The Blitzen Benz is a racing car that was built by Benz & Cie in Mannheim, Germany, in 1909. In 1910 an enhanced model broke the world land speed record. It was one of six cars based on the Grand Prix car, but it had an enlarged engine, , capacity with , inline-four and improved aerodynamics.
History Of the six Blitzen Benzes made, only two survive—Mercedes-Benz owns one, while the other belongs to an American collector.
At Brooklands on 9 November 1909, land speed racer Victor Hémery of France set a record with an average speed of over a kilometre.
On 23 April 1911, Bob Burman recorded an average of over a full mile at Daytona Beach, breaking Glenn Curtiss's unofficial absolute speed record, land, sea or air, set in 1907 on his V-8 motorcycle. Burman's record stood until 1919.
At Brooklands on 24 June 1914, land speed racer British driver Lydston Hornsted, in Blitzen Benz No 3, set a record with an average speed of with 2 runs over a 1-mile course, under the new regulations of the Association International des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR).Northey, Tom (1974). "Land Speed Record: The Fastest Men on Earth". Tom Northey. World of Automobiles. Vol. 10 (London: Orbis), pp.1163.
After 1914 the car was rebuilt for circuit racing, undergoing a number of revisions before it was broken up in 1923.
Technical Data
Benz Racing car engineWorking process Four-stroke OttoCylinders 4 / in-lineDisplacement 21,504 cm3Bore × stroke 185 × 200 mmPower 200 hp at 1600 rpmTorque over 875 NmCompression ratio 1:5.8Maximum speed 1650 rpmValves hanging, 2 per cylinder, side camshaft, drive via gearsMixture preparation 1 horizontal round slide carburetorFuel supply Pneumatic hand pump, operated by the passengerLubrication Initially splash lubrication, later pressure circulation lubrication via gear pump and fresh oil additionStarter Starting crank, starter buzzer ignitionIgnition High-voltage magneto ignition, 2 Bosch D4 magnetosIgnition adjustment by hand using a lever on the steering wheelFuel tank 73 l
References
See also Land speed record Motorcycle land-speed record List of Mercedes-Benz vehicles