Searching for Amiens

Originally posted by Roly


This is also the place of the track on the maps I posted here.
I tried to make a comparisson between the map of Roger Clarck and mine.



Does this help to get closer.

Roland

Roly, I think you may be, to use an American expression, one block too far down. Having looked at Barry's map, I think it may be more like this (see black)

Originally posted by Ruairidh


Roly, I think you may be, to use an American expression, one block too far down. Having looked at Barry's map, I think it may be more like this (see black)

I don't think so. If we're agreed on where the circuit was on my old map, then it must be more or less where Roly suggests on today's roads. The circuit you have drawn include the dual carriage-way which didn't exist in the 1950s.

Roger you may well be right. I'd assumed that the dual carriageway was built over the existing road. But I actually think I was wrong more because I went further away from the River.......and ignored the 1950 and 1990 similarities of the D933 and N333........

I'd also been looking for an alternative to Roly's location only because a chunk of the D11 must have been built over if you assume that the shape of the track and the length in Barry's & Alessandros books are correctly reported. But I guess it must have been?

There is one landmark that is on both Barry's 1998 michelen and Roger's 1950 michelen map maps - that five pointed symbol is at where both would indicate St Pierre Corner is. N'est pas? I don't see that on Rolys map - what is it?

The five-pointed symbol is the Citadelle. I have also a 1963 Michelin guide (the Red Book) with a town plan. It doesn't help much with locating the track because it finishes too far south (the area marked with a red rectangle on the 1950 map), but the Citadelle is clearly shown.

Very nice and exciting quest!

About maps:

-as already said, you can purchase IGN's maps. The best for this kind of searching is "Série Bleue France" in 1/25.000 scale. The map you need must be n° 2308 O (I can check it better in a bookseller/ stationer's shop). You can order it in the IGN website (or I can do it if you want ;) )
If you go back to the area, it will be very easy to find this map in a good stationer's shop in Amiens.
But this kind of map will only show you actual roads, not fifties roads (sometimes, "ancient circuit automobile" is written on them, as it is in Rheims' section).

Anyway, the best for your quest is to be on the place and go the town hall of the city/village you think the track was and ask to see the land registrer ("le cadastre", in french). They must have plenty of old maps with sharp scale, sometimes 200 years old ! Checking them is free of charge, but sometimes it's not possible to check them, because in some touristic places, too many people asked to see the maps to know who is the owner of a plot they want to buy. Anyway, explain your request and I'm sure you will have no problem.

If you don't find something in this village, you can also ask in Amiens to the Departmentals Archives (hope the writing is correct, sorry for my poor english...)

I'm living in Bordeaux, so too far to go tomorrow in Amiens ( ), but I will spend some days in Paris until the end of the month. Perhaps I can go to Amiens if you need it...;)

Ruairidh must probably be right about the "Parc Saint Pierre": this big city park is close to the homonymous corner, South-East.

Hi,

I did a simmilar overlap as Franck did, but with the other trackmap.
I think it comes really close.
Look at the bottom part and how it exactly it fits the streats of my new townmap.



The rest is also ver close, only the start/finnish straight is a bit of.

Would be interresting to find out more about this.

Roland

Wouldn't it be nice to see some pictures from races at Amiens?

Anyone?

Barry,

Picture of an OSCA at Amiens in Georganos Encyclopedia of Motor Sport. Page 560 top right.

I would guess that it is approaching the right hand hairpin leading onto the curving start - finish ' straight'

Chris

I've been in the area of Rouen les Essarts twice, once in a heatwave and again during heavy rain, both times on a motorcycle, and failed to find the circuit. I even copied sketch plans off the Net but could I actually locate the circuit? Nope....

Does anybody have reports and/or photo's of the Course de Doullens between 1927 and 1931 please ?
Or can anybody point me in the right direction.
I have searched the online newspaper archive in Paris, but found very little.
I am researching a Dutchman that competed there in 1928 and 1930, but possibly also in 1927 and 1930.
Any tips and help are very appreciated !