Circuit des Remparts 2023 - Plateau Raymond Sommer - Avant Guerre

 

My view of the Plateau Raymond Sommer practice session.

Raymond Sommer was a pre and post war French driver who won a number of Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  One of his victories was the very first Circuit des Remparts at Angoulême in 1939.  he won this in an Alfa Romeo 308.  Thus very fitting that there is a race at Angoulêmer that bears his name.

The Plateau Raymond Sommer had a nice field of pre-war Frazer Nash, Riley and GN cars with an Aston Martin and a HRG as well.  Most were from the UK with a couple of French participants.

These picture were taken in practice.

The winner was Théo Hunt in a 1932 Frazer Nash TT Replica.

Second was Tommy Waterfield in a 1921 GN Harlequin.

Third was Simon Blakeney Edwards in a 1929 Frazer Nash Super Sport.

Jonathan Fenning came fourth in this 1936 Frazer Nash Emeryson.

Dougal Cawley finished fifth in this 1921/29 Frazer Nash Piglet.

Sixth was this 1928 Frazer Nash Super Sport driven by David Wylie.

Richard Iliffe in this 1934 Riley 12/4 Special finished seventh.

Joanna Blakeney Edwards finished eighth in this 1929 Frazer Nash Super Sports.

Simon Kelleway finished ninth in this 1937 Riley Sprite12/4.

Tenth was 1937 Frazer Nash TT Replica driven by Iain Roche.

This 1938 Frazer Nash Sports driven by Paul Baker finished eleventh.

Twelfth was this 1938 HRG 1500 driven by Pierre Etienne Lambert.

Michael New in this 1937 Frazer Nash TT Replica finished thirteenth.

Final classified finished was this 1937 Aston Martin Speed Model Replica of Richard Braun.

Completing only six laps was Kip Waistell in this 1938 Riley TT Sprite.

Completing only five laps was the amazing 1923 GN Spider driven by Jim Edwards.

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 à condition de créditer le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com, et de fournir un lien vers cette page.

A non-starter was Robin Tuluie's 1929 Riley Menasco Pirate which has a 6 litre Aero Engine built by Albert Menasco.  It is seen here in practice.

GN Spider and Harlequin in the paddock.

The Flying Ferret team's mascot on its 1937 Riley.

Vintage Revival Montlhéry 2019 - Plateau B - Cyclecars

1921 GN-Salmson, GP de Boulogne

Cyclecars were the stars of Plateau B at the 2019 Vintage Revival Montlhéry, whether originals or recreations.   An intriguing mix of light small capacity sports and racing cars from the twenties and thirties.  Difficult not to full in love with so many of them!

1922 Sénéchal SS

The 1921 GN-Salmson reminded us of the time these cars took the first three places in the 1921 GP de Boulogne powered by 1,100c V2 engines.  Salmson produced the car under licence from the British Company GN (Godfrey & Nash).

The Jappic was a JAP engined cyclecar designed by H.M.Walters.  The beautiful body was orginally made in Wimbledon by Jarvis & Co.  The car held the 350cc record at Brooklands at over 70mph.  It later had a 500cc engine.  A lovely recreation.

Robert Sénéchal was a French WW1 fighter pilot, racing driver and industrialist.  He produced cars from 1921 until he sold the company to Chenard et Walcker in 1925.  The Sénéchal marque remained until 1929.   Sénéchal won the 1922 GP de UMF and the Bol d'Or in 1924 and 1926 in his own cars.

1925 Jappic Brooklands 500cc racing car recreation

1922 Sénéchal SS on the Montlhéry banking.

SIMA-Violet was a French manufacturer of cyclecars in the twenties.  It was a torpedo type two seater powered by a two stroke 2 cylinder 500cc motor.

1924 SIMA-Violet Sport 500cc

1922 Salmson following a Darmont Three Wheeler.

1924 Alcyon RR 500cc cyclecar

1929 Schasche 500cc cyclecar

1934 Darmont V Junior

1924 Senechal TS2 Sport

1937 Georges Irat MDU roadster

1923 Darmont STR Sport

1937 Darmont Etoile de France

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.

1914 GN Cyclecar in the wet paddock.

Vintage Revival Montlhéry 2019 - Plateau A - BNCs and others

Unusual 1934 BNC 527 Sirejol on the banking.

Plateau A of the Vintage Revival Montlhéry contained many BNCs as well as other marques such as Salmson, Amilcar and GN.  BNC is not a marque known well outside of vintage car aficionados in France.  It was normally known by its acronym but in full was called Bollack, Netter et Cie after its founders.   Established in 1923 in Paris it lasted until 1931, although afterwards André Sirejol continued producing BNC cars for a number of years.    BNC produced mainly light racing cars competing in events mainly in France and Belgium.  Victories included the 1925 GP de Picardie with the Russian Boris Ivanowski, and the 1927 Bol'Or with the infamous Violette Morris.  Class wins were achieved in the great 24 Hour races at Le Mans in 1928 and at Spa Francorchamps in 1930.

The BNC 527 model was the best known.  The ones called Monza had Ruby engines.

1929 BNC 527 racing car

1927 Amilcar CGSS dwarfed by the banking.

A wet paddock for the BNC brigade.

1928 BNC 527 Monza.

1922 GN OHC 1500cc

1928 Amilcar CGSS

1929 BNC with Saint Hubert bodywok.

1921 Salmson GS

Salmson in the paddock.

1929 BNC 527 Monza

1927 Salmson GS 8

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.

1929 Chenard et Walcker Tank Y8

Démonstration de Véhicules Anciens - Gallardon, 2017

GN Martyr Cyclecar doing a demonstration run at Gallardon.

We interrupt our coverage of Laguna Seca to bring you photos of a local event in Gallardon, France.  Today was the occasion of the annual demo runs at the Musée Atéliers des Pionniers.   Unfortunately, the weather was not favourable this year but I certainly had an enjoyable hour seeing these lovely old cars, three wheelers and bikes.  Thanks to the participants for coming out on a rainy day.

For more about the Musée Atéliers des Pionniers, click here.

Atomic Orange three wheeler completes its demo run.

Old BSA motorbike.

This DHR completed a number of runs after lunch.

Impressive Anthony.pre-war racing car.

A Morgan Three Wheeler entertains the enthusiastic crowd who came despite the rain.

Lovely to see the Bédélia Cycle Car make a run.

1909 Renault AX.  Look at the rain pouring off of it.

A rather more modern Chevrolet Pickup.

The Salmson driver waves to the spectators.  Notice the dog in the car!

This three wheeler looks like a homemade modern creation.

The DHR kicks up some spray.

The Anthony and the Salmson parked up.

That modern three wheeler again.

Beautiful MG and Bugatti.

For photos of the 2016 event at Gallardon, click here.

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.