Fatal Record Attempt
Bernd was killed during a land speed record attempt on the Autobahn between Frankfurt and Darmstadt, on January 28, 1938.
Competing for the record on the same day against Rudolf Caracciola, Rosemeyer went later in the day and set a new record of 432 km/h (268 mph) . Rosemeyer went out next in his Auto Union streamliner, despite a report wind was picking up. After two preliminary runs he was on his third and final attempt at 11:47 a.m., when the car suddenly went out of control. Whether caught by a gust of wind or by an unforeseen aerodynamic effect, it skidded to the left and, perhaps after over-correcting, it swerved to the right and off the highway where it went airborne. Rosemeyer was thrown out of the car as it somersaulted through the air; he died at the roadside.
Read more about this topic: Bernd Rosemeyer
Famous quotes containing the words fatal, record and/or attempt:
“When the inhabitants of some sequestered island first descry the “big canoe” of the European rolling through the blue waters towards their shores, they rush down to the beach in crowds, and with open arms stand ready to embrace the strangers. Fatal embrace! They fold to their bosoms the vipers whose sting is destined to poison all their joys; and the instinctive feeling of love within their breasts is soon converted into the bitterest hate.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“Not marble nor the gilded monuments
Of princes shall outlive this powerful rime;
But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone, besmeared with sluttish time.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Religion, oh, just another of those numerous failures resulting from an attempt to popularize art.”
—Ezra Pound (1885–1972)