1909 Blitzen Benz

Benz Blitzen HP 200 Corsa 1909

At Daytona Beach in 1911, Bob Burman ran an average of 141.7 mph (228.1 kph) in the Flying Mile. This broke the unofficial absolute speed record (land, sea or air), set by Glenn Curtis in 1907 on a motorcycle (!). The new record stood for eight years.  This is not that car although Brumm does make a copy.  The record car has a tapered tail and I believe it is the only one that can properly be called 'Blitzen Benz'.

There were six Benz 200hp cars in total, and famed US racer Barney Oldfield toured the country in Burman's car running races against all comers.  That car eventually ended up at Brooklands with a different radiator.  Records could not be found to validate that the car raced with #15 nor who the driver was.

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