Got to Autobahn and realized rear tires are not properly balanced. Felt there is vibration above 200kmh. I got the Michelin PS4’s mounted some time ago, but I did not do balance check before leaving. At 90-130kmh on regular roads the vibration could not be felt.
Looks like the big-brand chain service station balanced the car to “He won’t feel it at 100kmh” style… both tires out of balance.
Worst surprise was that one wheel is slightly bent oval and not perfectly round, of course the shop where I got the wheel/tire mounted, did not even mention anything about this. This is why it is dangerous to take your car to “Pep boys” and “Autozone” or “ATA” style service shops.
In Germany, ATA and 5 other shops we visited on Friday morning in mid July said “Next time for tire balance is in August”.
This was a WTF moment… WTF is going on in Germany? .. then finally 7th stop we visited, ARC Auto & Reifen-Center GmbH came through “10 minutes” and it was super fast and super cheap. Highly thankful because they saved my day/trip!
1939 Auto Union Typ C/D V16 520hp is likely the most insane car Audi (Auto Union) has ever produced.
To have 520hp in 1939 when average decent car had ~50hp was absolutely insane.
They did not manufacture tires wide enough to hook up all that power, so it got double rear wheels.
This one-off example 1939 Auto Union Typ C/D V16 520hp was saved by Mr. Kulbergs (founder of Riga Motor Museum) of Latvia from getting destroyed by Soviet Union. Personal possession/ownership (You will own nothing and will be happy) was outlawed during Communism and there are long stories (that are best re-told by Mr. Kulbergs son Andris Kulbergs) how parts of the car were hidden in walls of buildings so the Russians would not find it.
Audi did not have an example of the car themselves. When they found out the only example is alive and in the possession of Riga Motor Museum in Latvia, Audi purchased it for an undisclosed sum and as part of the deal, produced a (near) perfect replica of the original, that is now standing at Riga Motor Museum. This “saving the Auto Union Typ C/D” part of story is omitted from the spec sheet at Audi Museum.
The USA missions has been completed. New map has been unlocked: Europe.
Days are now spent grinding on the Autobahn & Nurburgring.
Now at BMW Museum for extra bonus points.
I feel the stats increasing. Still long ways to go to Level 50.
Photos by Kaspars Daleckis Photography:
Final day highway drive was 285km with 11.6 liters/100km while averaging 138kmh.
Germany/Autobahn average was 12.3 liters/100km with a terrible average speed because of all the traffic.
Germany has a very dense population.