Ancient Audi revisits historic hillclimb
Shelsley Walsh to see 5.3l V16 Auto Union C-Type
Auto Union 5.3-litre V16 C-Type
Auto Union, which became Audi, and the Worcestershire hill climb venue are inextricably linked after Hans Stück Senior raced up the hill climb almost 70 years ago (6 June, 1936) as part of the prestigious European Hill Climb Championship.
Stück, crowned the "Bergmeister" ("King of the Hill"), drove a special 5.3-litre "lightweight" hill climb version of the V16 Grand Prix Auto Union C-Type at the invitation of the organising Midland Automobile Club.
Auto Union won 18 out of 23 European mountain climbs between 1934-39 and compared to those mighty courses which varied between 4-13 miles long, Shelsley was nothing more than a 1,100-yard uphill "squirt". These were the Grand Prix cars of their time.
In practice, Shelsley’s 10-foot wide farm track shuddered beneath the European Hill Climb champion’s Auto Union as its ear-splitting 520-horsepower, six-litre engine punched through the short-wheelbase Bergwagen’s twin-rim rear wheels to rocket him to the summit.
The event itself was virtually washed out by heavy rain and Stück, who had driven over from his native Austria in a Horch coupé, had to settle for a tail-wagging fifth place (45.2secs) despite using only second gear throughout his run to lessen wheel-spin.
Tens of thousands of spectators filled the hillsides around Shelsley that weekend and another large crowd is expected next weekend.
An original 1939 Auto Union V12 'D' Type Grand Prix racing car, prepared by restoration specialists, Hall and Hall, will run at Shelsley as part of the celebrations.
Shelsley Walsh’s Centenary meeting is over three days. Friday is a practice day, Saturday (20 Aug) is a round of the British Hill Climb Championship, whilst Sunday is sees cars dating from the very first meeting in 1905.
Pity Audi doesn't make cars that exciting any more though...
Absolute stunning machinery going uphill there.
Those big pre-war engines look great. And must sound big too! Torque all over . . .
That Petty burner must be a collecters item. Ex-Nascar?
When this is an anual event I must - must - come and vist the UK next year . . .
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