2022 Le Mans Classic - Off-Track Highlights

 

Fiat-Abarth 1000SP - one like this took part in the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans entered by Ecurie Fiat-Abarth France but retired after 9 Laps.  The car did win its class at Monza in 1969 and the following year in the Targa Florio. This was one of many cars on display in the Village.

One could have spent three days at the 2022 Le Mans Classic without ever getting trackside to see the races as there was so much to see in the club car parks, in the village and in the paddocks.  This post gives you a flavour of it all.

Another car on display that I loved was this recreation of one of the 1954 Bristol 450 cars that finished 1-2-3 in the 2 litre class and 7th, 8th and 9th overall.  A great achievement for the Bristol Aeroplane Company and its engineering and aerodynamics. 

The Bristol also did a demo lap.  The car was lovingly and skilfully recreated by a French amateur.  The original bodies were destroyed to make the 1955 open topped cars so fantastic to see one of these cars recreated for us all to see at Le Mans.

The Model-T Ford of cartoonist Thierry Dubois at the N7 exhibition.

A 1930 Ford A Speedster driving around.

The 1989 Group C Alfa Romeo SE 048 SP that never raced.  This is normally kept in the Alfa Romeo museum and has a V12 engine even if the original design was for a V10.

Another car on the Alfa Romeo display was this 1968 Alfa Romeo T33/2 Daytona.  Here it is on a demo lap.

The main display in the Village was of French Panhard engined sports cars.  The 48 car is a 1961 DB HBR4 that had a 848cc Panhard engine and finished that year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.

These French Panhard engined cars also took to the track for a Demo lap.  The 57 car is a 1953 DB that won the 750cc class at the 24 hours of Le Mans that year.

This fifties Renault 4CV formed part of the Police Cars exhibition.

The band at the Firemen's ball

The Radio Cadillac ban.

Rolland Pilain cars on display.   The company produced cars in the French town of Tours in the nineteen twenties.

One of the many classic aircraft flying around during the weekend.

More classic aircraft.

On display in Paddock 5 and also giving demo laps were these modern De Tomaso P72 GT cars.

Lola T70 in the paddock.

Audi in the paddock.

Group C Peugeot in the paddock.

Bentley Speed 8 engine.

Saleen in the paddock.

Checking the tyres on a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4

Interview in the paddock for the entrant of a 1953 Peugeot 203 Constantin.

Bentley 4.5 litre.

1934 Talbot AV105.

1972 Mirage M6.

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John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web à condition de créditer le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com, et de fournir un lien vers cette page.

1979 Lola T298

But if you do go to the Le Mans Classic don't miss some racing on late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning!.