1. 1923 B.N.C.
One of the oldest cars at the meeting was this 1923 BNC. BNC, Bollack, Netter & Co, was a small car manufacturer in Paris in the 1920s. This was one of their first cars.
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| 1923 BNC in the paddock at Montlhéry |
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| This strange motorbike/car going out onto the circuit and following the Alfa is a Morgan Monotrace |
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| Undercarriage up and up to full speed! |
This was a French Marque that had nothing to do with the British Morgan company. These unusual machine were built in the twenties.
This contraption got the most attention in the paddock aside from the Alpine Renaults!
3. 1936 Riley Sprite
Riley was a successful British sports car achieving some success at Le Mans and in the Tourist Trophy with cars such as these.
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| 1936 Riley Sprite at Montlhéry |
Cars like this dominated the Grand prix of 1926 and 1927 with drivers such as the great Robert Benoist winning the World Championship for Delage. Victories included the French GP at Montlhéry. They were supercharged 8 cylinder machines. Some later raced in the thirties with ERA engines.
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| Delage 15 S 8 at the Montlhéry chicane |
Delage produced the D6 during the thirties and also immediately after the war. Some were used successfully for racing. I think this one is from around 1936. A very beautiful car.
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| Delage D6 exiting the Montlhéry chicane |
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| Delage D6 at speed on the Montlhéry start finish straight |
Their were at least three Bugattis at the circuit including examples of T35B and T51.
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| Two Bugatti T35Bs on the Montlhéry banking. In the twenties cars often raced with a riding mechanic so appropriate to have two in each car. |
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| Bugatti T35B in the Montlhéry pitlane |
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| Bugatti T35B heading out of the chicane at Montlhéry |
Just outside the gate at Montlhéry is a superb memorial to two brave and fast French racing drivers, Robert Benoist and Georges Boillot, who were killed fighting for their country in World War I and II. If you go to Montlhéry don't miss it.
Hello John,
ReplyDeleteThese are great photos---------------I'd never seen the French Morgan 2/4 wheeler before !!
I am sure that there was only the one ERA Delage and that it was assembled post war.
I seem to think that there was a Rob Walker link and can remember it being raced in the late 60's or early 70's by Ray Potter.
I'll go on line (or back to my "Motor Sports") and see if I am telling the truth!!
The original straight eight sounds magnificent doesn't it.
John Page
Thanks for your comment and compliment John. I bow to your superior knowledge on how many ERA engined Delages there were. Didn't Rob Walker own the ex-Dick Seaman Delage?
ReplyDeleteI replied again (!) earlier today but in case it failed here it is again!
DeleteI am sure that Rob Walker did own the Seaman car and am sure that that was the one destroyed in his workshop fire back in the 1970's (?).
I think that the ERA Delage was another different car that he owned-------------they seem to have been owned in "groups" over the years.
Earl Howe had two plus another chassis(I think) and Alan Burnard had more than one------I think that there were some chassis or chassis side rails made in the 30's.
More research need to confirm!!
John
Yes he did but I am pretty certain that that was the one that was destroyed in his workshop fire back in the (probably) 1970's and that the ERA engined one was a different car--------again I'll check it!
ReplyDeleteJohn, just done a bit of research and you appear to be absolutely right. Well done! According to the Batsford Guide to Racing Cars by Denis Jenkinson, Rob Walker took the 1927 Delage previously owned by Prince Chula and installed an E Type ERA engine. Modern breaks etc were fitted and it was raced by Tony Rolt. It raced in 1951/2 in major British races and came 3rd at Goodwood.
ReplyDelete