Re: 1949 Porsche Gmund Cars

[Porschinelle]

1953 Carrera Panamericana race
Gmund GT 356/2 062 driven by Guillermo Suhr/Oscar Alfonso
DNF

[JTR70]

Thanks Gerard! The photo above your last must be the DNF shot of this race.

[356]

[Porschinelle]

Some history around the above pic posted yesterday by Vance
Obviously this pic represent Porsche mecanic maintening 2 off 356 GT
On the roof of nearest car a rallye plate number 22 with around the indication of the rallye : Liege Rome Liege 1952
I thinck these 2 cars are in the Porsche race atelier who according to Jacques Mertens was located in a small wooden building at the back of the Reutter plant
Always according to Jacques this building was just large enough to admit 2 cars
Here a pic taken from Jacques site porsche356sl.com

[Porschinelle]

Now I said 1952 because I know that this year Hushke Von Hanstein drove the Porsche race number 22

[Porschinelle]

To complete my story may be you remember that this same 1952 year the Liege Rome Liege rallye was won by Gilberte Thirion Gmund 356SL 356/2 061 driven for this only rallye by Helmut Polensky/Werner Schulter with the race number 81

[Porschinelle]

This victory was so important for Porsche that the below picture was turned into a very famous publicity poster

[Porschinelle]

[Porschinelle]

And now the little story behind this victory
Huscke Von Hanstein and Helmut Polensky had the same age
Before the 2nd world war as young fortunate sportmen they competed once against the other on BMW 328 and Polensky was far better driver than Huscke and from that time Huscke did not liked Helmut
Helmut Polensky was a gentleman driver and in the 50's Porsche plant use it a official driver
Helmut was willing to race the 1952 Liege Rome Liege rallye but Huscke decided that a will drive one (car number 22) of the 2 official Porsche race cars the other one (car number 3 being given to Petermax Muller if I remember well but I may be wrong
Anyway no official Porsche race car available for Helmut
Some weeks before the Liege Rome Liege rallye Helmut Polensky met Gilberte Thirion and his father Max during the coupe des Alpes rallye (again not sure at 100 % of that)
Helmut car was stopped by a petrol pump failure
Gilberte and Max stopped along to help him and by chance had a spare pump in their car which allowed Helmut to finish the rallye
That was the start of a long friendship story who lasted until their death
Furthermore Helmut wife Ingeborg became the favorite Gilberte co pilot
Helmut made the following deal with Gilberte and Max Thirion :
Gilberte will let Helmut to drive her car for the 1952 Liege Rome Liege race and nin exchange Helmut will arrange with Porsche factory that 356/2 061 be entirely updated as the last race cars
End of the story Helmut win the race and the 2 official Porsche cars had to retire following accidents

[Porschinelle]

And to end this story a fantastic pic showing that nothind is lost at the Porsche plant
Below several 718RSK beeing prepared in a Porsche workshop in say 1958
If you look carefully on the wall in between the 2 windows you will see as decoration the 3 Liege Rome Liege 1952 race plates 22 38 61

[Gearz]

[911quest]

I have always wondered the thought's of the workers in these type photos. Are the annoyed? Do they care?

[neilbardsley]

From experience of many years ago working a large press in a factory, making car bits (pre Uni), probably very bored!

[JTR70]

Great observation Tony! They all seem to have "that look" don't they? Now that you mention it the only ones smiling and hooping it up in these old shots are the drivers and upper management at these race or special events; not so much with the guys down in the pits. I'm pretty sure that I must have a similar look on my face as I drudge through on my projects.
Justin

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