European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 19, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine bed rot Meyer Intel drove the rear engine Auto Union grand prix eat on curb urging during the 1937 German grand prix. A year later he was killed while racing an Auto Union Carat Speed Well Over 270 Mph during a Competition on the autobahn Between Frankfurt and Daman tit fateful Speed run on the autobahn Byrand Barnett is motor sports editor of that Frankfurt Darmstadt autobahn is just like a race track. The longest and the straightest race track anywhere. I be done 100 Miles an hour on it More than once and i be been passed like i m standing still i la bet some of those Mercedes and porsche Are doing 150 Miles an hour out  comments like this Are commonly heard from americans using that packed but popular stretch of German superhighway. In fact the Frankfurt Darmstadt autobahn was indeed once used As a race track for land Speed record runs and today s porsche and Mercedes cars Are slow by comparison. In 1938,48 years ago Mercedes and Auto Union land Speed record cars were Topping the 265-mile-an hour Mark with regularity on the Frankfurt Darmstadt autobahn. And thereby hangs a tale. In those Days just before world War ii that Pioneer strip of autobahn was also was the scene of intense rivalry Between Mercedes and Auto Union. They fought it out to establish various world land Speed records the results carrying enormous prestige for Adolf Hitler s 8ajtdgemian cars held most of the world land Speed records much to Hitler s Delight. The Competition had his full  Frankfurt Darmstadt autobahn would be closed for these runs and the huge cars were Topping he 265 Mon Mark for a Kilometre run using a flying Start. Mercedes Benz and Auto Union constructed special streamlined bodies for these super cars which were powered by specially built engines. On the morning of Jan. 28,1938, German racing Star Rudi Caracciola driving for Mercedes had just established the flying Kilometre record at an average Speed of 270.4 Mph. The Mercedes Benz officials decided that Caracciola s Mark was Good enough and to team packed up to leave. But while they packed us the Auto Union team moved  for Auto Union was Bernd Rosemeyer a Man acknowledged As the greatest racing Driver Germany eve produced. Some Auto racing experts san Bank him As no. 1 on their list of the Wor d s 10 meanest by All accounts he was an , Hima care individual who was highly popular. Not Only in Germany but in whatever country he raced including America. By late afternoon on that Long ago january Day Rosemeyer s Auto Union land Speed car was fully checked out and ready to go. In his Warmup run Rosemeyer averaged 268 Mph for the flying Kilometre and with the car considered capable of hitting 275, Rosemeyer was confident that he would win Back the world record for Auto Union on his next run. He had every reason to think so. He was confident of the car and confident of himself. At age 27, he was enjoying International Fame from his 10 grand prix victories during his three years with Auto Union to say nothing of a string of second and third places. He had won the equivalent of what today would be the world driving championship. He held 22 land Speed records and had scored Many victories in Hill climbs. The Mountain Hill climb runs were extremely popular in Europe during the 1930s. So now it was a Case of just one More run. But darkness was approaching and he was warned that Strong Side winds would make a final attempt much too dangerous. Rosemeyer who had noted some winds in his practice run remained Adamant laughed off his advisers and prepared for the final dash. He blasted along the autobahn at tremendous Speed then entering the measured distance for the Kilometre record pushed Down even harder on the accelerator pedal. He was now Well Over 270 Mph and the record would be his. At that instant a Strong Cross wind struck and sent the big racer into a Long slide. A tire shredded to bits As Rosemeyer fought vainly to keep control. Then the car flipped end Over end and slammed into a Concrete Bridge abutment. Rescuers who ran to the twisted mass of Metal found no Trace of the Driver. But a few minutes later they discovered his body on the ground almost 100 Yards from the wreckage. Rosemeyer was stretched on his Back unmarked and staring peacefully at the sky dead. His neck had been broken As he was hurled from the cockpit. Ferdinand porsche designer of the famous Auto Union racing cars was not present during the record attempt. When informed of Rosemeyer s death he said i am sure i would not have allowed him to Start had i known it was Windy especially since the car was so sensitive to Side  a legend in his own Brief lifetime Rosemeyer drove when Germany ruled the International racing scene. In that drama filled Era the Mercedes and Auto Union grand prix cars As Well As the land Speed cars were strictly unbeatable. There had been nothing like those cars before and. There has been nothing like them since. It was the time when Hitler was serving notice to England Europe and the rest of the world that German Power soon would be evident in other  the big German cars seemed to appear As a warning of things to come. Rosemayer s death on that autobahn Speed run came As a Shock to the German nation and hitter ordered a full military funeral saying the great Driver had fallen while fighting for Germany s reputation in the  the big Auto Union cars which Only Rosemeyer could handle with such brilliance and autobahn Monument authority never came on � Riemeyer. Strong again to do Battle Over grand prix racing circuits. A simple Monument on the autobahn Par Platz Marks the location where Rosemeyer s body wets found. The inscription reads in memory of Bernd Rosemeyer who died on this spot on Jan. 28,1938, while seeking to establish a Speed record in his racing  the circular Monument which is strewn with wreaths and Flowers on every anniversary of Rosemeyer s death stands at the far South end of the parking area with a sign directing visitors to it. The Par Platz itself is the first one South of the Langen mor Felden exit southbound lanes toward Darmstadt. Tuesday August 19, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13