Record Breaker 1955

The Messerschmitt 200 Super established 25 Long Distance and Period World Records at the Hockenheim Circuit on 29th-30th August 1955. The original car can be seen at the Deutsches Museum, Munich although not with the record breaking engine – the original engine was lost while in storage at F&S Schweinfurt. Normal two stroke tuning was carried out including raising the compression ratio and increasing the carburettor bore raising the output raised to just over 14hp at 5,500 rpm. The special body was fabricated at the Rosenheim works of Ing. Fritz Fend, the inventor and designer of Messerschmitt cars. Aircraft design principles were used to reduce drag to a minimum with specially flared front wings to reduce the drag and turbulence around the front wheels. Trim strips and number plates were eliminated by the use of painted decoration and company ‘eagle’ logo – all aimed at reducing drag. The cockpit too was formed around the driver’s head again using aircraft practice.
The attempt on the Records was carefully planned and supervised by Ing. H.W. Bönsch, the famous motor cycle designer, BMW Director and Vice President of the Technical Committee of FIM. Bönsch knew that the car was capable of lapping the circuit at 116 km/h but he wanted to be sure it could complete the attempt without failure. He carefully calculated the optimum braking and gear change points, marking them on the circuit for other drivers to use. An average lap speed of 105km/h was calculated to allow for service stops of around 60 seconds, including refuelling and driver change.
The 2,000 Kilometre Long Distance World Record was established after 19 hours and 3minutes of relentless hard driving by the little Messerschmitt three-wheeler and this stood for both the 250cc and 350cc classes. The Mean Speed was 105km/h (65.2 mph). The 24 Hour Period World Record, also in the 250cc and 350cc classes, fell to the Messerschmitt after 2,473 km (1,537 miles) at a Mean Speed of 103.0 kph (64 mph).
The object of the attempt was merely to emphasise the already sporting character of the Messerschmitt Cabin Scooter and to clearly demonstrate the reserves built into the Fichtel und Sachs motor. The motor used was the F&S model L with kickstarter in preference to the heavier reversible dynastart-equipped model LDR. The associated lighter flywheel would also assist in engine response and gear changing. Fichtel und Sachs probably recommended this because of the strain imposed on the crankshaft at high RPM due to the forces generated by the heavy Dynastart flywheel. Another advantage, apart from eliminating the drag from the carbon brushes, is that the ignition spark becomes stronger at higher rpm with a magneto ignition system. However, the flywheel proved to be the weak point in extending the record attempt when the riveted hub failed. (see diagram). Huge forces are generated by flywheels at high engine revolutions so it so not surprising that it failed. A smaller rear chain wheel was fitted to give a higher final drive ratio and thus a higher top speed with an oil deflector to reduce turbulence in the oil filled rear drive chaincase.
In accordance with FIM regulations lead plates weighing 60 kg were carried in place of a passenger.

The drivers were:-
Ing. Fritz Fend
Ing. Helmut Bönsch
Ing. Karl Eisele
Dr. Heinz Schwind
Helmut Gathjen
Hilmar Stumm

During practice on Saturday 27th August 1955 ‘night specialist’ Dr, Heinz Schwind achieved no less than 31 laps of the Hockenheim Circuit at a constant average speed of 107 kph within a variation of only one second.
The successful outcome of the attempt remains to this day a fine example of the quality of German engineering, painstaking preparation and thorough execution.
At least 3 replicas have been constructed, the first one completed by our own Russel Church after painstaking research on the original car that is currently on display in the Deutsches Museum, Munich.
Independent Research by:-
Messerschmitt Foundation
of Great Britain,
Fend House,
Chapel Road,
Pebworth.

May 1994.

After winning the World Speed Record for propeller driven aircraft in 1937, the name Messerschmitt was entered for a second time in the list of International World Records. Willi Messerschmitt himself did not celebrate the successful record attempt remarking that “taking account of stretched finances and competition, world records required expenditure and certainly did not result in increased orders”.