Description
By: Anthony Pritchard .
A Photographic Portrait Of The Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union Grand Prix Teams 1934 - 1939
The Silver Arrows, the Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz cars that dominated Grand Prix racing during the years 1934–39, were among the most charismatic racing cars ever made. In this period these two German teams, financially supported by the Nazi government, provided high-speed racing of the highest quality as they battled with each other and consistently trounced the opposition.
This was an era of fantastic technical development and close battles between the Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz cars and their heroic drivers. I n their home country the German drivers, notably Rudolf Caracciola and Bernd Rosemeyer, achieved the status of demi-gods because of their powerful public presence and swashbuckling performances.
Silver Arrows in Camera brings this period to life by assembling an outstanding collection of over 600 photographs from sources inside and outside Germany. Despite the passage of 70 years or more, some of the photographs have never been seen before and all are exceptional in depicting the racing, the cars, the drivers, the pitwork, the anguish, the accidents and – sometimes – the humour. Of special impact and interest are the unique colour photographs taken by the great Louis Klemantaski at the 1938 Swiss Grand Prix and 1939 French Grand Prix.
Supporting this wealth of illustration is insightful commentary about the cars, the people and the races, together with detailed race results, driver biographies and car specifications. It all adds up to a dramatic and penetrating portrayal of an extraordinary period of motor racing.
Anthony Pritchard, one of the most highly regarded of motor racing historians, has been writing about his subject for nearly 50 years. Among his recent books for Haynes are comprehensive works on Ferrari and Aston Martin, marques on which he is a specialist. His Scarlet Passion, an account of Ferrari's famed sports prototypes and competition sports cars of the years 1962-73, was described by the Ferrari Owners' Club magazine as being `definitely in the brilliant category'. Of his Aston. Martin:A Racing History, Classic & Sports Car magazine commented, 'this is archive heaven for fans of the legendary British marque, with wonderful images to complement the exhaustive text'.
