AVUS - Revision history

Red marquis: /* History 1907-1939 */

2010-10-25T17:53:31Z

History 1907-1939

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:53, 25 October 2010
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	The circuit through the Grunewald forest was devised by the [[Automobilclub von Deutschland]] (AvD), in 1907, as both a motor-sport venue and a testing track for the motor industry. A lack of finances delayed the start of construction for six years, and construction was halted in 1913 for the same reason. During the Great War, Russian prisoners were employed in AVUS's construction, but the track was still unfinished by 1918. The remaining work was financed by business man Hugo Stinnes, and the circuit opened in September 1921.		The circuit through the Grunewald forest was devised by the [[Automobilclub von Deutschland]] (AvD), in 1907, as both a motor-sport venue and a testing track for the motor industry. A lack of finances delayed the start of construction for six years, and construction was halted in 1913 for the same reason. During the Great War, Russian prisoners were employed in AVUS's construction, but the track was still unfinished by 1918. The remaining work was financed by business man Hugo Stinnes, and the circuit opened in September 1921.

	At the time of opening, AVUS was 19½ km (12 ~~[[mile]]s~~) long - each straight being approximately half that length, and joined at each end by flat large radius curves, driven counter-clockwise. In 1926, the track played host to the first [[German Grand Prix]] for sports cars (won by [[Rudolf Caracciola]] in a [[Mercedes-Benz]]).		At the time of opening, AVUS was 19½ km (12 miles) long - each straight being approximately half that length, and joined at each end by flat large radius curves, driven counter-clockwise. In 1926, the track played host to the first [[German Grand Prix]] for sports cars (won by [[Rudolf Caracciola]] in a [[Mercedes-Benz]]).

	Since 1927 the AVUS faced competition from the new [[Nürburgring]] circuit. In an effort to make AVUS the world's fastest race track, the north curve was turned into a steep banking (43°) made of bricks. The [[Silver Arrows]] of Mercedes-Benz and [[Auto Union]] raced only once on the banked version, in 1937, using streamlined cars as in their high speed record attempts. [[Hermann Lang]]'s average race speed of about 260 km/h was not beaten at Indianapolis [[Indy 500]] for 3 decades.		Since 1927 the AVUS faced competition from the new [[Nürburgring]] circuit. In an effort to make AVUS the world's fastest race track, the north curve was turned into a steep banking (43°) made of bricks. The [[Silver Arrows]] of Mercedes-Benz and [[Auto Union]] raced only once on the banked version, in 1937, using streamlined cars as in their high speed record attempts. [[Hermann Lang]]'s average race speed of about 260 km/h was not beaten at Indianapolis [[Indy 500]] for 3 decades.

Red marquis at 17:52, 25 October 2010

2010-10-25T17:52:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:52, 25 October 2010
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	\|Location = {{flagicon\|GER}} In western suburbs of Berlin, Germany		\|Location = {{flagicon\|GER}} In western suburbs of Berlin, Germany
	\|Time = GMT +1		\|Time = GMT +1
	\|Image = [[Image:Circuit ~~AVUS~~.png]]		\|Image = [[Image:Circuit AVUSsmall.png]]
	\|Events = [[1959 German Grand Prix]]<br>[[European Touring Car Championship\|ETCC ('63-'88)]], [[Formula 3]], [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft\|DTM]], [[Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft\|DRM]], [[Interserie]], [[Group C]]		\|Events = [[1959 German Grand Prix]]<br>[[European Touring Car Championship\|ETCC ('63-'88)]], [[Formula 3]], [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft\|DTM]], [[Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft\|DRM]], [[Interserie]], [[Group C]]
	\|Length_km = 8.300 (1959 GP)		\|Length_km = 8.300 (1959 GP)
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	The round race control tower (with prominent [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Robert Bosch GmbH\|Bosch]] sponsorship) still remains at the north end, and is used as a public restaurant and Motel. The old wooden grandstand is protected as a historic monument.		The round race control tower (with prominent [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Robert Bosch GmbH\|Bosch]] sponsorship) still remains at the north end, and is used as a public restaurant and Motel. The old wooden grandstand is protected as a historic monument.

			== Photos ==

			<gallery>
			Image:Circuit AVUS.png
			</gallery>

	==See also==		==See also==

Red marquis at 17:51, 25 October 2010

2010-10-25T17:51:32Z

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-[[Image:Circuit AVUS.png|thumb|250px]]
+{{Motorsport venue
+|Name          = AVUS
 The '''Automobil-Verkehrs- und Übungs-Straße''', better known as '''AVUS''', was a [[Auto racing|motor racing]] circuit on the south-western outskirts of Berlin, Germany, between Charlottenburg and Nikolassee.

Red marquis at 07:16, 15 June 2009

2009-06-15T07:16:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:16, 15 June 2009
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	==See also==		==See also==
	* [[List of Formula One circuits]]		* [[List of Formula One circuits]]

			{{Formula One circuits}}

	==External links==		==External links==
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	{{coor title dms\|52\|28\|50\|N\|13\|15\|05\|E\|region:DE-BE_type:landmark}}		{{coor title dms\|52\|28\|50\|N\|13\|15\|05\|E\|region:DE-BE_type:landmark}}

	~~{{Formula One circuits}}~~
	[[Category:Formula One circuits\|Avus]]		[[Category:Formula One circuits\|Avus]]
	[[Category:German Grand Prix\|Avus]]		[[Category:German Grand Prix\|Avus]]
	[[Category:Motor racing venues in Germany\|Avus]]		[[Category:Motor racing venues in Germany\|Avus]]

Red marquis at 00:09, 13 March 2007

2007-03-13T00:09:18Z

Red marquis at 00:07, 13 March 2007

2007-03-13T00:07:32Z

New page

[[Image:Circuit AVUS.png|thumb|250px]]

The '''Automobil-Verkehrs- und Übungs-Straße''', better known as '''AVUS''', was a [[Auto racing|motor racing]] circuit on the south-western outskirts of [[Berlin]], [[Germany]], between [[Charlottenburg]] and [[Nikolassee]].

Nowadays, it is an important part of the public highway system, as [[Autobahn]] ''A 115''.
While normal for a road, it is unusually shaped for a race track as it is essentially just two long straights in the form of a dual carriageway, with a hairpin corner at each end.

== History 1907-1939 ==

The circuit through the [[Grunewald]] forest was devised by the [[Automobilclub von Deutschland]] (AvD), in 1907, as both a motor-sport venue and a testing track for the motor industry. A lack of finances delayed the start of construction for six years, and construction was halted in 1913 for the same reason. During the [[World War I|Great War]], [[Russia]]n [[prisoner of war|prisoners]] were employed in AVUS's construction, but the track was still unfinished by 1918. The remaining work was financed by business man [[Hugo Stinnes]], and the circuit opened in September 1921.

At the time of opening, AVUS was 19½ [[kilometre|km]] (12 [[mile]]s) long - each straight being approximately half that length, and joined at each end by flat large radius curves, driven counter-clockwise. In 1926, the track played host to the first [[German Grand Prix]] for sports cars (won by [[Rudolf Caracciola]] in a [[Mercedes-Benz]]).

Since 1927 the AVUS faced competition from the new [[Nürburgring]] circuit. In an effort to make AVUS the world's fastest race track, the north curve was turned into a steep banking (43°) made of bricks. The [[Silver Arrows]] of Mercedes-Benz and [[Auto Union]] raced only once on the banked version, in 1937, using streamlined cars as in their high speed record attempts. [[Hermann Lang]]'s average race speed of about 260 [[kilometres per hour|km/h]] was not beaten at Indianapolis [[Indy 500]] for 3 decades.

In early 1938, the popular German race driver [[Bernd Rosemeyer]] was killed in a land speed record attempt (not at the AVUS, but on a similar straight of the Autobahn Frankfurt/Darmstadt), and the high speed AVUS was then considered too dangerous for the fast Grand Prix race cars. Also, it was planned to connect the AVUS to the growing [[Reichsautobahn]] network by extending it to the south, so the South Turn at [[Nikolassee]] was demolished and replaced by a junction.

== History 1947-1967 ==
After [[World War II]], the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] quarter and the Berlin Wall with its Checkpoint Bravo at Dreilinden/Drewitz came no closer than about one mile to the former South Turn. It is a common yet wrong belief that the [[Berlin Wall]] had cut the AVUS in half. For post-war racing, the original extremely long straights were shortened by the introduction of a new south turn roughly in the middle (just before the exit at Hüttenweg, were it can still be seen nowadays), reducing the track length to 8.3 km (just over 5 miles).

In 1954, this shorter track hosted a non-championship [[Formula One]] race which was mainly a show by the [[Mercedes-Benz]] team, as no serious competition was present. In 1959, AVUS hosted its only world championship F1 with the [[1959 German Grand Prix]], won by [[Tony Brooks]]. This race weekend also saw the death of [[Jean Behra]], as his [[Porsche]] flew over the top of the north turn banking, as there was no wall or fence. German driver and journalist [[Richard von Frankenberg]] had walked away from a similar spectacular crash.

This banking, which was considered dangerous by international racing standards, was dismantled in 1967 to give way to an expanded intersection under the Funkturm tower. From the top of this tower, one can see that the AVUS is not perfectly straight.

== History 1967-1998 ==
Racing was continued with a flat north turn, but AVUS only held national touring cars [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters|DTM]] and [[Formula 3]] events. The length of the track was roughly cut in half twice in the 1980s and 1990 as racing on straights became unpopular. Also, chicanes were added to reduce entry speed into the North Curve. Yet, some incidents and accidents occurred. The BMW of [[Dieter Quester]] rolled over when exiting the last corner, and crossed the finish line sliding on its roof, with sparks flying, for a podium finish. The car of [[John Winter]] hit a barrier and exploded into a fireball in North Curve which he survived. In 1995, the race 2 of DTM had to be cancelled, after a multi-car pileup blocked the circuit and later in September, British driver [[Kieth Odor]] was killed when his car spun and was rammed sideways.

After the fall of the Berlin wall, the closure of the AVUS for race events became more and more problematic. The last real races were in 1998.

== History since 1999 ==
In 1999, a farewell event with veterans was held. From 2000 on, the new [[EuroSpeedway Lausitz]] in [[Brandenburg]] is considered the replacement for AVUS.

The round race control tower (with prominent [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Robert Bosch GmbH|Bosch]] sponsorship) still remains at the north end, and is used as a public restaurant and Motel. The old wooden grandstand is protected as a historic monument.

==See also==
* [[List of Formula One circuits]]

==External links==

* [http://maps.google.com/maps?&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=18&ll=52.500513,13.276355&spn=0.002537,0.005955&t=k&iwloc=addr Google Maps Satellite Image of the Nordkurve]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=18&ll=52.473547,13.241948&spn=0.002673,0.00559&t=k Google Maps Satellite Image of the Südkurve]

{{coor title dms|52|28|50|N|13|15|05|E|region:DE-BE_type:landmark}}

{{Formula One circuits}}
[[Category:Formula One circuits|Avus]]
[[Category:German Grand Prix|Avus]]
[[Category:Motor racing venues in Germany|Avus]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:09, 13 March 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Image:Circuit AVUS.png\|thumb\|250px]]		[[Image:Circuit AVUS.png\|thumb\|250px]]

	The '''Automobil-Verkehrs- und Übungs-Straße''', better known as '''AVUS''', was a [[Auto racing\|motor racing]] circuit on the south-western outskirts of [[Berlin]], [[Germany]], between [[Charlottenburg]] and [[Nikolassee]].		The '''Automobil-Verkehrs- und Übungs-Straße''', better known as '''AVUS''', was a [[Auto racing\|motor racing]] circuit on the south-western outskirts of Berlin, Germany, between Charlottenburg and Nikolassee.

	Nowadays, it is an important part of the public highway system, as [[Autobahn]] ''A 115''.		Nowadays, it is an important part of the public highway system, as [[Autobahn]] ''A 115''.
Line 8:		Line 8:
	== History 1907-1939 ==		== History 1907-1939 ==

	The circuit through the [[Grunewald]] forest was devised by the [[Automobilclub von Deutschland]] (AvD), in 1907, as both a motor-sport venue and a testing track for the motor industry. A lack of finances delayed the start of construction for six years, and construction was halted in 1913 for the same reason. During the ~~[[World War I\|~~Great War]], ~~[[Russia]]n [[prisoner of war\|~~prisoners]] were employed in AVUS's construction, but the track was still unfinished by 1918. The remaining work was financed by business man [[Hugo Stinnes]], and the circuit opened in September 1921.		The circuit through the Grunewald forest was devised by the [[Automobilclub von Deutschland]] (AvD), in 1907, as both a motor-sport venue and a testing track for the motor industry. A lack of finances delayed the start of construction for six years, and construction was halted in 1913 for the same reason. During the Great War, Russian prisoners were employed in AVUS's construction, but the track was still unfinished by 1918. The remaining work was financed by business man Hugo Stinnes, and the circuit opened in September 1921.

	At the time of opening, AVUS was 19½ ~~[[kilometre\|~~km]] (12 [[mile]]s) long - each straight being approximately half that length, and joined at each end by flat large radius curves, driven counter-clockwise. In 1926, the track played host to the first [[German Grand Prix]] for sports cars (won by [[Rudolf Caracciola]] in a [[Mercedes-Benz]]).		At the time of opening, AVUS was 19½ km (12 [[mile]]s) long - each straight being approximately half that length, and joined at each end by flat large radius curves, driven counter-clockwise. In 1926, the track played host to the first [[German Grand Prix]] for sports cars (won by [[Rudolf Caracciola]] in a [[Mercedes-Benz]]).

	Since 1927 the AVUS faced competition from the new [[Nürburgring]] circuit. In an effort to make AVUS the world's fastest race track, the north curve was turned into a steep banking (43°) made of bricks. The [[Silver Arrows]] of Mercedes-Benz and [[Auto Union]] raced only once on the banked version, in 1937, using streamlined cars as in their high speed record attempts. [[Hermann Lang]]'s average race speed of about 260 ~~[[kilometres per hour\|~~km/h]] was not beaten at Indianapolis [[Indy 500]] for 3 decades.		Since 1927 the AVUS faced competition from the new [[Nürburgring]] circuit. In an effort to make AVUS the world's fastest race track, the north curve was turned into a steep banking (43°) made of bricks. The [[Silver Arrows]] of Mercedes-Benz and [[Auto Union]] raced only once on the banked version, in 1937, using streamlined cars as in their high speed record attempts. [[Hermann Lang]]'s average race speed of about 260 km/h was not beaten at Indianapolis [[Indy 500]] for 3 decades.

	In early 1938, the popular German race driver [[Bernd Rosemeyer]] was killed in a land speed record attempt (not at the AVUS, but on a similar straight of the Autobahn Frankfurt/Darmstadt), and the high speed AVUS was then considered too dangerous for the fast Grand Prix race cars. Also, it was planned to connect the AVUS to the growing [[Reichsautobahn]] network by extending it to the south, so the South Turn at [[Nikolassee]] was demolished and replaced by a junction.		In early 1938, the popular German race driver [[Bernd Rosemeyer]] was killed in a land speed record attempt (not at the AVUS, but on a similar straight of the Autobahn Frankfurt/Darmstadt), and the high speed AVUS was then considered too dangerous for the fast Grand Prix race cars. Also, it was planned to connect the AVUS to the growing [[Reichsautobahn]] network by extending it to the south, so the South Turn at [[Nikolassee]] was demolished and replaced by a junction.

	== History 1947-1967 ==		== History 1947-1967 ==
	After [[World War II]], the [[Soviet ~~Union\|Soviet]]~~ quarter and the Berlin Wall with its Checkpoint Bravo at Dreilinden/Drewitz came no closer than about one mile to the former South Turn. It is a common yet wrong belief that the [[Berlin Wall]] had cut the AVUS in half. For post-war racing, the original extremely long straights were shortened by the introduction of a new south turn roughly in the middle (just before the exit at Hüttenweg, were it can still be seen nowadays), reducing the track length to 8.3 km (just over 5 miles).		After World War II, the Soviet quarter and the Berlin Wall with its Checkpoint Bravo at Dreilinden/Drewitz came no closer than about one mile to the former South Turn. It is a common yet wrong belief that the Berlin Wall had cut the AVUS in half. For post-war racing, the original extremely long straights were shortened by the introduction of a new south turn roughly in the middle (just before the exit at Hüttenweg, were it can still be seen nowadays), reducing the track length to 8.3 km (just over 5 miles).

	In 1954, this shorter track hosted a non-championship [[Formula One]] race which was mainly a show by the [[Mercedes-Benz]] team, as no serious competition was present. In 1959, AVUS hosted its only world championship F1 with the [[1959 German Grand Prix]], won by [[Tony Brooks]]. This race weekend also saw the death of [[Jean Behra]], as his [[Porsche]] flew over the top of the north turn banking, as there was no wall or fence. German driver and journalist [[Richard von Frankenberg]] had walked away from a similar spectacular crash.		In 1954, this shorter track hosted a non-championship [[Formula One]] race which was mainly a show by the [[Mercedes-Benz]] team, as no serious competition was present. In 1959, AVUS hosted its only world championship F1 with the [[1959 German Grand Prix]], won by [[Tony Brooks]]. This race weekend also saw the death of [[Jean Behra]], as his [[Porsche]] flew over the top of the north turn banking, as there was no wall or fence. German driver and journalist [[Richard von Frankenberg]] had walked away from a similar spectacular crash.
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	== History since 1999 ==		== History since 1999 ==
	In 1999, a farewell event with veterans was held. From 2000 on, the new [[EuroSpeedway Lausitz]] in [[Brandenburg]] is considered the replacement for AVUS.		In 1999, a farewell event with veterans was held. From 2000 on, the new [[EuroSpeedway Lausitz]] in Brandenburg is considered the replacement for AVUS.

	The round race control tower (with prominent [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Robert Bosch GmbH\|Bosch]] sponsorship) still remains at the north end, and is used as a public restaurant and Motel. The old wooden grandstand is protected as a historic monument.		The round race control tower (with prominent [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Robert Bosch GmbH\|Bosch]] sponsorship) still remains at the north end, and is used as a public restaurant and Motel. The old wooden grandstand is protected as a historic monument.