A walk around Angoulême
#1
Posted 26 May 2005 - 22:15
AngoulĂªme is a remarkable race circuit. Less than a mile long, it makes Monaco and Pau look like the wide open prairies.... Indeed, a couple of the corners look too tight to get anything round in one go.
I apologise to those with slow systems but I think the thing needs to be posted in one go for continuity's sake.
The following circuit plan is from Maporama.com, and the numbers will be referred to as you work your way down the images, which are in sequence around the lap in the direction the cars travelled unless stated otherwise:
The grid forms up in front of the Cathedral St. Pierre; with the start line just a little way down the road:
#1
#2
#3
#4
The corner is not the one to the left, but is over by those parked cars.
#5
#6
Looking back towards #5.
#7
#8
#9
Looking back towards #8.
#10
Looking back towards #9
#10
Taken from same place as previous image but looking in direction of travel.
#11
Looking back towards #10
#12
#13
#14
#15
The next corner, a hairpin, is by the big tree in the centre of this picture.
#16
#17
#18
Looking back down towards the hairpin.
#19
#20
#21
#22
Looking back down towards #21.
#23
#24
#25
#25
Taken from same point as previous image but looking back towards final corner.
....and that's about it.... give me a minute and I'll look up the Samaritans number for you.....
Our car was parked with a 1 hour ticket and we were about a quarter of a mile from the circuit. Even then, we did our walk around, took our photos and were still back to the car within the hour!
Not surprisingly, this place had a lap record speed, in 1951, of 44.9 m.p.h, 72.3 k.p.h.
I hope it takes you less time to look at this post than it took me to prepare and post it....
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#2
Posted 26 May 2005 - 22:26
#3
Posted 27 May 2005 - 05:12
#4
Posted 27 May 2005 - 07:07
That lap record I mentioned was held by Louis Chiron in an H.W.M.
Others will be able to add much more info I am sure.
#5
Posted 27 May 2005 - 07:53
Why Barry? Its the best stuff I have seen on Atlas for months! Thanks.Originally posted by Barry Boor
I promise this is the last old track thread from the French trip.....
Oh,for Twin Window,historic races still take place there in September.
#6
Posted 27 May 2005 - 08:20
Originally posted by Barry Boor
I promise this is the last old track thread from the French trip.....
"You make us envy you so much, grrr "
No, once again: great inspiration for next holiday trips. "Honey, we're going to France!"
And your trips are truly 100% nostalgia! Next stop Italy?
#7
Posted 27 May 2005 - 13:02
#8
Posted 27 May 2005 - 13:12
Originally posted by Cirrus
We're taking the Volpini FJ there this September. Some of those potholes look like real filling looseners!
Will you be able to let us see some action pictures from the September event? Do hope so!
#10
Posted 27 May 2005 - 18:48
#11
Posted 27 May 2005 - 22:21
#12
Posted 28 May 2005 - 09:55
The first shows Prince Igor Troubetzkoy leading Robert Manzon in 1948. Somehow the cathedral looks larger and more imposing in this photograph than it does in reality.
The second shows Andre Simon (I think) in 1951. At the side of the road is Robert Aumaitre, "Le Grand Robert", chief mechanic of Bugatti before the war and Gordini after it. One of the legendary figures of French motor racing, sadly I could find not a single mention of him in TNF.
#13
Posted 28 May 2005 - 10:33
I guess the photographer used an old fashioned view camera, the type with the tripod, bellows and black cloth. That would allow him to keep the lines of the building parallel without the converging verticals you get normally.Originally posted by Roger Clark
Somehow the cathedral looks larger and more imposing in this photograph than it does in reality.
For anyone who doesn't know. you can browse the AngoulĂªme F2 results here
#14
Posted 04 June 2005 - 18:02
#15
Posted 04 June 2005 - 18:45
I looked at the place on my way further south a couple of years ago and was astounded. I didn't take any pictures and we carried on to our destination. This thread, therefore, holds even greater interest for me.
Along with the other old French circuit threads that Roger and yourself have posted recently Barry, I would respectfully suggest you consider going in to business together, running European tours to old race circuits - you'd be absolutely brilliant!
Mark
#16
Posted 04 June 2005 - 18:48
Also, the optics of the lens affect the picture. A long focus lens has the effect of compressing perspective. Relative to the size of the cars, the cathedral will be larger than with a 'standard' lens. Conversely, if the photographer had been very close to the cars and used a wide angle lens the cathedral would have been relatively a lot smaller.Originally posted by KJJ
I guess the photographer used an old fashioned view camera, the type with the tripod, bellows and black cloth. That would allow him to keep the lines of the building parallel without the converging verticals you get normally.
For anyone who doesn't know. you can browse the AngoulĂªme F2 results here
Yes, I used to read Amateur Photographer
#17
Posted 04 June 2005 - 21:43
#18
Posted 05 June 2005 - 07:44
I was looking for some rally results in my old copies of Motor Sport and came across these two photos in the November 1987 edition!
(Source : Motor Sport 1987)
Maurice Trintignant, Lotus 24 (Source : Motor Sport 1987)
#19
Posted 05 June 2005 - 07:53
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#20
Posted 05 June 2005 - 10:53
#21
Posted 05 June 2005 - 11:14
#22
Posted 28 June 2005 - 20:41
#23
Posted 28 June 2005 - 20:59
#24
Posted 06 July 2005 - 10:19
Some new civil servant, Mr. Boulanger, has decided in all his wisdom to speedlimit the circuit to 50 km per hour. That will kill the event. I have visited this event for years now and it is great!!!
So if you want to be sure to enjoy this great race, come this year in september. It'll probably be the last year. If you want to see more recent pic's I have some.
Regards
Robert
#25
Posted 13 July 2005 - 09:19
I raced there in an 50s/60s Alfa Romeo race in 2002 in my Giulietta and it was a marvelous weekend. The tight bumpy circuit calls for real concentration and all the surroundings are seriously solid but that's street racing.
Get there if you can, you'll really enjoy it
Paul
#26
Posted 13 July 2005 - 18:09
We hope that an agreement will be find between the Charente préfecture and the ACOCRA who have many supports from all the nation.
Thanks for them
#27
Posted 12 September 2005 - 10:32
#28
Posted 26 December 2005 - 13:21
I'll start with some Bugatti stuff, but, if anyone is interested, I can add other categories:
Alexandre Lafourcade - 35B - Winner 2005 Bugatti GP race, at top hairpin.
Lucas Slijpen - 35
Dominique Baldy (Type 37) finds his meeting has come to a premature end
John Lewis - Lotus 72
Gregory Ramouna - 35B
Edited by Alan Cox, 05 September 2010 - 11:06.
#29
Posted 06 September 2006 - 18:20
AngoulĂªme is very accessible from the UK via Eurostar (and one connection). There seems to be a general conception that the event is little more than a parade. Nothing could be further than the truth. Tony Goodwin had to use all the skills he learned in 1960s European F3 racing to anticipate the flag drop, and win a very handsome trophy in last years Formula Junior race.
And the food........
And the Cognac.......
Come on.... You know it makes sense!
#30
Posted 06 September 2006 - 22:14
Looks like being another fun weekend.
#31
Posted 19 April 2008 - 12:12
Behind, That's me with the ridiculous hat ;)
DR, private
#32
Posted 20 April 2008 - 15:55