Etretat-Bénouville Hillclimb 2018 - Pre War Racing Cars and Sport Specials

Francesca Wilton in her 1935 Austin Seven 750cc racing car at speed heading up to Bénouville.

This pre-war group of cars was undoubtedly my favourite group at Etretat this year.  Hence, more photos than the other groups.   Lots of really old racers - I am talking about the cars!     Austin Sevens, Frazer-Nash, Rileys, a Wolseley and of course a very fast Morgan three wheeler.  However, perhaps my favourite was the vintage GN Spider of David Leigh. Amazing old car!   I also really enjoyed having a quick chat, between shots, with the enthusiastic car owners and drivers such as David, Ron and others.  Saturday was a real pleasure, just like historic events should be.  All of the cars competing in the VSCC Pre War classes for racing cars and sports specials are featured below.  They are presented in descending order of their fastest times.   I tried to get a few different shots this year and I think i succeeded.

Sue Darbyshire was fastest of the pre war vehicles in her 1929 1,260cc Morgan Super Aero 3 wheeler.

Morgan Super Aero in the Bénouville paddock.

David Leigh piloted the amazing 1923 GN Spider to a fast time.

The 1923 GN Spider has an even older 1,86cc motor.

The GN Spider has chain drive.

The GN Spider is an amazingly rustic but effective car.

Paul Baker in this 1934 2 litre Frazer-Nash Super Sports.

A 1935 Riley 1.5litre MPH drivem by Colin Wolstenholme.

Keven Morton cornering his 1931 1.1 litre Riley 9.

The beautiful 1934 Wolseley Hornet Special of Ron Turner.

This Wolseley has a supercharged 1.6 lire engine.

A sting on the tail of the Wolseley Super Hornet.

Paul Weston in his 2 litre 1934 Frazer-Nash TT Replica. 

Iain Cheyne locking up the 1937 Frazer-Nash Semmence Special.

Work in the paddock on the Frazer-Nash Semmence Special.  It has a 2 litre engine.

Timothy Pryke urging his 1935 Frazer-Nash Colmore around the corner.

Francesca Wilton in her 1935 Austin 7.

The 1937 Frazer-Nash TT Replica driven by Iain Roche.

Bill Croxton in his 1933 Frazer-Nash TT Replica.

This 1932 Riley 12/4 of Andrew Oliver missed Saturday's run as its engine was undergoing repair.

Bringing up the tail of the field was Richard Wyatt in his 1931 Austin Seven .

The 1931 Austin Seven Lanterne Rouge Special

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

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 aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page. 

Wolseley Super Hornet dashboard.

Course de Cote de Sancerre 2018

This was my sixth consecutive visit to the Course de Cote de Sancerre, an event which attracts a fantastic field for a regional hillclimb.  The champion for the last five years, Serge Thomas, was absent from the entry list so I knew I would see a different winner this year.  I thought it was going to be Gael Boisson in his Dallara F3 car, who was leading after two runs, but in the end a Norma Sports Racing car was the winner.  Well done to Jordan Lamonica for a fine third run. His father also got into the top eight in the same car.  Nobody got close to the lap record of Serge Thomas but it was good to see the top five separated by less than a second.

C'était ma sixième visite consécutive a la Course de Côte de Sancerre, un événement qui attire des concurrents de bonne qualité pour une course de côte régionale. Le champion des cinq dernières années, Serge Thomas, était absent de la liste des engagés, alors je savais que je verrais un autre gagnant cette année. Je pensais que ce serait Gaël Boisson dans sa Dallara F3, qui menait après deux manches, mais au final une voiture Norma était la gagnante. Bravo à Jordan Lamonica pour une belle troisième manche. Son père s'est également classé parmi les huit premiers dans la même voiture. Personne ne s'est approché du record pour l’épreuve de Serge Thomas mais c'était bien de voir les cinq premiers séparés par moins d'une seconde.

The Merlin MP23 of Daniel Nature

The event was run in good warm dry weather, even if the clouds opened for an absolute deluge a couple of hours later.  As usual the organization by Ecurie Jacques Coeur was superb and the event went along at a nice brisk pace.  Wonderful value for spectators at just six Euro to see such beautiful fast cars.  Great also to be so close to the action and for a number of the pictures I used my widest lens as I was just a car width away from the drivers cutting the apex at turn four.

L'événement s'est déroulé par temps chaud et sec, même si il a plu des cords quelques heures plus tard. Comme d'habitude, l'organisation de l'Ecurie Jacques Coeur était superbe et l'événement s'est déroulé à un bon rythme. Une valeur incroyable pour les spectateurs à seulement six euros pour voir ces belles voitures rapides. Génial aussi pour être si proche de l'action et pour un certain nombre de photos j'ai utilisé mon objectif ultra-large car j'étais juste à une petite distance des pilotes qui coupaient l'apex au virage quatre.

Bernard Deulniau - Simca Rallye 2

The pictures are from the first two timed runs and a walk around the paddock at lunchtime. Below are the top thirty fastest runners and all of the class winners.

Full results via Ecurie Jacques Coeur website

Les images proviennent des deux premières courses chronométrées et d'une promenade autour du paddock pendant le déjeuner.  Voici les trente pilotes plus rapide et tous les vainqueurs de classe.

1st – 21 – Jordan Lamonica – Norma M20FC (Overall Winner & First in Group & Class)

2^nd – 4 – Gael Boisson  - Dallara F307 (First in Group & Class)

3^rd – 25 – Jérome Martin – Norma M20F

4^th – 8 – Julien Bost – Dallara F302

5^th – 6 – Didier Brun – Dallara F302

6^th – 15 – Emmanuel Arbant – Norma F20FC

7^th – 19 – Alain Le Sausse – Norma M20FC

8th – 221 – Bruno Lamonica – Noma M20FC

9th – 18 – Frédéric Chatelain – Norma M20F

10^th – 7 – Franck Armion – Martini Mk79

11^th – 24 – Cédric Sonzogni – Proto

12^th – 10 – Olivier Gregoire – Dallara  (Class Winner)

13^th – 26 – Sébastien Pic – Norma M20F

14^th – 35 – David Jaumier – Silver Car 52F (Class Winner)

15^th – 22 – Eric Lecerf – Norma M20B

16^th – 17 – Stéphanie Tordeux – Norma M20FC

17^th – 1 – Arthur Fiard – Tatuus FR2000 (Class Winner)

18^th – 39 – Franck Gregoire – Speedcar GTR

19^th – 2 – Bruno Beauvoir – Tatuus FR2000

20^th – 38 – Tony Pasteau – Silver Car 52

21^st – 20 – Daniel Nature – Merlin MP23

22^nd - 120 – Anthony Dubois – Maxi Scora (First in Group & Class)

23^rd – 5 – Daniel Job – Dallara 301

24^th – 32 – Marion Alexandre – Ligier JS51 (Class Winner)

25^th – 238 – Pauline Berthon – Silver Car 52

26^th – 31 – Arthur Saint German – Merlin MP2000

27^th – 235 – Bernard Jaumier – Silver Car 52F

28^th – 16 – Jean-Pierre Picault – Barquette JPS FC

29th – 50 – Thomas Chavot – Seat Leon Supercopa (First in Group & Class)

30^th – 33 – Alain Lagneau – PHC Dinatmo

32^nd – 122 – Rodolphe Simon – Alpine A110 (Class Winner)

34^th – 133 – Didier Thorin – Marcadier Barzoi (Class Winner)

36^th – 54 – David Deremond – Renault Clio 4 – (Class Winner)

38^th – 102 – Fabrice Girault – Peugeot 205 – (First in Group & Class)

39^th – 43 – Florian Bartaire – Mitjet – (First in Group & Class)

41^st – 63 – Gabriel Coste – Honda Civic Type R (Class Winner)

42^nd – 126 – Alain Brissebonnet – Talbot R2 (Class Winner)

44^th – 98 – Didier Rebois – Alpine A310 (Class Winner)

60^th – 77 – Patrick Behal – Renault Clio RS (First in Group & Class)

63^rd – 70 – Nicolas Buguellou – Renault Twingo RS (Class Winner)

66^th – 116 – Rachel Poittevin – Peugeot 106 XSI (Class Winner)

75^th – 45 – Claude Saint Germain – Caterham Evo  (First in Group & Class)

79^th – 83 – Bernard Sautereau – Honda Civic (Class Winner)

82^nd – 88 – Cédrik Thollon – Peugeot 106 Rallye (Class Winner)

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

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 aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.

Philibert Michy - Renault Clio 3 Cup

Hillclimb cars don't normally have passengers!