Race of Two Worlds

The Race of Two Worlds was a car race, which was held at Monza in 1957 and 1958. This American racers went to Champ Cars against European racers in Formula 1 cars at the start.

History

1954 oval track was built in Monza, who possessed very steep curve peaks. Together with the existing road course a mixed video route for the Grand Prix of Italy was used in 1955. The vehicles drove one lap on the road course and then bow at the end of the start -finish straight from the Oval, there to end the round. Also 1956, this route was used. The similarity of the oval Monza prompted the President of the Milan Automobile Club, Giuseppe Bacciagaluppi, to invite the event director of the United States Automobile Club ( USAC ), Duane Carter to Monza to see the race. Together they worked out an idea for a race in the Champ Cars and Formula 1 cars will go against each other at the start.

The first race of 1957

For the race, only the oval was used and it was held in June 1957. Preparations for the American riders were taken by Pat O'Connor in April 1957. This drove V8 Chrsyler test vehicle for Firestone 226 miles with an average speed of 163.4 mph ( = 262.966 km / h ) with a 5.5 liter. His fastest lap he drove at an average speed of over 170 mph ( over 273 km / h ). In comparison, the average speed, which reached O'Connor for his pole position at Indianapolis was 144 mph ( = 231 745 km / h). After the Indianapolis 500 ten front-wheel drive race cars from New York City were transported by ship to Genoa, from where they were then taken by truck to Monza. The drivers and mechanics, followed by airplane.

The event threatened to nothing to run, because the Formula 1 pilots did not want to go to the start. Their cars were not competitive with the Champ Cars on the oval course with banked corners. On the other hand, the Champ Cars would have had no chance against the Formula 1 cars on a road course. In addition, drivers were worried about the track. This was very uneven and in the curves of complete suspension travel was exploited when the vehicles were pressed by the centrifugal force in the direction of the roadway. Also because of the high speeds, most drivers boycotted the race. Only three Jaguar D -Type Ecurie Ecosse by the participated. These vehicles won a weekend before a double victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The concerns of the Formula 1 drivers because of the excessive speed were justified because the average speed, which reached Tony Bettenhausen for the pole position, was 177 mph ( = 284.853 km / h ).

The American vehicles had only two-speed gearbox, while the Jaguars were equipped with four-speed transmissions. The Jaguar driver could exploit this when flying start and continue from the rear grid positions from the top. From the first round, they came back with about 300 meters ahead. However, the lead did not last long and they were overtaken by American drivers. But there was a prize for the leader after the first round and this secured Jack Fairman. Jimmy Bryan secured with victories in the first and second run and the second behind Troy Ruttman in the third round of the overall victory.

The second race in 1958

The second race of the Two Worlds was held on 29 June 1958.

Participant

The following 19 riders participated in the race:

The vehicles

The American racing cars all had the 4.2-liter Offenhauser engine with four cylinders and double overhead camshaft, which usually slightly to the left was installed in the chassis to counteract the centrifugal forces in the long left-hand curves. The vehicles had composite front and rear axles with torsion springs. Most took advantage of Twin-tube telescopic shock absorber to minimize the problems from the previous year. Also like last year, the American race car had a two-speed gearbox. It Firestone tires and alloy wheels were used as normal bikes, as they were used in Europe, the strains did not stand up ( as the example of Alberto Ascari shows the wheel of his Ferrari in Indianapolis in 1952 broke ).

Of the three Jaguars were two 3.8-liter D- type and one was a 3.4-liter car, which was driven in the previous year. Jack Fairman drove a Jaguar Lister chassis. This was a single-seater, which led to 10 mph loss in speed, because the standard chassis of the D -Type were aerodynamically efficient.

Ferrari built a brand new V12 -4 0.2 -liter vehicle. The vehicle had wishbones and coil springs in front and leaf springs and De Dion rear axle. Ferrari used for this race wheels. Although the vehicle was equipped with a five-speed transmission, two gears were removed for the race. The second factory Ferrari had a specially-manufactured chassis and a 2.8 liter V6 Dino 296 sports car engine. All-round coil springs were used front wishbone and rear, a De Dion axle. The springs were completely encased in rubber, in order to achieve the required suspension. The third Ferrari by Harry Schell was a modified old from Chinetti Grand Prix car with a 4.2 - liter V12 naturally aspirated engine. Carroll Shelby was previously with this car hill climb at the start.

Stirling Moss went with a striking painted Eldorado Maserati into the race. It was white and had a monodentate cowboy on the side. The engine was a 4.2- liter V8 engine, which was obtained from a Maserati sports car unit. During training, the fuel injection was replaced by four carburetors. The engine was offset to the left and the transfer happened left the driver's seat. Tanks were in the rear and left of the cockpit. Also, this vehicle had a two-speed gearbox, suspension arms and coil springs in front and leaf springs and De Dion rear axle.

Qualification

* Musso qualified Hawthorns vehicle ** Hill took over the car from Musso

Run 1

On race day it was warm and sunny, but there was speculation about whether Juan Manuel Fangio can participate in the race or not. When the spark plugs were changed to his vehicle in the morning, the mechanics have found that a piston was broken. It was hoped, sufficient to move the start long backwards in order to install a new piston can. But despite a delay of 15 minutes, could not be completed in time for the repair. The vehicle was pushed according to the rules from his starting position in the pit lane and the reigning Formula 1 World Champion could not participate in the race.

When flying start Musso took advantage of his three-speed gearbox and took the lead before Sachs, Bryan and Rathmann. He drove the first lap in 65 seconds. Sachs overtook Musso at the end of the second round, but Musso conquered with a lap time of 54.8 seconds, the lead in the third round back. In the fifth round again took over the leadership Sachs and two laps later, Bryan pass by Musso.

From the eleventh round of Rathmann was in the lead, which he maintained until the finish. Musso and Sachs continued to fight for second place until lap 20 a large hole in the motor housing of Sachs ' engine showed up, which was created by an ejected rod. Musso should but the second place can not last long, because six laps later, he came to the pits, he had to contend with the methanol fumes. At the vehicle's tires were changed and Hawthorn took the wheel. He returned on the seventh place back in the race. At this time Stirling Moss had come up to third place forward.

At the end of the 53th round overtook Bob Veith Stirling Moss and shortly after Troy Ruttman was able to pass on both, as they were stuck behind a vehicle to be lapped. However, he had to return to the pits for refueling and dropped back to seventh place. Jim Rathmann won the first race ahead of Jimmy Bryan, Bob Veith, Miss Stirling, Jimmy Thomson and Mike Hawthorn.

Run 2

After the first run was followed by a pause of 1 1/2 hours, the mechanic could perform repairs on the vehicles. The starting order was the finish of the first race. Fangio could not participate in the second run and Maurice Trintignant was replaced by AJ Foyt.

Rathmann took the same in round one lead ahead of Bryan, Musso, Moss and Veith and maintained this until the finish. The Ferrari of Harry Schell quickly fell out because of some mechanical defects. In the next rounds Veith, Moss, Ruttmann and Bryan changed the positions constantly. On lap 19 Musso came again to the box because he did to create the exhaust gases. But this time he handed over to Phil Hill, whose Ferrari no longer went to the start of the first run in the second.

Third-placed Moss came closer to Veith, while Bryan, which was followed by Ruttman, closer to Moss zoom came. It was a very close battle between these four riders of the 32th to the 56th round. On the long straights, the drivers overtook each other out of the slipstream. From the 57th round of Moss ' engine lost rpm, because of a defect in one of the two magnets (the engine had two spark plugs per cylinder). He fell back to fifth place. As Ruttman crossed the finish line, pulled Fair Mans car a large cloud of smoke behind it, as in the last round, a piston broke.

Run 3

Fangio appeared for the last run on the grid, but at first without a vehicle, so the audience thought he might take over the vehicle of another participant. Moss had a large bandage on his hand, but he pulled his helmet and his racing glasses and climbed into his vehicle. Also Hawthorn got into his vehicle and finally Fangio's racing car was pushed into the starting lineup. The race lasted for him but not long. At the end of the first lap he dropped out because his fuel pump was defective.

Rathmann again led from the first lap, with the two Jaguars behind him. Moss came away as the last from the start, since he could not shift into first gear and thus had to use a higher gear. But he drove a good race and always brought more to. On lap 14 he overtook Hawthorn and was sixth on lap 20 he took fifth place of Crawford. Then he fetched per round to two seconds to AJ Foyt.

On lap 29 Veith suddenly lost a wheel, the vehicle lurched, but came to a safe stop. This Moss was now in fourth place behind Rathmann, Bryan and Foyt. This time Hawthorn had to deal with the exhaust gases of Ferrari and came into the pits to hand over to Phil Hill. In the 41th round Moss fell out, as in one of the steep turns unresponsive steering his Eldorado Maserati. He touched the guardrail at the top of the road and then came at the lower end of the road unharmed to a halt. The order in the race was now Rathmann, Bryan Hill and Crawford. Crawford Hill had overtaken in the 58th round. Rathman held his position until the finish.

Final result

The three runs were added. The clear winner of the race of the Two Worlds 1958 Jim Rathman.

  • Motorsport race
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