Motorsports Trivia Thread!

  • Thread starter Cap'n Jack
  • 7,183 comments
  • 336,298 views
I will take a turn - but will ask a slightly more open-ended question than usual, since completely definitive answers may not be available. A good guess may be the winner in lieu of exact lap times.

There were several classic circuits in use both before and after WWII, such as Pau, Rheims, Spa, Avus, Tripoli, Nurburgring, Monaco, Monza and Bremgarten. The question is, which pre-war lap record stood the longest before being broken post-war?
 
Jimlaad43
Nordschleife
Click to expand...
My information, which I do not claim to be definitive, suggests that an absolute lap record was established at the Nordschleife by Bernd Rosemeyer in an Auto Union at 9:46.2 in 1937. It was broken by JM Fangio in a Lancia-Ferrari in the '56 race with a time of 9:41.6. This could be the correct answer.

@Legro While it's true the lap record at Bremgarten (established 1937) was never broken, my question was intended to be about the record which stood longest before being broken.

Donington is an excellent puzzle. It was used a couple of times before WWII as a non-Euro championship GP. The short country house circuit was considered quite different from other tracks at the time, with an average speed of about 85 mph on the 3.125 mi circuit, and perhaps not in the same "classic" venue category as others. It was reopened in 1977 by Tom Wheatcroft, and has hosted several series since. I believe the current length is 2.498 mi and is shaped somewhat differently. All that notwithstanding, this also could be the correct answer.
 
After consideration, my opinion is that the best answer is Nurburgring. It'a a true classic, raced extensively both before and after the war on an unchanged circuit, and an examination of lap times does in fact shed light on the halting progress in the speed of the Grand Prix car.

I'd be interested in other opinions.

@Jimlaad43 your go.
 
In 2006 Sebastien Loeb won World Rally Drivers Championship in, while largely factory supported, still a privateer Kronos Citroën.

When was the only time World Rally Drivers Championship was won with full-privateer car.
 
Legro
In 2006 Sebastien Loeb won World Rally Drivers Championship in, while largely factory supported, still a privateer Kronos Citroën.

When was the only time World Rally Drivers Championship was won with full-privateer car.
Click to expand...

Rohl, 80?
 
In 2013 Robert Kubica became 1st Polish driver to win a WRC and/or WRC support title and 3rd Pole to win a FIA organised Regional / International championship in Rallies.

Who was the two other Poles to win FIA-organised title in Rallies ?
 
How many F1 race victories for a Ferrari engine have not come from the factory Ferrari Constructor? I want every race, the teams and drivers listed please.
 
Jimlaad43
How many F1 race victories for a Ferrari engine have not come from the factory Ferrari Constructor? I want every race, the teams and drivers listed please.
Click to expand...

In 1964, Enzo Ferrari was having one of his periodical disputes with the FIA, this time over the homologation of the 250LM and the 275LM in the GT category. The dispute came to a head after Surtees dramatically won at Monza and came into contention for the title. Accordingly, the Commendatore surrendered his entrants license and for the US and Mexican GPs the cars were entered by Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team and were painted in North American racing blue and white. Surtees placed 2nd at Watkins Glen and at Mexico City, and won the Driver's Championship.

This doesn't quite satisfy the criterion for your question, but I thought you might nevertheless be amused.

I think at least one non-championship GP was won by a privately entered Ferrari, notably one painted in British racing green.



Reg Parnell, Ferrari 375 "Thinwall Special", Silverstone, 1951 International Trophy
 
Last edited:
Dotini
In 1964, Enzo Ferrari was having one of his periodical disputes with the FIA, this time over the homologation of the 250LM and the 275LM in the GT category. The dispute came to a head after Surtees dramatically won at Monza and came into contention for the title. Accordingly, the Commendatore surrendered his entrants license and for the US and Mexican GPs the cars were entered by Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team and were painted in North American racing blue and white. Surtees placed 2nd at Watkins Glen and at Mexico City, and won the Driver's Championship.

This doesn't quite satisfy the criterion for your question, but I thought you might nevertheless be amused.

I think at least one non-championship GP was won by a privately entered Ferrari, notably one painted in British racing green.



Reg Parnell, Ferrari 375 "Thinwall Special", Silverstone, 1951 International Trophy
Click to expand...
I knew about that, but as you said, it wasn't a victory, so isn't an answer.

The Non-Championship one would still count though, as it was still constructed by Ferrari, just not entered. ;)
 
Jimlaad43
I knew about that, but as you said, it wasn't a victory, so isn't an answer.

The Non-Championship one would still count though, as it was still constructed by Ferrari, just not entered. ;)
Click to expand...
The Thinwall Special evolved over time, competing in Formula Libre. By 1954 the project had morphed into the Vanwall, which won the first F1 Manufacturers Championship a few years later.

It is rare to find early examples of F1 cars powered by Ferrari engines in which the chassis was constructed by someone other than Ferrari. An acquaintance of mine, Pete Lovely, drove a Cooper-Castellotti in the 1960 US GP at Riverside, finishing 11th. This marque also scored points with a 4th at Monza the same year.


Cooper Castellotti F1 T51 Conrero #F2/13/60 - Scuderia Eugenio Castellotti - 1960
6th Historic Monaco Grand Prix
GPH_Monaco08_0174.jpg
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

TobbeGTE
Holden Torana SS (A9X) 1978
Replies
4
Views
2K
TobbeGTE
TobbeGTE
Cristobal1234
Porsche 963 LMDh Porsche Penske Motorsports 2023
Replies
1
Views
3K
Cristobal1234
Cristobal1234
S
  • Locked
50th anniversary for Australia's famous Bathurst 1000
Replies
6
Views
7K
daan
daan
S
  • Locked
5oth Anniversary for Australia's famous Bathurst 1000
Replies
2
Views
7K
daan
daan
S
  • Locked
50th anniversary for Australia's famous Bathurst 1000
Replies
11
Views
7K
Mike Rotch
Mike Rotch

Latest Posts

Back