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Mercedes-Benz racing car transporter

A one-off vehicle from the Mercedes-Benz testing workshops head

The legendary Silver Arrows were not the only vehicles that were the talk of the town in the early nineteen-sixties. The Mercedes-Benz racing department also hit the headlines off the racetracks, with its "fastest racing car transporter in the world".

In 1952, the board of management of Daimler-Benz decided that in two years time, 1954, it would return to Grand Prix racing. The company's racing department, which had already set up the extremely successful 300 SL racing sports cars in 1952, set out to translate the plans for a Grand Prix car - internally designated W 196 - into reality.

Parallel to this, it was, of course, essential to equip a workshop vehicle for servicing and repairs alongside the racetrack, and to build a truck for transporting the racing cars. Neubauer couldn't get the idea of a fast racing car transporter out of his mind.

The idea was presented to master craftsman Hägele, with the final words of encouragement being: "Come up with something good!"

Hägele was in charge of a test department in which chassis and running gear technicians, engine specialists and bodymakers produced prototypes.

The demands made on the transporter were specified easily enough: it was to be fast - very fast even when laden with a Grand Prix car or SLR racing sports car. It therefore had to have plenty of power and equally powerful brakes. It is no longer possible to retrace the individual steps in the production of the racing car transporter in every detail, but it is known that the vehicle was a joint development of Hägele's team.

Engineer Hennige finally suggested the combination of the X-shaped tubular frame from the 300 S, the highperformance engine from the 300 SL and interior fittings from the 180. Rudolf Uhlenhaut gave the green light and the team set out to tackle the work.

Original Article : 1952 : Mercedes-Benz racing car transporter


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West McLaren Mercedes’ new race transporters are set to raise the level of innovation in the Formula 1 paddock to new heights – in more ways than one.

Innovation. A word readily associated with West McLaren Mercedes, particularly when it applies to the way the team goes about the business of creating a professional-looking and practical working environment at every one of the 16 grands prix venues that make up the current Formula 1 calendar.
At last year’s San Marino Grand Prix, the Team Communications Centre raised paddock hospitality to new levels, with a two-storey mobile facility that redefined the way such motorhome structures are thought of. That, however, was only phase one of a plan to further integrate the team and improve its ability to communicate and work together.
Making their debut at this year’s San Marino Grand Prix were these three race transporters – one for the engineers, one for spares and one for Mercedes-Ilmor – which are supported by a more conventional truck for the three race cars and bulky items such as the fuel rigs and Lista tool cabinets.
On the move, they look like any other race truck. When they arrive at their destination, though, the trailers on the new transporters expand upwards to create an extra floor that doubles the working area available for the team’s engineers and mechanics.

One of the main innovations of the three new West McLaren Mercedes transporters is the raising roof. Unlike the additional floor on other trucks, though, this descends inwards to ensure they match the more conventional race car transporter when on the move.
“It’s a variation on what’s been done before,” explains John Turner, responsible for co-ordinating the build of the transporters. “We went that way because it’s different and looks conventional when on the road. There are also no outside windows to get broken.”
The body of the trailers is constructed of a steel frame, with composite panels and an aluminium outer skin, while the interior is a combination of stainless steel and laminate surfacing. The rear steps double as hydraulic lifts, while West McLaren Mercedes’ legendary attention to detail has extended to trimming unnecessary material from the tool cabinets to decrease the trucks’ running weight.
Much attention has also been paid to ensure the new race transporters fit in with West McLaren Mercedes’ corporate identity and the rest of the team’s equipment.
“We’ve used a different type of silver paint, which has a heavier aluminium content,” says Paintshop Manager George Langhorn. “It glistens more and matches the colour of the cars better. It’s been a challenge. The colour scheme looks simple, but it’s deceptively so. Also it was interesting to find a spray shop big enough to take the trailers.”

One of the biggest changes in how West McLaren Mercedes operates at a grand prix is the fact that the data analysts, formerly located in the back of the pit garage, will now work alongside the race engineers’ debriefing area on the top deck of the engineering truck, along with Chief Mechanic Stephen Giles and Race Team Garage Co-ordinator Steve Cook.
This means the nine data analysts have a quieter, purpose-built working area, complete with desk drawers that are full of equipment, as well as Canon faxes and photocopiers that are plugged in and ready to work. More importantly, though, it also enables them to work more closely with the race engineers.
“Previously, the engineering department was split into two,” Systems Engineer Phil Alexander explains. “The race engineers were in the motorhome, while the data analysts were in the back of the garage.
“That threw up plenty of communication issues, particularly in terms of data transfer. Now we’re together, that should be better. We’ll also be able to turn up at a circuit, plug in and start working straight away.”
This move of personnel has other benefits, as Race Team Garage Co-ordinator Steve Cook explains. “Having all the engineers in the trucks means we have more garage space,” he points out. “Also, all the wiring is done so that we only need to run a few cables from the trucks to the garage, which means that it’s a lot tidier.”

Original Article : West McLaren Mercedes’ Race Transporter

[shravan316]

Wow...F1 has come leaps and bounds in past 50 yrs.

[F50]

Ya this is amazing .... This they showed once in Race Day before a GP and their trasporters can be converted into Media Centre, Canteen and wat all stuff .... Simply amazing ....
Go to Ferrari's site and u can download their Virtual Media Center, some museums etc...

[Stratos]

In one of the issue of Classic Car Guide... there was a guy who made the transporter using.. old SL parts.. infact the front lights bumbers grille are from the old SL. If i find a Photo of the old Transporter from the side.. i will post it.. that cabins rear window is wierd in shape!!