Salt Lake Blitzen Benz .

• 

by Robert L. Rampton (photos from his collection): The date is August 8, 1914, and the place is the State Fair Grounds half mile oval in Salt Lake City, Utah. The driver is one Theodore A. Tetzlaff, aka "Terrible Teddy" Tetzlaff. The arm draped over the back belongs to his mechanic Dominic Basso. This exhibition run (click here) in one of the famous Benz speed cars was part of an afternoon of races staged by the Moross racing outfit that included "Coal-oil" Billy Carlson, Wilbur D'Alene, Hughie Hughes, and "Captain" Harvey Kennedy and others. Several days later the Benz and Tetzlaff, due to the efforts of some determined Salt Lakers, were 130 miles west, on the remote and unknown salt flats making an impromptu attempt on the speed record for the flying mile, the first time a purpose-built speed car had done so. By all accounts, Teddy broke the record by 1/5 of a second, traveling 142.85 mph in the Benz. AAA, however, changed it's mind and rejected the record. Whole thing was quickly forgotten.
Editor: We are not sure if Blitzen Benz nr. 1 or 2, or both are in the Mercedes Benz Museum. But sure they did a mighty fine job restoring/recreating it, check this Russian website (Autoreview.ru).

Ajoutez un commentaire...