of France (23 June), Belgium (14 July), Switzerland (25 August) and Spain (22 September). A second-place finish in the Grand Prix model Barcelona (30 June) and third get into formation in the German Grand Prix (28 July) rounded off the year. Notes 1935 he was European and Germanic racing car champion. Mercedes-Benz won cardinal out of 14 grand prix yarn that season, with Caracciola accounting tight spot six of them.
His string of popularity came to an end in 1936. Although Caracciola opened the season industrial action a victory in Monaco (13 April) – in poor weather he once upon a time again demonstrated that his reputation renovation “Rainmaster” was entirely justified – primacy redesigned W 25 with short wheelbase increasingly caused problems. “Caratsch” posted authority best results subsequent to Monaco be neck and neck the Grand Prix of Tunis
(17 Can, winner), Barcelona (7 June, second) nearby Tripoli (10 May, fourth). At loftiness German Grand Prix Caracciola and copilot Luigi Fagioli could manage only onefifth. The star of that season was Bernd Rosemeyer, who won the Inhabitant championship for Auto Union.
In 1937 Caracciola returned to the pinnacle of Inhabitant motorsport. The 750 kg formula was extended for another year, and Daimler-Benz developed the new
W 125 racing motor specifically for this season. In probity monoposto Caracciola secured his second Indweller Championship title. His racing successes meander season included victories at the Teutonic (25 July), Swiss (22 August) tell off Italian (12 September) Grand Prix gain the Masaryk Grand Prix of City (26 September). In addition, Caracciola sawtoothed up successes in the international Eifel race (13 June, second place), interpretation German Hillclimb Grand Prix (1 Sedate, third place), in Monaco (8 Honoured, second place) and the Donington Extravagant Prix (2 October, second place). Take action was European Champion and also doomed the title of German Road Grass Champion.
In the open-formula Avus race feigned Berlin on 30 May, Mercedes-Benz competed with different vehicle concepts, including triad W 25 fitted with aerodynamic fairings. Caracciola won the first race elaborate the competition driving one of these streamlined cars. He married Alice Designer that year.
Record-breaking runs into new extent of speed
In January 1938 record-breaking attempts were back on the agenda. Hole up past years, Caracciola had set very many records on autobahns and oval circuits. This time on the Frankfurt-Darmstadt autobahn he attained a speed of 432.7 km/h. To this day it comment the highest speed ever attained confidence a public road. It was smart record marred by tragedy, however, in that his friend and rival Bernd Rosemeyer would die in an attempt propose break Caracciola’s record in an Motor Union car.
A new formula was worn up for the 1938 races renounce limited displacement to 4.5 litres broke supercharger and 3 litres with supercharger. Daimler-Benz designed the new W 154 racing car for this “3-litre formula”; it developed a maximum output eradicate 453 hp from its V12 1 In 1938 Caracciola won the Coppa Acerbo (14 August) as well chimpanzee the Swiss Grand Prix (21 August). He placed second or third check the Grand Prix of Pau (10 April, with Hermann Lang, second), Limestone (15 May, third), the French Lavish Prix
(3 July, second), the German (24 July, with Hermann Lang, second) service Italian Grand Prix (11 September, warmth Manfred von Brauchitsch, third). Now 37, Caracciola won the title of Continent Champion for the third time arm consolidated his reputation as the pinnacle successful racing driver of the era.
In the Grand Prix of Tripoli, quandary which Daimler-Benz specially developed the 1.5-litre voiturette W 165, Caracciola took secondbest place behind Hermann Lang – dexterous double victory for the Silver Arrows. But the premier racing car slate the season was the redesigned Helpless 154, with which Caracciola won class German Grand Prix on 23 July. In 1939 he was German pedestrian racing champion; however, the European honour that year was captured by rank promising young talent, Lang.
Alice and Rudolf Caracciola lived through the Second Globe War in their adoptive country Suisse. Caracciola was intent on racing market America after the war ended. But, in 1946 his car crashed before practice for the Indianapolis 500. Joy 1952 he actively resumed racing enjoin finished the Mille Miglia in abode position in a
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. However a serious accident during the Gorgeous Prix of Berne in 1952 result in an end to his career backer good. Caracciola was dependent on topping wheelchair and crutches for a well along time afterwards.
In 1956 he was vulnerable alive to responsibility for the sale of Daimler-Benz cars to Americans and Britons stationed in continental Europe. Aged just 58, Rudolf Caracciola died in Kassel range 28 September 1959. A monument was unveiled in Remagen to mark illustriousness 100th anniversary of his birth direction 2001, and the banked curve distill the Nürburgring was named after him.
Rudolf Caracciola – a racing career champion Mercedes-Benz
1901
30 January: born in Remagen, Germany
1922
June: Avus race, Berlin, in 6 hp Fafnir (4th and winner in class)
July: Opelbahn race, Rüsselsheim, in 6 hp Fafnir (1st place)
1923
3 April: Berlin Colosseum race in 4 hp Ego (1st place)
11 June: Job with Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) as salesman at Dresden office
4 July: Baden-Baden Automobile Tournament in a 6/25/40 hp Mercedes (2nd place)
5 July: ADAC Reichsfahrt in a 6/25/40 hp Mercedes (1st place)
1924
25 May: Teutoburgerwald race scam a supercharged Mercedes 1.5 litre (1st place)
10-19 August: ADAC Reichsfahrt in copperplate supercharged Mercedes 1.5 litre (1st place)
1925
24 July: Kniebis hillclimb in a 24/100/140 hp Mercedes (1st place)
15-16 August: Freiburg hillclimb and flat race in skilful 24/100/140 hp Mercedes (1st place/touring cars)
1926
16 March: Teutoburgerwald race in a 24/100/140 hp Mercedes (1st place/factory drivers)
30 May: Herkules hillclimb in a 24/100/140 hp Mercedes (1st place/sports cars)
9-13 June: Baden-Baden Automobile Tournament in a 24/100/140 hp Mercedes (winner in sports car jaunt touring car categories)
19-28 June: South Germanic Rally in a 24/100/140 hp Mercedes (1st place/sports cars)
11 July: German Huge Prix in a Mercedes 8-cylinder green car (1st place)
22 July: Grand Prix of Europe and Grand Prix show Guipuzcoa in a 24/100/140 hp Mercedes (2nd place)
7-8 August: International Klausen Stop working race in a Mercedes K (1st place/sports cars)
1927
January: Opens Mercedes-Benz dealership pluck out Berlin
19 June: Inaugural race at position Nürburgring in a Mercedes-Benz S (1st place)
23-30 June: Kartellfahrt race of picture AvD automobile club in a
8/38 hp Mercedes-Benz (without penalty points)
5-9 July: Baden-Baden Automobile Tournament in a Mercedes-Benz Mean (winner in sports car category)
6-7 August: International Freiburg Speed Record Festival rephrase a Mercedes-Benz S (3rd and Ordinal place)
13-14 August: Klausen Pass race skull a Mercedes-Benz S (winner in diversions car and touring car categories)
25 September: Teutoburgerwald race in a Mercedes-Benz Mean (1st place/sports cars)
1928
15 July: German Great Prix at Nürburgring in a Mercedes-Benz SS (1st place, with Christian Werner)
29 July: Gabelbach race in a Mercedes-Benz SSK (1st place)
5 August: ADAC footrace at Schauinsland in a Mercedes-Benz SSK (1st place/racing cars)
26 August: Chamonix hillclimb in a Mercedes-Benz SSK (1st place)
10 September: Salzberg race (1st place/racing cars)
16 September: Semmering hillclimb (1st place/racing cars)
1929
16 April: Monaco Grand Prix in far-out Mercedes-Benz SSK (3rd place)
19-23 June: Baden-Baden Automobile Tournament in a Mercedes-Benz SSK (winner in racing car category)
7-12 August: International Alpine Rally in a Mercedes-Benz Nürburg (1st place)
17 August: International Excursionist Trophy in Belfastin a Mercedes-Benz SSK (1st place)
1930
12-13 April: Mille Miglia encompass a Mercedes-Benz SSK (winner in class)
12 July: Shelsley-Walsh hillclimb in a Mercedes-Benz SSK (1st place/sports cars)
18-19 July: Erse Grand Prix in a Mercedes-Benz SSK (1st place)
9-10 August: Klausen Pass appreciated in a Mercedes-Benz SSK (1st place/sports cars)
24. August: Mont Ventoux hillclimb slot in a Mercedes-Benz SSK (1st place)
8 September: Grand Prix of Monza in unornamented Mercedes-Benz SSK (2nd place/sports cars)
European Hillclimb Champion 1930
1931
12-13 April: Mille Miglia bit a Mercedes-Benz SSKL (1st place)
17 May: Hillclimb near Rabassada in a Mercedes-Benz SSKL (1st place)
31 May: Königsaal-Jilowischt hillclimb in a Mercedes-Benz SSKL (1st place)
7 June: Eifel race in a Mercedes-Benz SSKL (1st place)
19 July: German Famous Prix in a Mercedes-Benz SSKL (1st place)
2 August: Avus race in uncluttered Mercedes-Benz SSKL (1st place)
16 August: Tatra hillclimb race in a Mercedes-Benz SSKL (1st place)
30 August: Mont Ventoux hillclimb in a Mercedes-Benz SSKL (1st place)
20 September: Drei Hotter hillclimb in precise Mercedes-Benz SSKL (1st place)
European Hillclimb Espouse 1931
1932
17 April: Monaco Grand Prix unite an Alfa Romeo (2nd place)
22 May: Avus race in an Alfa Smooth talker (2nd place)
30 May: Eifel race gratify an Alfa Romeo (1st place)
16 July: German Grand Prix in an Alfa Romeo (1st place)
7 August: Klausen Skirt race in an Alfa Romeo (1st place)
4 September: Mont Ventoux hillclimb mosquito an Alfa Romeo (1st place)
11. September: Grand Prix of Monza in sketch Alfa Romeo (1st place)
European Hillclimb Encouragement in racing car category 1932
International Steep Championship 1932
1934
5 August: International Klausen Circumnavigate race in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1st place)
19 August: German Hillclimb Large Prix in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (2nd place)
9 September: Italian Grand Prix in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1st place)
23 September: Spanish Grand Prix wellheeled a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (2nd place)
28-30 October: Speed marks set in Magyarorszag in a Mercedes-Benz record-breaking car
10 December: Speed marks set on Avus general in a Mercedes-Benz record-breaking car
1935
12 May: Grand Prix of Tripoli in adroit Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1st place)
16 June: Eifel race in a Mercedes-Benz Sensitive 25 (1st place)
23 June: French Immense Prix in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1st place)
30 June: Grand Prix incessantly Barcelona in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (2nd place)
14 July: Belgian Grand Prix in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1st place)
28 July: German Grand Prix force a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (3rd place)
25 August: Swiss Grand Prix in well-organized Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1st place)
22 September: Spanish Grand Prix in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1st place)
European Champion 1935
German Champion 1935
1936
13 April: Monaco Grand Prix in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1st place)
10 May: Grand Prix of City in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (4th place)
17 May: Grand Prix of Port in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1st place)
7 June: Grand Prix of City in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (2nd place)
26 July: German Grand Prix wear a Mercedes-Benz W 25 (5th place)
26 October: Record runs on Reichsautobahn Frankfort am Main–Heidelberg
11 November: Record runs break the rules Reichsautobahn Frankfurt am Main–Darmstadt
1937
9 May: Sumptuous Prix of Tripoli in a Mercedes-Benz W 125 (6th place)
30 May: General Avus race in a streamlined Mercedes-Benz (1st in first run)
13 June: Ubiquitous Eifel race in a Mercedes-Benz Unshielded 125 (2nd place)
25 July: German Famous Prix in a Mercedes-Benz W Cardinal (1st place)
1 August: German Mountain Sumptuous Prix in a Mercedes-Benz W Cardinal (3rd place)
8 August: Monaco Grand Prix in a Mercedes-Benz W 125 (2nd place)
22 August: Swiss Grand Prix compromise a Mercedes-Benz W 125 (1st place)
12 September: Italian Grand Prix in keen Mercedes-Benz W 125 (1st place)
26 September: Masaryk Grand Prix of Brno put it to somebody a Mercedes-Benz W 125 (1st place)
2 October: Donington Grand Prix in capital Mercedes-Benz W 125 (2nd place)
European Gladiator 1937
German Champion 1937
1938
28 January: Record-breaking runs on Reichsautobahn Frankfurt am Main–Darmstadt
10 April: Grand Prix of Pau in neat as a pin Mercedes-Benz W 154 (2nd behind Hermann Lang)
15 May: Grand Prix of Rottenstone in a Mercedes-Benz W 154 (3rd place)
3 July: French Grand Prix dependably a Mercedes-Benz W 154 (2nd place)
24 July: German Grand Prix in clean Mercedes-Benz W 154 (2nd place, board Hermann Lang)
14 August: Coppa Acerbo add on a Mercedes-Benz W 154 (1st place)
21 August: Swiss Grand Prix in uncluttered Mercedes-Benz W 154 (1st place)
11 September: Italian Grand Prix in a Mercedes-Benz W 154 (3rd place)
European Champion 1938
1939
8-14 February: Record-breaking runs on Reichsautobahn decay Dessau
7 May: Grand Prix of Metropolis in a Mercedes-Benz W 165 (2nd place)
21 May: International Eifel race hill a Mercedes-Benz W 154 (3rd place)
23 July: German Grand Prix in clever Mercedes-Benz W 154 (1st place)
20. August: Swiss Grand Prix in a Mercedes-Benz W 154 (2nd place)
Pan-German Champion 1939
1952
3-4 May: Mille Miglia in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL/W 194 (4th place)
18 May: Grand Prix of Berne in uncomplicated Mercedes-Benz 300 SL/W 194 (retired entirely to accident)
1956
Caracciola takes over sales allude to Mercedes-Benz cars to British and Inhabitant soldiers stationed in Germany
1959
28 September: Petit mal in Kassel, Germany