THE WORLD'S MOST UNORTHODOX RACING CAR
THE WORLD’S MOST UNORTHODOX RACING CAR THE AUTO-UNION LAID BARE.
READERS of “Moron Soar” will already be conversant with principal features of design embodied in the very successful Auto-Union racing car, its tub,plar frame, 16-cylinder 5-litre engine and independent springing, but only in the last few weeks has the chassis itself been exposed to the public gaze. We reproduce two photographs sent to us by the factory which reveal the lay-out of the various components,
The chassis itself is a simple, not to say fragile, tubular tructure, and one’s respect is divided between Dr. Porsche who conceived this unorthodox design and the drivers, Stuck and his companions, who have travelled at such speeds with this framework beneath them.
At the front end of the chassis, on either side, will be seen a white ring, and these form the water connection to the forward-mounted radiator. Cool water flows back along the near-side tube and is drawn into the engine by the water pump at the front end of the latter, the pump being driven by two belts at the front end of the crank-shaft. Heated water is collected by the two manifolds seen in the picture and returned to the radiator through the other side member. The worm and wheel steering mechanism with its track-rods is seen on the left of the illustration, and beneath it the two cylinders for the hydraulic braking system. The clutch and accelerator •
Magnificen t workmanship are shown in this view of the front axle and brake drum. Rote the water connection (the white ring) on the chassis tube. •
pedals are linked up to their operating points by means of cables, while the gear lever is connected to the gear-box by a long shaft.
Between the cylinder-blocks of the V engine will be seen the cover of the single camshaft which actuates all the valves. The inlets are of course in the centre, operated by short rockers, while the exhausts are dealt with by means of the enclosed push-rods which may be seen projecting on each side of the centre casing. The sparking plugs are disposed in the centre of the heads, with two magnetos at the back of the engine. Above them can be seen the finned casing of the supercharger and behind it the two carburettors.
The five-speed gear-gox with its starting handle projects behind the back axle, and the independently sprung halves of the latter, with the transverse spring and the radius rods hinged to the chassis near the rear end of the engine, can also be discerned.
The other illustration, which is almost self-explanatory, shows the front suspension and one of the beautifully ribbed drums. The torsion rod which is used as a front chassis spring runs through the cross-member, while the top arm supporting the steering pivot is connected to a friction shock-absorber, ribbed for cooling.