Good morning, students. I am Professor Van Helsing, and I hate vampires…all kinds of vampires.  Christopher Lee vampires, chocolate vampires, Keifer Sutherland vampires, 60’s tv show vampires, African-American vampires, comedy vampires, video game vampires, Scientologist vampires, Golden vampires, math vampires and most of all….sparkling vampires.  These vile abominations must be wiped clean from the face of the earth.  And as soon as I finish building my twin Bentley V-12 powered rat rod/vampire harvester, you’re ALL coming with me.  It will be fricking sweet!
In the meantime, let’s learn more about the history of auto racing.

1952 saw big changes in Grand Prix racing.  Alfa Romeo didn’t have the funds to develop a new car for F1 and withdrew from the series; this left the field wide open for Scuderia Ferrari, their new car, the 500, and their number one driver, Alberto Ascari.  Desperate race organizers, anxious to put on a competitive show, ran some races to F2 regulations to ensure a full grid.  However, Ferrari’s dominance didn’t stop other constructors and drivers from trying to block the Scuderia’s rampage.  Maserati introduced it’s new car, the A6GCM; Talented young British driver, Stirling Moss, went racing with ERA.  John Cooper entered Grand Prix racing for the first time, and introduced their exciting new driver, Mike Hawthorn.  Due to rule changes, poor BRM, who had poured much money and effort into their V-16 powered P15, was left with no place but Formula Libre events to unleash their screaming beast.  Troy Ruttman won the 1952 Indianapolis 500 in his Offy-powered Kuzma.

In sport car racing, the big news was the return of the 3 pointed star.  Mercedes-Benz’s new 300SL “Gullwing” won at LeMans, the Carrera Panamericana and the Nurburgring.  Giovanni Bracco’s Ferrari barely held off Kling and Klenk’s Mercedes-Benz at the Mille Miglia.  Briggs Cunningham unleashed his Chrysler Hemi-powered C4R‘s on the racing world.
For your edification, you can see all the Formula 1 and sports car action from 1952 in the following clips.  As a bonus, the Hooniversity AV squad found a 24 minute, Firestone produced, documentary on the 1952 Indianapolis 500.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWpug9Ep-Yw&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grHFet2LrVY&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGt7ONY9CB4&feature=related[/youtube]