1 9 3 7

PART 1



INTRODUCTION:

This was the last year of the 750 kg formula and the Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union drivers could race on more or less equal terms. Both Rosemeyer and Caracciola won 4 races each but it was Caracciola who won the "right" races to become European champion in 1937.

1937 was the year when the development of the Grand Prix cars reached its climax. The new Mercedes-Benz W125 car with its 575 BHP engine was the most powerful Grand Prix car the world had ever seen. It was not until the turbo years in the early 80s that Grand Prix racing again would see such engine power.

While the German government was supporting the German racing car manufacturers with subsidies and army contracts, high salary French bureaucrats were sitting in committees discussing how to spend the 1,500,000 francs they had collected since 1934 to support French GP racing from increased driving license fees and public collections. Finally they announced that 1 million francs should go to the French car built to the 1938 formula that could run 200km at a speed exceeding 146.5 km/h (Note 1) by the widest margin on the Montlhéry track before 1 September 1937.



SEASON LINEUP:

Grand Prix:

Voiturette 1500cc:
    Maserati
    Maserati was back with its own works team in 1937. The drivers included Omobono Tenni, Ettore Bianco, Count Trossi and René Dreyfus. Another Maserati team was Count "Johnny" Lurani's new Scuderia Ambrosiana with Count Lurani, Luigi Villoresi and Eugenio Mimotti as drivers.
          Maserati continued with the popular 6CM car. At the end of the season 4CM appeared. It had the 6CM chassis with the old 4 cylinder engine, the 4 cylinder giving better torque and acceleration out of slow corners. Four 4CM cars were built.

    ERA
    To be able to beat the Maseratis the works team got Porsche to design a new independent front suspension. The cars got hydraulic brakes and much work was done to better the reliability of the Zoller supercharger. The new car known as the ERA C was raced by Raymond Mays, Pat Fairfield and later by Arthur Dobson. The B type cars were raced by private owners.

    Other
    Prince Chula's White Mouse team had bought Seaman's Delage for "B. Bira". The car was extensively upgraded with a new chassis and independent suspension. Sadly the rebuilt car did not live up to the expectations and the season proved to be a total disaster for the team.



AIACR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE



1 JANUARY 1937: Fairfield (ERA-B) wins the SOUTH AFRICAN GP handicap race at Prince George track in East London from Meyer and Chiappini (both Riley). Rosemeyer (Auto Union), who started last with almost half an hour handicap to take in, had a high speed puncture but still finished 5th and made the fastest lap. Von Delius (Auto Union) retired. Click here for full results.
16 JANUARY 1937: Von Delius (Auto Union) wins the GROSVENOR GP handicap race in Cape Town, South Africa from Rosemeyer (Auto Union) and Howe (ERA) in an interesting race where the Auto Union drivers caught Howe on the last lap. Click here for full results.
30 JANUARY 1937: Fairfield (ERA-A) wins the I RAND GP handicap race on the Lord Howe track in South Africa. Click here for full results.



        
I FLATENLOPPET
FLATEN, Stockholm (S), 14 FEBRUARY 1937
15 laps x 3.00 km = 45.0 km, 13 entries, 10 starters

This ice race was run on a small lake 7 km South of downtown Stockholm.

DNS: 32 Johnsson (Bugatti), 3 Westerblom (Amilcar), 40  Sorri (Chrysler)  


Grid:
Pole
26
Berg

Alfa Romeo

24
Bjřrnstad

Alfa Romeo

22
Connell

ERA

30
Rolander

Bugatti

28
Carlsson

Alfa Romeo

42
Forsberg

Ford

38
Wistedt

MG

34
Patama

Ford

46
Sundstedt

Bugatti

44
Bennström

Bugatti



Results:      
   1 Bjørnstad   (Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3L)  22:54.0
   2 Connell     (ERA-B 1.5L)            + 2:39.7
   3 Sundstedt   (Bugatti T35B 2.3L)     + 2:51.7
   4 Patama      (Ford Special)          + 2:51.7 ?
   5 Forsberg    (Ford Special)          + 5:16.9
   6 Rolander    (Bugatti T35C 2.0L)     + 6:28.0
   7 Carlsson    (Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3L) + 7:20.4  
 DNF Berg        (Alfa Romeo Monza 2.6L)
 DNF Wistedt     (MG K3)
 DNF Bennström   (Bugatti T37A)

  Fastest lap: Carlsson (Alfa Romeo) 1:28.8 
   


21 FEBRUARY 1937: Wimille (Bugatti T59/57) wins the GRAND PRIX DE PAU sports car race. (Results)
21 FEBRUARY 1937: FREDENLOPPET is run on Lake Freden - Västerĺs, Sweden in two parts. The first race is won by Connell (ERA-B 1.5L), the second race by Bjørnstad (Alfa Romeo Monza 2-3L).
1 APRIL 1937: During Mercedes-Benz tests at Monza. Seaman made a mistake and crashed the W25K against a tree. The driver received a broken knee-cap.
4 APRIL 1937: Pintacuda/ Mambelli (Alfa Romeo) wins the MILLE MIGLIA sports car race in Italy. (Results)
10 APRIL 1937: Mays (ERA) wins the BRITISH EMPIRE TROPHY handicap race at Donington, England
MID APRIL 1937: April the Auto Union team arrived with Rosemeyer, von Delius and Hasse for a three day test session on the new AVUS track. They used last year's racing cars but fitted with considerable larger tires. Continental had developed 24 inch racing tires, which proved their worth during the test runs, withstanding the immense pressures that result when going through the North Turn. At his first laps Rosemeyer in the Auto Union streamliner had gone too high into the steep curve, the car was carried up to the edge of the wall and for seconds the right wheels scraped the upper bead boarder. The car swerved but Rosemeyer saved the situation and possibly his life as well. Thereupon the Avus directors had a white warning line painted two meters from the upper edge of the wall, making orientation significantly easier.



        
II° GRAN PREMIO PRINCIPE DEI PIEMONTE/GRAN PREMIO DEL VALENTINO
PARCO VALENTINO - Torino (I), 18 APRIL 1937
60 laps x 2,925 km = 175.5 km, 11 entries, 9 starters

Nuvolari had a very big accident, when he crashed his Alfa Romeo Tipo 12C heavily during practice for the Circuit of Turin. He was taken to hospital and left it three days later with a plaster corset. His car was taken over by Pintacuda. In the race the four Ferrari entered Alfas were of course in a class of their own. But the team had problems of boiling radiators and all had to stop for water, except for Brivio who went on to win the race.

DNS/DNA: 56 W Martin (Bugatti), 58? Carlo Pes di Villamarina (Maserati 6C-34), 
         76 de Rham (Alfa Romeo Tipo B) 
 
Grid:
Pole
46
Trossi

Alfa Romeo

60
Brivio

Alfa Romeo

50
Farina

Alfa Romeo

54
Mandirola

Maserati

62
Wimille

Bugatti

58
Pintacuda

Alfa Romeo

48
"Ventidue"

Alfa Romeo

52
Magistri

Alfa Romeo

44
Festetics

Maserati

(Or mirror)



Results: 
   1 Brivio     (Alfa Romeo 12C-36 4.1L *)  1:52:30.2     
   2 Farina     (Alfa Romeo 12C-36 4.1L *)  +  1:52.8
   3 Trossi     (Alfa Romeo 12C-36 4.1L *)  +  3:18.8
   4 Pintacuda  (Alfa Romeo 12C-36 *)       -  1 lap
   5 Magistri   (Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3L)     -  4 laps
   6 "Ventidue" (Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3L)     -  6 laps
   7 Mandirola  (Maserati V8-RI)            - 11 laps
   8 Festetics  (Maserati 8CM 3.0L)         - 12 laps
 DNF Wimille    (Bugatti T59 *2)                       oil leak
 DNS Nuvolari   (Alfa Romeo 12C-36 4.1L *)             practice crash
 DNA Walther    (Bugatti T51)

   *  Entered by Scuderia Ferrari 
   *2 Entered by Usines Bugatti

   Fastest lap: Farina (Alfa Romeo) 1:47.4   
  



        
CIRCUITO DI TORINO
PARCO VALENTINO -Torino (I), 18 APRIL 1937 VOITURETTE 1500cc (hot)
40 laps x 2.925 km = 117.00 km, 16 starters

There were 10 private Maseratis at Turin and also the Maserati works team was back with two 6CM for Bianco and Dreyfus. The ERA works team did not start. Bira's Delage was not ready so he raced his ERA instead.
      The works Maseratis took the early lead from Bira. Bira passed Dreyfus on lap 4 and attacked Bianco, who used some dirty maneuvers to keep the lead, the Italian flag marshals looking in the opposite direction. But when Bianco lost his goggles the angry Siamese was finally able to pass only to retire soon afterwards with gearbox problems. Bjørnstad, who had spun on lap 2, had come back through the field using unique ice racing style driving technique and was able to pass Bianco and take the lead with 5 laps to go and finished the race as a surprise vinner.


Grid:
Pole
40
Dreyfus

Maserati

22
Bianco

Maserati

16
"B Bira"

ERA

32
Bjřrnstad

ERA

24
L Villoresi

Maserati

28
Dusio

Maserati

12
Cortese

Maserati

2
Tongue

ERA

36
Filippi Gabardi

Maserati

8
Filipinetti

Maserati

20
Basadonna

Maserati

38
Lurani

Maserati

34
Gessner

Maserati

6
Gennardi

Fiat

10
Soffietti

Maserati



DNA/DNS: 4 Chambard (Bugatti), 14 Embiricos (ERA), 18 Belmondo (Maserati), 
         26 F Barbieri (Maserati), 30 Marazza (Maserati)

Results: 
   1 Bjørnstad       (ERA A)          1:18:12.5         
   2 Dreyfus         (Maserati 6CM *) +    14.7
   3 Tongue          (ERA B)          +    21.3
   4 Bianco/Rovere   (Maserati 6CM *)
   5 Dusio           (Maserati 6CM *4)
   6 Filippi Gabardi (Maserati 4CM)
   7 Basadonna       (Maserati 4CM *2)
   8 Lurani          (Maserati 4CM *3)
   9 Gennardi        (Fiat Balilla)
 DNF "B Bira"        (ERA B)
 DNF Gessner         (Maserati 4CM)
 DNF Soffietti       (Maserati 6CM)
 DNF Cortese         (Maserati 6CM *3)
 DNF Filipinetti     (Maserati 4CM *2)
 DNF L Villoresi     (Maserati 6CM *3)

  *  Entered by Officine A Maserati 
  *2 Entered by Ecurie Helvetia
  *3 Entered by Scuderia Ambrosiana
  *4 Entered by Scuderia Torino

   Fastest lap: Bjørnstad (ERA) 1:52.2
 



      
CORONATION TROPHY
CRYSTAL PALACE - London (GB), 24 APRIL 1937 (Saturday) VOITURETTE 1500cc
2 x 20 laps + 30 laps final, 15 starters

The race was run in two heats plus a final. The ERA works team faced the rest of the British elite. Fairfield (works ERA-C) won the first heat from Brackenbury (Maserati 6CM) and Aitken (Frazer Nash) while Mays (works ERA-C) won the second heat from Dobson and Whitehead. In the final Dobson took the lead and held it for 2 laps but was then passed by the works ERA's. Mays in the lead had to retire on lap 9 with brake problems leaving his teammate Fairfield to win.
DNA/DNS: 2 Jucker (Alta), 5 Austin Dobson (Maserati), 10 Dixon (RIley), 
         15 Aitken (Maserati), 18 Sinclair (Alta)

Heat 1:

Grid:
Pole
1
Scribbans

ERA

15
Aitken

Maserati

7
Maclure

Riley

4
Brackenbury

Maserati

6
Fairfield

ERA

8
Humphreys

MG

3
Connell

ERA



Results:
   1 Fairfield     (ERA C *)              45:37.9
   2 Brackenbury   (Maserati 4CM *2)    +  1:21.2 
   3 Aitken        (Frazer Nash)        +  1:52.0
   4 Maclure       (Riley 1500/4)       +  2:10.3
   5 Scribbans     (ERA B)              +  6:52.0
 DNF Humphreys     (MG Q)                 12 laps  rear axle
 DNF Connell       (ERA B)                 3 laps  carburettor
 
   Fastest lap: Fairfield (ERA) 2:15.0

Heat 2:

Grid:
Pole
20
Parnell

MG

14
Hanson

Maserati

5
Dobson

ERA

16
Whitehead

ERA

17
Mays

ERA

11
Appleton

Riley

21
Esson-Scott

Bugatti

19
Wilkinson

Riley



Results:
   1 Mays          (ERA B *)              45:40.9     
   2 Arthur Dobson (ERA B)              +     1.2          
   3 Whitehead     (ERA B)              +    18.7
   4 Wilkinson     (Riley 1500/6 *4)    +    40.0
   5 Hanson        (Maserati 6CM *3)    +  1:40.2
 DNF Parnell       (MG K3 Magnette 1.1L) ~14 laps  mechanical
 DNF Esson-Scott   (Bugatti T51A)         12 laps  crash
 DNF Appleton      (Appleton-Riley)        9 laps  steering

   Fastest lap: Dobson (ERA) 2:14.1

Final:


Grid:
Pole
14
Hanson

Maserati

5
Dobson

ERA

16
Whitehead

ERA

6
Fairfield

ERA

17
Mays

ERA

15
Aitken

Frazer Nash

7
Maclure

Riley

19
Wilkinson

Riley

4
Brackenbury

Maserati



Results: 
   1 Fairfield     (ERA C *)            1:07:08.8           
   2 Arthur Dobson (ERA B)              +    48.4
   3 Hanson        (Maserati 6CM *3)    +  1:16.4
   4 Maclure       (Riley 1500/4)       +  3:19.3 
   5 Whitehead     (ERA B)              +  6:36.2
 DNF Aitken        (Frazer Nash)          14 laps  oil pipe
 DNF Wilkinson     (Riley 1500/6 *4)       7 laps  engine
 DNF Mays          (ERA B *)               6 laps  engine
 DNF Brackenbury   (Maserati 4CM *2)       4 laps  brakes, crash 

  *  Entered by H W Cook
  *2 Entered by E K Rayson
  *3 Ente4red by Mrs Hall-Smith
  *4 Entered by W Cotton
  

   Fastest lap: Fairfield (ERA) 2:11.9
 



      
III° COPPA PRINCIPESSA DI PIEMONTE
POSILLIPO - Napoli (I), 25 APRIL 1937
50 laps x 4.12 km = 206.0 km, 15 entries, 13 starters

Farina and Biondetti raced 12C-36s. Siena, who had come from Brazil to buy a 8C-35 raced the new car for Scuderia Ferrari before taking the car back to South America. Siena raced another 8C-35 while Villoresi had a stripped 2900A. The race turned out to be another demostration run for the Ferrari team.

DNA: 58 C Pes di Villamarina (Alfa Romeo **), 76  de Rham (Alfa Romeo **)


Grid, positions drawn by ballot:
Pole
56
Farina

Alfa Romeo
2m24.2s

54
"Ventidue"

Alfa Romeo
2m42.8s

52
Magistri

Alfa Romeo
3.00.0

64
Arzana

Maserati
2m29.8s

62
Walther

Bugatti
2m41.2s

66
Biondetti

Alfa Romeo
2m32.0s

70
Soffietti

Alfa Romeo
2m41.2s

60
Siena

Alfa Romeo
2m31.6s

68
E Villoresi

Maserati
2m30.8s

78
"Sarubbi"

Alfa Romeo
2m41.6s

74
Festetics

Maserati
2m50.8s

72
Mandrola

Maserati
2m48.4s

80
Hartmann

Maserati
2m51.8s



Results: 
   1 Farina              (Alfa Romeo 12C-36 4.1L *) 2:04:28.8
   2 Biondetti           (Alfa Romeo 12C-36 4.1L *) +  1:42.2           
   3 E Villoresi         (Alfa Romeo 2900A  *)      +  2:21.6
   4 Arzani              (Alfa Romeo 8C-35  3.8L *) -  1 lap
   5 Siena               (Alfa Romeo 8C-35  3.8L *) -  1 lap
   6 Gazzabini/"Sarubbi" (Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3L)    -  2 laps   
   7 Magistri            (Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3L)    -  2 laps
   8 L Hartmann          (Maserati 8CM 3.0L)        -  4 laps 
   9 Walther             (Bugatti T51)              -  4 laps
  10 Mandirola           (Maserati V8-RI)           -  6 laps
 DNF "Ventidue"          (Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3L)      24 laps  crash
 DNF Soffietti           (Maserati 6C-34 3.7L)        14 laps  differential
 DNF Festetics           (Maserati 8CM 3.0L)          13 laps  engine
  
   *  Entered by Scuderia Ferrari
   ** Entered by Scuderia Maremmana 

   Fastest lap: Farina (Alfa Romeo)  2:24.4 
 



      
III° COPPA PRINCIPESSA DI PIEMONTE
POSILLIPO - Napoli (I), 25 APRIL 1937 VOITURETTE 1500cc
30 laps x 4.12 km = 123.6 km, 21 starters

When the Italian Crown Princess dropped the flag (after having left the cars standing on the grid for 2 minutes to overheat) Maserati drivers Cortese (Scuderia Ambrosiana) and Trossi took the front positions from Bira and Bianco. Bira was soon second and took the lead on lap 5 when Cortese had to make a pitstop. But on the next lap Trossi attacked Bira and passed. Once in the lead the Maserati driver started to pull away. There was a fight for 3rd place between Bianco, Tongue and Bjørnstad (ERA) the Norwegian finally able to take the flag in 3rd place with badly cut tyres.

DNA: 14 Soffietti (Maserati), 20 Uboldi (Maserati), 
     22 Embiricos (ERA),  38 Castelbarco (Maserati)


Grid:
Pole
32
Cortese

Maserati
2m29.1s

30
Trossi

Maserati
2m25.8s

28
Bianco

Maserati
2m26.4s

18
" B Bira"

ERA
2m30.6s

12
Rocco

Maserati
2m30.2s

8
L Villoresi

Maserati
2m30.0s

24
de Graffenried

Maserati
2m37.4s

4
Tongue

ERA
2m33.8s

50
Bjřrnstad

ERA
2m32.2s

46
Moradei

Maserati
2m40.8s

26
Gessner

Maserati
2m40.8s

34
Prosperi

Maserati
2m39.8s

10
Colini

Maserati
2m49.0s

2
Filipinetti

Maserati
2m48.4s

44
Lurani

Maserati
2m41.0s

6
Baruffi

Maserati
2m54.8s

16
Basadonna

Maserati
2m50.2s

40
Leuzinger

Maserati
2m50.2s

40
Herkuleyns

MG
4m58.0s

42
Chambard

Bugatti
3m03.1s

36
Genardi

Fiat
2m59.0s



Results: 
   1 Trossi          (Maserati 6CM *)      1:14:41.4            
   2 "B Bira"        (ERA B)               +    59.2
   3 Bjørnstad       (ERA A)               +  1:29.2
   4 Prosperi        (Maserati 4CM *2)     +  2:03.6
   5 Bianco/Belmondo (Maserati 6CM *)      -  1 lap
   6 de Graffenried  (Maserati 4CM *4)     -  1 lap
   7 Tongue          (ERA B)               -  1 lap
   8 Gessner         (Maserati 4CM)        -  2 laps
   9 Lurani          (Maserati 4CM *5)     -  2 laps
  10 Moradei         (Maserati 4CM *3)     -  2 laps
  11 Basadonna       (Maserati 4CM *3)     -  3 laps
  12 Chambard        (Bugatti T37A)        -  4 laps
  13 Leuzinger       (Maserati 4CM *3)     -  4 laps 
 DNF Baruffi         (Maserati 4CM)          16 laps  mechanical
 DNF Colini          (Maserati 4CM *2)       13 laps  steering
 DNF Cortese         (Maserati 6CM *)        11 laps  gearbox
 DNF L Villoresi     (Maserati 6CM)           8 laps  carburettor
 DNF Herkuleyns      (MG K3 Magnette 1.1L)    7 laps  oil pump      
 DNF Gennardi        (Fiat Balilla 1.1L)      7 laps  oil pipe
 DNF Rocco           (Maserati 6CM)           7 laps  oil pipe
 DNF Filipinetti     (Maserati 4CM)           3 laps  fuel starvation

   *  Entered by Officine A Maserati
   *2 Entered by Scuderia Impero
   *3 Entered by Ecurie Helvetia
   *4 Entered by Scuderia Maremmana
   *5 Entered by Scuderia Ambrosiana

   Fastest lap:  Trossi (Maserati) 2:06.4
 

28-29 APRIL 1937: Daimler-Benz and Auto Union conducted a second test session at AVUS. Mercedes used a 1936 GP car and a new streamliner with the 5.58 litre V-12 engine. Auto Union came with a streamliner that had the present GP chassis and engine but the fully enveloping body . These three cars put in many laps over the next two days doing aerodynamic tests and finding out about handling, tires and fuel. The tests were supervised by the technical directors Sailer from Mercedes-Benz and Werner from Auto Union. It was realized, that the fastest and safest way through the North Turn was in the middle of the track where a rather high speed could be reached and one had the possibility to correct the car if needed. On the first day Caracciola bettered Hans Stuck's 1935 lap record from 260.5 km to 267 km/h, followed by a 268 km/h lap by von Brauchitsch. Next day Bernd Rosemeyer raised the inofficial record to 281.09 km/h by doing a lap in 4:07.
      The tyres caused the main problem, with the wear highest on the left rear. The latest 24" tyres from Continental, made of synthetic Buna-rubber only surviving four laps at top speed by von Brauchitsch.



       
I CAMPBELL TROPHY
BROOKLANDS (GB), 1 MAY 1937 (Saturday) >1500CC
100 laps x 3.648 km = 364.8 km, 35 entries, 22 starters

GP cars and voiturettes raced together on the new Campbell road racing course at Brooklands. There was a big entry list including 6 ERAs. Bira took the lead with his Maserati and held it during the first ten laps but then he was passed by Earl Howe (ERA) who was doing an inspired race and during the next 15 laps the spectators were able to see a magnificent performance. The ERA voiturette was holding the lead from a car with twice the engine volume. But on lap 26 Howe's 53th birthday ended in tragedy as the veteran driver struck an earth bank on the Vickers bridge and overturned his car, suffering a bad head wound and several internal injuries. Bira just managed to miss the wrecked ERA and went on to win the GP class while Rayson took over the lead in the voiturette class and also held if for the rest of the race. Practically all the ERAs struck trouble, Mays and Dobson with the brakes, Tongue with the engine and Walker with the gearbox. A few laps from finish Ashby's Alfa Romeo, raced by Duller, had to retire with engine trouble and Scribbans was able to pass to finish fourth and best of the ERA drivers that day. The single works ERA driven by Mays/Fairfield finished a disappointing 7th, 8 laps behind.

Grid:
Pole
24
Staniland

Alfa Romeo
1m52.3s

8
Howe

ERA
1m52.2s

7
Walker

ERA
1m52.2s

29
A Dobson

Alfa Romeo
1m56.6s

9
Mays

ERA
1m54.2s

27
"B Bira"

Maserati
1m53.0s

21
Powys-Lybbe

Alfa Romeo
1m57.6s

3
A Dobson

ERA
1m57.6s

25
Brackenbury

Alfa Romeo
1m57.2s

15
Rayson

Maserati
2m00.4s

4
Connell

ERA
2m00.4s

6
Scribbans

ERA
1m57.8s

26
Evans

Alfa Romeo
2m01.0s

23
Wilkinson

Alfa Romeo
2m01.0s

22
Hamilton

Alfa Romeo
2m01.0s

*




20
White

Bugatti
2m04.0s

19
Dodson

Dixon Spl.
2m02.8s

18
Jucker

Alta
2m08.2s

12
Aitken

Maserati
2m08.0s

28
Ashley

Alfa Romeo
2m07.2s

14
Hanson

Maserati

5
Tongue

ERA

* 2 "B Bira" (Delage) 2:07.0 DNS



Results: 
   1 "B Bira"       (Maserati 8CM 3.0L *7)    3:16:52.6
   2 Rayson         (Maserati 4C 1.5L)        +  2:36.8
   3 Powys-Lybbe    (Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3L)   +  8:01.2
   4 Scribbans      (ERA B 1.5L)              + 10:14.4   
   5 Brackenbury    (Alfa Romeo Tipo B *6)    -  1 lap   
   6 Tongue         (ERA B 1.5L)              -  2 laps  
 DNF Ashby /Duller  (Alfa Romeo Tipo B 3.2L)    96 laps  engine
   7 Mays/Fairfield (ERA-B 1.5L )             -  8 laps
   8 White          (Bugatti T51)             -  9 laps
   9 Hanson         (Maserati 6CM 1.5L *2)    -  9 laps
 DNF Staniland      (Alfa Romeo (Tipo B 2.9L)   79 laps  brakes 
 DNF Evans          (Alfa Romeo (Tipo B 2.9L)   70 laps  transmission
 (10)Connell        (ERA B 1.5L)              - 39 laps 
 DNF Aitken         (Maserati 6CM 1.5L)         48 laps  fuel feed
 DNF A Hamilton     (Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3L)     44 laps  engine
 DNF Jucker         (Alta)                      43 laps  supercharger
 DNF Arthur Dobson  (ERA B 1.5L)                32 laps  brakes
 DNF Austin Dobson  (Alfa Romeo Bimotore *3)    31 laps  transmission
 (11)Severi         (Maserati 6CM 1.5L)       - 70 laps
 DNF Howe           (ERA B 1.5L)                25 laps  crash
 DNF Dodson         (Dixon Special Riley *4)    11 laps  engine
 DNF Walker         (ERA B 1.5L)                 8 laps  gearbox
 DNF Bianco         (Maserati 8CM 3.0L *)        3 laps
 DNF Wilkinson      (Alfa Romeo Monza 2.6L *5)   0 laps  gearbox

   *  Entered by Officine A Maserati ?
   *2 Entered by Mrs M E Hall-Smith
   *3 Emtered by Hon P Aitken
   *4 Entered by F W Dixon
   *5 Entered by R C Fleming
   *6 Entered by C E C Martin
   *7 Entered by Prince Chula of Siam

   Fastest lap:  Howe (ERA) 1:53.0
 

       
I CAMPBELL TROPHY
BROOKLANDS (GB), 1 MAY 1937 (Saturday) VOITURETTE
100 laps x 3,648 km = 368.4 km, 11 starters


 DNA/DNS: 1 Humphreys (MG), 2 "B Bira" (Delage), 10 Fairfield (ERA *), 
          11 Leitch (Maserati *3), 16 Mrs G Hawks (Derby), 17 Bartlett (Alta)

   1 Rayson         (Maserati 4CM)    3:19:24.4
   2 Scribbans      (ERA B)           +  8:03.3
   3 Tongue         (ERA B)           -  2 laps
   4 Mays/Fairfield (ERA B *)         -  8 laps 
   5 Hanson         (Maserati 6CM *4) -  9 laps 
  (6)Connell        (ERA B)           - 39 laps  NC
 DNF Aitken         (Maserati 6CM *3)   48 laps  fuel feed
 DNF Jucker         (Alta)              43 laps  supercharger
 DNF Arthur Dobson  (ERA B)             32 laps  brakes  
 DNF Howe           (ERA B *)           25 laps  crash
 DNF Walker         (ERA B *2)           8 laps  gearbox 

   *  Entered by H W Cook
   *2 Entered by P WHitehead
   *3 Entered by Peter Aitken
   *4 Entered by Mrs Hall-Smith

   Fastest lap: Howe (ERA)/Mays (ERA): 1:53 
 



  
XI° GRAN PREMIO DI TRIPOLI
AUTODROMO DI MELLAHA - Tripoli (I), 9 MAY 1937, FORMULA LIBRE
40 laps x 13.140 km = 525.6 km


No.DriverEntrantCarTypeEngine

Class over 1500 cc:
2Hermann LangDaimler-Benz AGMercedes-BenzW1255.6S-8
4Richard SeamanDaimler-Benz AGMercedes-BenzW1255.6S-8
6Rudolf HasseAuto Union AGAuto UnionC6.0V-16
8László HartmannL. HartmannMaserati8CM3.0S-8
10Luigi SoffiettiL. SoffiettiMaserati6C-343.7S-6
12Luigi FagioliAuto Union AGAuto UnionC6.0V-16
14Raymond Sommerprivate/Scuderia Ferrari?Alfa Romeo12C-364.1V-12
16Bernd RosemeyerAuto Union AGAuto UnionC6.0V-16
18Carlo Felice TrossiScuderia FerrariAlfa Romeo12C-364.1V-12
20Rudolf CaracciolaDaimler-Benz AGMercedes-BenzW1255.6S-8
22Ernst von DeliusAuto Union AGAuto UnionC6.0V-16
24Mario TadiniScuderia FerrariAlfa Romeo12C-364.1V-12
26Manfred von BrauchitschDaimler-Benz AGMercedes-BenzW1255.6S-8
28Tazio NuvolariScuderia FerrariAlfa Romeo12C-364.1V-12
30Giuseppe FarinaScuderia FerrariAlfa Romeo12C-364.1V-12
34Antonio BrivioScuderia FerrariAlfa Romeo12C-364.1V-12
38Hans StuckAuto Union AGAuto UnionC6.0V-16
58Ettore BiancoOfficine A. MaseratiMaserati8CM3.0S-8
 
Voiturette Class:
32Pietro GhersiOfficine A. MaseratiMaserati6CM1.5S-6
36Contantin MagistriC. MagistriAlfa Romeo4CM1.5S-4GP class?
40René DreyfusOfficine A. MaseratiMaserati6CM1.5S-6
42Franco CorteseScuderia AmbrosianaMaserati6CM1.5S-6
44Luigi CastelbarcoL. CastelbarcoTalbot1.5S-8
46Luigi VilloresiScuderia AmbrosianaMaserati6CM1.5S-6
48Luciano UboldiL. UboldiMaserati4CM1.5S-4
50Giovanni RoccoG. RoccoMaserati6CM1.5S-6
52Piero DusioScuderia TorinoMaserati6CM1.5S-6
54Ferdinando BarbieriF. BarbieriMaserati4C1.5S-4
56Vittorio BelmondoV. BelmondoMaserati4C1.5S-4
60Francesco SeveriF. SeveriMaserati6CM1.5S-6


The first major Grand Prix race of the year was the money-filled and fast Tripoli GP with its state lottery. Auto Union entered no less than five cars and Mercedes-Benz was finally back with four of their new W125s.
      The practice started off in a gloomy mood as reports about the fate of the zeppelin Hindenburg was coming in.(Note 2) Stuck made the fastest time of 3:19.0 (235.4 km/h) in practice followed by Caracciola and Rosemeyer. Nuvolari was able to do just a 3:33. The car was running on 11 cylinders but he was still a good 10 seconds faster than any other Ferrari driver.
      Seaman, who did his first race for Mercedes-Benz, sat in a racing car for the first time since his Monza crash.


Grid:
Pole
12
Fagioli

Auto Union
3m24.98s

20
Caracciola

Mercedes-Benz
3m22.85s

16
Rosemeyer

Auto Union
3m20.25s

38
Stuck

Auto Union
3m19.90s

26
Brauchitsch

Mercedes-Benz
3m29.22s

22
von Delius

Auto Union
3m28.61s

2
Lang

Mercedes-Benz
3m28.10s

30
Farina

Alfa Romeo
3m40.32s

6
Hasse

Auto Union
3m38.15s

4
Seaman

Mercedes-Benz


28
Nuvolari

Alfa Romeo
3m33.44s

24
Tadini

Alfa Romeo
3m59.63s

14
Sommer

Alfa Romeo
3m46.45s

34
Brivio

Alfa Romeo
3m44.20s

48
Uboldi

Maserati


46
L Villoresi

Maserati
4m13.20s

58
Bianco

Maserati


18
Trossi

Alfa Romeo


52
Dusio

Maserati
4m28.59s

8
L Hartmann

Maserati
4m21.59s

40
Dreyfus

Maserati
4m32.55s

32
Ghersi

Maserati
4m31.43s

54
Barbieri

Maserati
4m32.29s

56
Belmondo

Maserati
4m29.11s

60
Severi

Maserati


36
Magistri

Alfa Romeo


50
Rocco

Maserati
4m42.81s

44
Castelbarco

Talbot


10
Soffietti

Maserati


42
Cortese

Maserati
4m14.11s

(Note 3)

Race: The race started at 3 PM with colored light signals. Caracciola took the lead followed by Rosemeyer, Stuck, von Brauchitsch, Fagioli and Lang. On the second lap Lang passed Fagioli. Nuvolari was out of the race after only three laps and Stuck was the next leader, but soon thereafter he got a puncture and gave over the top position to his team mate Rosemeyer. The Mercedes team had planned to do the race on a two stops or even on a one stop strategy, the drivers watching their tyres. Auto Union chose to let the drivers run flat out and after five laps Rosemeyer was already in the pits for his first tyre change.
      Caracciola was back in the lead. Fagioli had re-passed Lang and attacked his former team mate, who answered the challenge. Fagioli was the one who had to give up when a rear wheel lost its tread.
      Von Brauchitsch was the next one in the lead only to fall back after only one lap. Caracciola made a pitstop on lap 14 as the first Mercedes driver, leaving the lead over to Lang. Lang held the lead for just a short time because on lap 16 the Mercedes driver, who was saving his tyres, was passed by a trio of Rosemeyer, von Brauchitsch and Fagioli who were racing each other. Caracciola had problems with sand in the supercharger and had lost his contact with the leaders. Not surprisingly four laps later the leading trio, who had been racing flat out, got tyre problems and Lang was again back at the front.
      Seaman was now second in his first race for Mercedes but on his second pitstop a mechanic put a rag in the supercharger intake to hinder sand from coming in during the stop and then forgot to take it out again before the car left. The rag blocked the supercharger and Seaman fell back behind the Auto Unions.
      Down the field there was a tough fight for fifth place between Caracciola and Fagioli, the Mercedes driver hindering the Auto Union from passing.
      The Auto Union team blundered during Rosemeyer's last stop. They were out of fuel in the pits and the Auto Union driver, who had gone flat out during the whole race, had a miserable 1:45 pitstop.
      Now the Mercedes time keeper made a mistake believing Rosemeyer to be two laps behind instead of just one. In fact, coming out from his pitstop, Rosemeyer quickly unlapped himself and started to catch Lang, who was cruising totally unaware of the situation. It almost worked. If Lang hadn't decided to speed up during the last kilometers the Auto Union might have caught him, because at the end the difference was less than 10 seconds.
      The Auto Union mechanics had changed 35 tyres during the race, Stuck alone had done 7 pitstops! This was Lang's first victory and also the first for the new Mercedes car, winning first time out.
      Right at the end of the race a furious Fagioli had finally forced his way past Caracciola. After the race the Auto Union driver rushed to the Mercedes pit and flung a wheel hammer at Caracciola, fortunately missing his head by an inch. Fagioli was dragged away before he could continue the attack.(Note 4)


Results

Pos.No.DriverEntrantCarTypeEngineLapsTime/Status

1.2Hermann LangDaimler-Benz AGMercedes-BenzW1255.6S-8402h27m57.67s
2.16Bernd RosemeyerAuto Union AGAuto UnionC6.0V-1640+ 9.65
3.22Ernst von DeliusAuto Union AGAuto UnionC6.0V-1640+ 1:14.18
4.38Hans StuckAuto Union AGAuto UnionC6.0V-1640+ 1:41.92
5.12Luigi FagioliAuto Union AGAuto UnionC6.0V-1640+ 1:44.91
6.20Rudolf CaracciolaDaimler-Benz AGMercedes-BenzW1255.6S-840+ 1:55.35
7.4Richard SeamanDaimler-Benz AGMercedes-BenzW1255.6S-840+ 4:09.88
8.6Rudolf HasseAuto Union AGAuto UnionC6.0V-1640+ 4:18.99
9.30Giuseppe FarinaScuderia FerrariAlfa Romeo12C-364.1V-1239
10.34Antonio BrivioScuderia FerrariAlfa Romeo12C-364.1V-1239
11.14Raymond Sommerprivate/Scuderia Ferrari?Alfa Romeo12C-364.1V-1239
12.24Mario TadiniScuderia FerrariAlfa Romeo12C-364.1V-1237
13.8László HartmannL. HartmannMaserati8CM3.0S-835
14.40René DreyfusOfficine A. MaseratiMaserati6CM1.5S-634
15.10Luigi SoffiettiL. SoffiettiMaserati6C-343.7S-634
16.42Franco CorteseScuderia AmbrosianaMaserati6CM1.5S-634
17.60Francesco SeveriF. SeveriMaserati6CM1.5S-630
18.46Luigi VilloresiScuderia AmbrosianaMaserati6CM1.5S-629
19.52Piero DusioScuderia TorinoMaserati6CM1.5S-627
DNF18Carlo Felice TrossiScuderia FerrariAlfa Romeo12C-364.1V-1228
DNF26Manfred von BrauchitschDaimler-Benz AGMercedes-BenzW1255.6S-821
DNF32Pietro GhersiOfficine A. MaseratiMaserati6CM1.5S-617
DNF36Contantin MagistriC. MagistriAlfa Romeo4CM1.5S-414
DNF54Ferdinando BarbieriF. BarbieriMaserati4CM1.5S-410
DNF56Vittorio BelmondoV. BelmondoMaserati4CM1.5S-49
DNF50Giovanni RoccoG. RoccoMaserati6CM1.5S-68
DNF28Tazio NuvolariScuderia FerrariAlfa Romeo12C-364.1V-126engine
DNF48Luciano UboldiL. UboldiMaserati4C1.5S-45
DNF58Ettore BiancoOfficine A. MaseratiMaserati8CM3.0S-83
DNF44Luigi CastelbarcoL. CastelbarcoTalbot1.5S-82
Fastest lap: Hans Stuck (Auto Union) on lap 3 in 3h25m73s =
Weather:


 
        
XI° GRAN PREMIO DI TRIPOLI
AUTODROMO DI MELLAHA - Tripoli (I), 9 MAY 1937 VOITURETTE 1500cc
34 laps x 13.140 km = 446.76 km

10 Maseratis met Castelbarco's Talbot in the all Italian Voiturette class held together with the GP cars. The Maserati works cars were in a class of their own, Dreyfus showed his experience to win from his teammate Cortese. The rest the field finished 4, 5 and 7 laps behind.

Results

Pos.No.DriverEntrantCarTypeEngineLapsTime/Status

1.40René DreyfusOfficine A. MaseratiMaserati6CM1.5S-634
2.42Franco CorteseScuderia AmbrosianaMaserati6CM1.5S-634
3.60Francesco SeveriF. SeveriMaserati6CM1.5S-630
4.46Luigi VilloresiScuderia AmbrosianaMaserati6CM1.5S-629
5.52Piero DusioScuderia TorinoMaserati6CM1.5S-627
DNF32Pietro GhersiOfficine A. MaseratiMaserati6CM1.5S-617
DNF36Contantin MagistriC. MagistriAlfa Romeo4CM1.5S-414
DNF54Ferdinando BarbieriF. BarbieriMaserati4CM1.5S-410
DNF56Vittorio BelmondoV. BelmondoMaserati4CM1.5S-49
DNF50Giovanni RoccoG. RoccoMaserati6CM1.5S-68
DNF48Luciano UboldiL. UboldiMaserati4C1.5S-45
DNF44Luigi CastelbarcoL. CastelbarcoTalbot1.5S-82
Fastest lap: Pietro Ghersi (Maserati) in 4m16.36s =
Weather:


Fastest lap:  



FOOTNOTES:
    1 The bureaucrats achieved that curious number by adding 2 percent to the speed of Chiron's Alfa during the first 200km at the French GP 1934 claiming that 2 percent faster than the fastest race done on Montlhéry was enough to beat the Germans. That the 1935 GP had been raced with chicanes and the 1936 GP had been a sports car race was ignored.

    2 The zeppelin LZ-129 "Hindenburg" had crashed at Lakehurst, New Jersey, on 6 May 1937 killing 35 out of 97 passengers and crew members and one man on the ground.

    3 Grid order and results by Hans Etzrodt using information from "Grand Prix TRIPOLI 1925-1940" by Valerio Moretti and "Grand Premio di Tripoli" by Alberto Radaelli

    4 According to Neubauer Fagioli did apologize - in 1952 to be exact i.e shortly before his fatal crash - but I have strong suspicions that at least that part of the story is fictious. It all fits together too well making it a typical "Neubauer story". There is even some suspicion that the complete hammer story is fictious but I have included it here anyway as I have no proof of it being either true or false.







PREVIOUS 1937 INDEX NEXT
MAIN INDEX



© 2009 Leif Snellman & Felix Muelas - Last updated: 15.04.2009