Schaerbeek monument
#1
Posted 19 June 2012 - 12:54
The piece displays a nude male athlete pronouncing the Olympic oath, on a stele with a bronze medallion representing the Belgian race car driver René De Buck, who died at Chimay in 1927.
The inscription at the back of the base is:
"To those who fell for the glory of motorsport : J. Wilford, Baron J. de Waelmont, Joseph Christiaens, Theo Pilette, Henri Matthys, René De Buck, Freddy Charlier".
I know Christiaens
http://www.motorspor...hp?db=ct&n=1061
Pilette
http://www.motorspor...f...db=ct&n=407
Matthys
http://www.motorspor...hp?db=ct&n=1117
De Buck
http://www.motorspor...php?db=ct&n=423
and Charlier
http://www.motorspor...php?db=ct&n=636
But nothing is known about J. Wilford and Baron J. de Waelmont, presumably they were Belgian pioneers of motorsport.
Advertisement
#2
Posted 19 June 2012 - 14:52
Nor a J Wilford, though there was a Belgian-built car called the Wilford in 1900, a Paul Wilford raced between 1901 and 1913, and Gustave Wilford in 1923 and 1924
#3
Posted 19 June 2012 - 16:42
http://www.schaerbee...moine_V7_NL.pdf
Just found the french version:
http://www.schaerbee...moine_V7_FR.pdf
It mentions the sculptor Pierre de Soete, who designed the Minerva mascots and various other automotive bronzes - presumably he was responsible for the bronze plaque of Rene de Buck.
The monument was originally going to be placed in Chimay but they fell out and de Soete arranged for Schaerbeek to display it near the old stadium (sportpaleis).
The fund raising was led by the RACB so it is possible they will have a record somewhere of who the drivers are?
Mr Kupelian who worte the book on the history of early Belgian cars might well know the answer but I don't know how to contact him (his book has recently been republished which might help).
#4
Posted 20 June 2012 - 19:53
24 aug 1913 - II Grand Prix du RACB (racing automobiele club Belgium)
circuit de Spa 21.2 km
race for racing cars 2L 3L 4L 4,5L
first day 18 r
sec day 20 r
14 starters
1° Leon Durny - Springler Imperia 13 hp
accident fatal - Jean de Woelmont - Bel - SAVA
#5
Posted 21 June 2012 - 08:37
http://histomobile.c...d=2081083&lan=1Au « Meeting de Spa » au cours duquel se courait le « Grand Prix de Belgique » et le « Critérium de la Meuse », SA VA engagea des voitures (75 x 140). L'épreuve allait malheureusement être endeuillée par le décès du jeune baron Jean de Woelmont qui, en voulant dépasser la Springuel de Klinkhamers, l'accrocha et percuta un talus; son mécanicien fut gravement blessé.
"Le jeune baron" might perhaps be the brother of Baron Henri/Henry de Woelmont de Brumagne (1881-1931) who was a Belgian diplomat in London in the early years of the 20th century. He was also a genealogist (irony alert )
However, there's another lot of Barons de Woelmont d’Oplieux ...
#6
Posted 27 June 2012 - 12:50
http://www.motorspor...php?db=ct&n=635
and John Wilford
http://www.motorspor...h...=ct&n=10697
Just wait, TNFs solve.
;)
Edited by Nanni Dietrich, 27 June 2012 - 12:50.
#7
Posted 03 July 2012 - 11:49
T...
and John Wilford
http://www.motorspor...h...=ct&n=10697
...
By the way, yesterday the third stage of the Tour de France passed just at the Citadelle de Namur, the place in which John Wilford lost his life, 101 years ago.