Racing and record cars of the Soviet Union

• The racing and record cars of the Soviet Union

There was a time - they were shining on the sports tracks, set records and admire its appearance, power and speed. Today, they are artifacts of the thematic exhibition "Legends of the Soviet motor racing" in the XXI "Oldtimer-Gallery".

"Estonia-3" - the first Soviet racing car produced in series (in 1960-1962 commissioned by CA DOSAAF was released 36 cars.). Further development of the concepts embodied in the construction of the first "Estonia" has introduced a number of differences: light spatial tubular frame, rear independent suspension with springs as the elastic elements (instead of the transverse spring) motorcycle engine IMZ-M52S developed no longer 30 and 35 liters. from.

"Estonia-15M" is the basic model class Formula-4 "Youth" for vehicles with an engine capacity of 350 cubic meters. . See the car was originally designed as a simple and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and proved to be quite massive: in 1968-1976 gg. It was released more than 200 (!) cars. They were used in the competition before the end of 1983 when the "Youth" was excluded from the All-Union classification.

The main race cars on the Soviet ring roads of the first half of 1980 was the "Estonia-20", which is a further evolution of the 19-series. Basically, the changes concerned aerodynamics. In particular, in the structure were initially front and rear spoilers with adjustable angle of attack. Engine VAZ-21011 of 1, 3 liter, prepared by formula requirements "East", developed 85-90 liters. from. In 1980-1985 gg. were produced 263 cars, one of them was the thousandth race cars, the company issued TOARZ (by the way, the selling price "Estonia 20" is 8000 rubles). The car took part in the competition until the end of 1980.

And this "Estonia 25" until quite recently in the Belarusian "ring" went Andrei Presnyakov ...

Who remembers ambitious project 20 years ago, when the German Johann Knapp tried to organize the production of "formulas" not somewhere, namely in Minsk? One of the creations of the joint venture became the JAK 26 with carbon-fiber monocoque and quite advanced for its time, a technical stuffing ...

This is the prototype of "formula", "Rus". Unlike mass-produced cars, the motors are equipped with Alfa Romeo, this chassis has been installed the engine VAZ-2108 with capacity of 160 liters. from.

"Kiev-Sport" (1952) is unique in at least the fact that its design has been developed by the Kiev aviation design bureau (now OKB Antonov). Carrier element there is a space frame of thin-walled steel pipes, duraluminum external panels are secured together by riveting. Also used aircraft hatches for filling holes and parking lights. Only a few cars were built, but it is on this, equipped with an engine from the "Moskvich-407" with capacity of 70-75 liters. a., in 1960 Yuri Likhatskaya became the silver medalist of the Ukrainian SSR on the highway-circular races.

"Tartu-1" - not the usual "Estonia", built in 1963 to participate in the racing circuit. Chassis constituted space frame of steel pipes, the engine GAS-21, interlocked with the gearbox ZAZ-965, located in front of the rear axle, the pilot's seat is offset to the right from the mass distribution considerations. To access the vehicle components of its one-piece steel body up completely. "Tartu-1" was exhibited in the race of the season 1963-1965.

Perhaps the most interest from visitors and experts summoned record cars by Edouard Laurent. And let the background of the restored first Soviet dragster "Kharkiv-L3" remained in authentic condition "Kharkov-L2" looks modest, it is to his credit 30 records, including 14 international, set out in the 1955-1972 biennium. Edouard Laurent and his son Valery!

With the collapse of the Union of motorsport industry went into decline, after years of technique "confused" in the former state ... However, many of the cars, including the unique exhibits have survived to the present day, and there is no doubt the efforts of restorers will find its original appearance . Will wait!