The flying kilometer
04/01/2013
No, of course the cars in the past did not fly over a kilometer, but they drove it at maximum speed. The"kilometer lancé" or"flying kilometer" referred to a certain type of racing event or test in which the time taken to complete the following kilometer was measured after a defined start and acceleration section.
In 1946, for example, such a competition was held in Rome on the Rome-Ostia highway. This event was open to non-compressor sports and touring cars. Obviously, the test attracted many visitors. The winner of the touring car category was a Mr. Tuccimal in a Maybach, whose average speed was calculated at 122.699 km/h. In the sports car category, Signore Paolini in an Alfa Romeo drove the fastest at 161.218 km/h. Outside the competition, a Mr. Bernabei proved that his 8-cylinder supercharged Alfa Romeo was even faster, with an average speed of 199.225 km.
"Kilometer lancé" tests were often integrated into other competitions and even winter rallies had such competitions.
The flying kilometers were particularly popular between the 1920s and 1950s, after which they became less important.
The Zwischengas magazine archive immediately contains 168 entries mentioning the Kilometer lancé, including events that hardly anyone is likely to remember.
