THE IMAGE MUST
NOT BECOME BLURRY
The giant wings snap in the heat of the sun, as we climb down from our Lufthansa plane at Pistarini airport, which via Frankfurt-Dakar-Rio de Janeiro has brought us here to Buenos Aires.
1962 VI Touring Car Grand Prix of Argentina
It is November 4, 1962. After completing 4,626 kilometers, Ewy Rosqvist and co-driver Ursula Wirth have sensationally won the VI Touring Car Grand Prix in Argentina with their Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111). As long as the Gran Premio has existed, the same driver has never won all the stages in succession.
Horrified Ewy upon arrival in Argentina
If it gets this hot at the competition, you can take me off the list!
- Ewy Rosqvist / in conversation with Karl Kling.
Training trip in
ten days
The 4 626 km race course consists of six stages. Before the race starts, the entire route is driven so that the driver can “feel” the route and the co-driver can take notes.
Stage 1: Buenos Aires - Villa Carlos Paz, 863 km
October 25. Now the race begins. The engine roars, we push forward. I grab the knob on the short sports gear lever that sits between the front seats. Second - gas - third - gas - fourth - gas ... The speedometer keeps moving upwards: 100 - 120 - 140 - 160 - 170 - 180 ...
Stage 2: Villa Carlos Paz - San Juan, 861 km
October 27. Immediately after the start, a very steep climb begins. After 61 km, we have climbed from "Pampa de Achala" at an altitude of 640 meters, to a peak that is 2,180 m above sea level.
Stage 3: San Juan - Catamarca, 731 km
October 29. At exactly 7:00 a.m. the starting flag falls for us. I notice that at first, against my will, I grip the steering wheel convulsively tightly. Ursula calmly gives me her instructions and within half an hour my tension is released.
Stage 4: Catamarca - Tucuman, 515 km
October 31. Now the "Cemetery of Hopes" is ahead. The air has become crystal clear. The engine is hot, but we are cold. Suddenly we have reached the highest point at 3,100 meters altitude. Anyone who has never experienced fear will experience it on this day's stage.
Stage 5: Tucuman - Cordoba, 806 km
November 2. We're going across the Pampas. I ease off the gas, take the curves and accelerate again. Our 220 SE moves forward calmly. It runs like a tightrope. The road allows 150 km/h, sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more.
Stage 6: Cordoba - Buenos Aires, 847 km
November 4. Today we have the flattest part of the six stages. The raindrops are beating against the windshield.
- Average speed at least 160 km/h says Ursula. You are driving fantastic today!
Track record
My average speed has been calculated at 126.872 km/h. In the evening newspapers everyone is competing to praise our stage and track record. Dead tired but happy, we finally go to bed. It is already the middle of the night.
Ewy was a good author
Ewy was a good author. As professional as she was in the competition. Down to the smallest detail, how they reasoned, the dialogue in the car between Ewy and Ursula. The stresses that the 220 SE was subjected to. Joy and sadness.
SPEED from start to finish
Ewy wrote a diary
Excerpts from her book are reproduced here. It is exciting reading "from start to finish"
A total of 202 pages with all the details from the competition
1963 Berghs Förlag AB, Sweden
A German edition is also available Fahrt durch die Hölle
1963 Copress-Verlag Munich, Germany
www.ewyrosqvist.com