Tag: Stirling Moss

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VIDEO: 1955 Belgian Grand Prix

1955 Belgian Grand Prix

Shell is celebrating its associtation with the 2013 Belgian Grand Prix by transporting us back in time to the 1955 race. They do this by making available a 30 minute documentary of the race and we suggest you find the time to watch before tonight’s instalment if you can.

It’s fair to say a lot has changed in Formula 1 in the last 58 years, as the image above shows. We’re sure you’ll recognise it but in case you don’t the photo is taken at the old pit complex, on the downhill run after La Source and you can see Eau Rouge and Radillion in the background.

Yes, that is a dog running across the track. No, there is no barrier between the track and pit lane. And, yes, it is raining at Spa! Although, that photo was taken during qualifying and the race was run in brilliant sunshine.

The race was completed on the old 14km Spa-Francorchamps layout and only Blanchimont, La Source and Eau Rouge/Radillion remain from the original layout. You can compare the old and current circuits HERE.

All that’s left to do now is sit back, relax and enjoy finding out how Juan Manuel Fangio went about claiming his fifteenth F1 victory.

[Thanks to Wes for the tip]

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Aston Martin Random wallpapers

Random wallpaper: Aston Martin DBR1

Aston Martin DBR1

Here at AUSmotive we’re pretty chuffed with the news that Aston Martin Racing is chasing outright success at this year’s Le Mans 24 hour race. Not so much because we like Astons, of course we do, but we also appreciate beautifully crafted machines. The inspiration for Aston Martin’s 2009 assault, the DBR1, certainly fits that criteria.

One of the most stunning racing cars of its era it also proved its credentials by powering Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori to victory in the 1959 Le Mans 24 hour race.

You can read more about the DBR1 at Wikipedia, while enjoying a couple of press gallery images (click each image to load 2000 x 1320px super image). Also included after the jump is a brief YouTube clip showing Stirling Moss behind the wheel of a DBR1 and discussing his memories of the car.

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss

Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss

Every now and then Mercedes-Benz produces a car that jumps out of their range, slams down your front door, smacks you in the face, then steals your wife and daughter on its way out. In the past this has been done through cars such as the CLK 63 AMG Black Series. Astonishingly, Benz have even thrown out the rule book from the Black range. At least that’s the only way I can describe how on earth they (or rather McLaren) came up with the Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss, which is currently on show at the NAIAS in Detroit.

Spy shots and video were revealed on AUSringers.com in July 2008 and even then you could sense this car would be almost like any other. (Oh, you must follow that link to hear the brutality of the car’s engine!) Certainly, its unlike any Mercedes-Benz road car in recent memory. I mean, just look at it! It’s stark raving mad, with crease lines all over the carbon fibre body, side exit exhausts that look like they could fire you straight to hell and a bonnet soooo long that it must have the Luftwaffe hidden away in some sort of Trojan horse disguise. Judging by the sound of the car’s supercharged 5.4 litre V8 it definitely sounds that way.

Stirling’s angry engine instills 478kW (641bhp) of fear into its driver, and plants said driver back in the seat with the brute force of 820Nm of torque. It’s said to do the 100km/h sprint in just 3.5 seconds on to a mammoth top speed of 350km/h. I’ve often said, you don’t quite get the right experience of wind in your hair until you’re doing 350 clicks. Just as well, then, that the SLR Stirling Moss has no roof.

Mr Moss’ latest wheels are driven by a relatively low tech sounding five speed auto, but I guess it needs to have balls of steel, and then some, to deal with the crazy power at hand.

Speaking of crazy, you’ll need around AU$1.5M if you’re to get your hands on a set of keys. Oh yeah, you’ll also need to already own an SLR in order to be “allowed” buy a Stirling Moss, limited to just 75 models. The SLR Stirling Moss also marks the end of McLaren’s deal with Mercedes-Benz for the forseeable future. They have certainly gone out with a bang!

More images, press release and promo video clip after the jump.

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