Motorhome

This is Hermann Lang about to climb aboard his Mercedes-Benz 154 Grand Prix car on the starting grid at the French Grand Prix on the Reims circuit on July 3, 1938. Behind Lang is Christian Kautz waiting in his Auto Union which will crash in Gueux village on the first lap. This is one of Klemantaski’s rare prewar color photographs, using an Agfa color film which had an ASA speed rating of 8.

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The Streamlined W125 at Avus.

Lang’s streamliner was fitted with covers over the wheels and while doing 370-390 km/h on the straight air became trapped under the car and the front wheels lifted from the ground! Luckily the driver kept calm and finally managed to bring the wheels back down. ” I could not see the road and immediately though - I must not move the steering - for if the wheels return to the road in a different position there is no bound to be an accident”