Bernd Rosemeyer - Fatal Record Attempt

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:

    “Italia! oh Italia! thou who hast
    The fatal gift of beauty.”
    —George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)

    “As to the thirty-six Senators who placed themselves on record against the principle of a World Court, I am inclined to think that if they ever get to Heaven they will be doing a great deal of apologizing for a very long time—that is if God is against war—and I think He is.”
    —Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)

    “Religion, oh, just another of those numerous failures resulting from an attempt to popularize art.”
    —Ezra Pound (1885–1972)