Unsane at any speed?

[C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

Now someone has raised the infamous Auto Union as a paragon of rear engined 
racing prowess. Well, ask Bernd Rosemeyer about that sometime. If you put a 
big enough engine in a race car you can beat anything ( for the street may 
I suggest the eminently civilized Dodge Viper for those wishing to savour 
the Auto Union advantage). However, in 1935 these mighty misguided missiles 
were blown away by an Alfa Romeo P3, predecessor to the famed Alfetta 158. 
Alfa tinkered with the idea of a similar layout to Auto Union in the form 
of a boxer 12 in a mid engine layout but it wasn't ready until 1940 thanks 
be to God, so never raced in anger. I believe the Auto Union was also mid 
engined. It was the swing axle combined with the tremendous torque of the 
Auto Union that killed Rosemeyer.

So, yes, Ferdinand Porsche was a silver tongued devil and not much of an 
automobile engineer. Porsche racing cars never won the premier motor racing 
event of the twentieth century: Formula One Constructors Championship. The 
Beetle was a stupid idea that was the best war ruined Germany could come up 
with after the Allies bombed the bejeezus out of everything. As final proof 
of Dr Porsche's devious salesmanship I remind you that Porsche very nearly 
convinced that propaganda mastermind Adolf...what am i saying i nearly 
killed this thread!
Michael Smith
Calgary, Alberta,Canada
91 Alfa 164L

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