14 replies to this topic

[sramoa]

It was same event these?

http://wsrp.ic.cz/prewar1939.html#8
and
http://www.kolumbus....llman/gp393.htm where won Trintignant

[Vitesse2]

Yes. A wonderfully bizarre event, which was run until 1973. All sorts of races, for all sorts of cars, seemingly at the whim of the organisers. André Biaumet wrote a history of it in two volumes - it's only in French and very hard to find these days.

[sramoa]

There were interesting and unknown(for me) names :
la Boissiére
Cleton
Black

[Sharman]

1000cc screamer race won by John Cardwell

[Vitesse2]

There were interesting and unknown(for me) names :
la Boissiére
Cleton
Black

It was essentially a race for amateurs and you find lots of names at Chimay which never appeared anywhere else, especially before WW2. My favourite story from Chimay is from 1937 when they stopped the main race at half distance when an already small field had been reduced to just two by retirements - and the car running in second place wasn't sounding too good either!

[RStock]

My favourite story from Chimay is from 1937 when they stopped the main race at half distance when an already small field had been reduced to just two by retirements - and the car running in second place wasn't sounding too good either!

I've been to some races like that.

[Rob G]

It was essentially a race for amateurs and you find lots of names at Chimay which never appeared anywhere else, especially before WW2. My favourite story from Chimay is from 1937 when they stopped the main race at half distance when an already small field had been reduced to just two by retirements - and the car running in second place wasn't sounding too good either!

And on of the five starters, Berg's 2.3L Alfa, shouldn't have even been allowed to race because the race was for cars up to 2000cc! Perhaps the organizers asked him to do this at the eleventh hour just to scrape together a respectable field? He did have the highest race number and last slot on the entry list.

[Tuboscocca]

Yes. A wonderfully bizarre event, which was run until 1973. All sorts of races, for all sorts of cars, seemingly at the whim of the organisers. André Biaumet wrote a history of it in two volumes - it's only in French and very hard to find these days.

Vitesse: Tomes of Buxton (abebooks) has one (or two?) copies of the 2nd Volume (1960-73).Stiff price >100 Euro...

Regards Michael

NB I once bought from Biaumet a parcel with rare books, which he gave away at a bargain price..(long ago)

[sramoa]

And on of the five starters, Berg's 2.3L Alfa, shouldn't have even been allowed to race because the race was for cars up to 2000cc! Perhaps the organizers asked him to do this at the eleventh hour just to scrape together a respectable field? He did have the highest race number and last slot on the entry list.

Do you have an entry list?

[D-Type]

Do you have an entry list?

Leif Snellman gives a list for both the 1937 voiturette race and main race.

I think the whole meeting was called the GP de Frontieres with a series of races: GP de Frontieres for sports cars, voiturettes etc

[Hugo Boecker]

In 1937 Berg had entered his Monza Alfa in the over 2000cc sportscar race. Also he strted in the upto 2000cc class with a BMW 327, his usual raodcar and came third behind Henne and Roese in 328s. So he declared Forfait for the over 2000cc race. I think both (SC 2000 and cars over 2000 started together. So he could drive his Alfa in the race car class.
The classes were a bit confusing.
There was a race for voitures de course (reacecars) upto 2000cc. Here Berg started with his Monza with fenders, But pictures show that he is in first row.
A class for voitures de sport upto 2000cc. There all starters (BMW, Singer and a FN all fit.)
The third race was for Voitures over 2000cc. Here Berg was entered, but did not start (see above) But Ruesch started with his Alfa 8C 35 GP car. There were car with fenders and without, a real mixed field. But this was the main event I think.

[Rob Semmeling]

Chimay 1937, from the FMB Bulletin:

[GIGLEUX]

Vitesse: Tomes of Buxton (abebooks) has one (or two?) copies of the 2nd Volume (1960-73).Stiff price >100 Euro...

Regards Michael

NB I once bought from Biaumet a parcel with rare books, which he gave away at a bargain price..(long ago)

As I have the two volumes I feel a rich man!

[VDP]

You can still get the second volume by the writer

Robert

[Rob29]

Have volume 2-seems it now costs twice what I paid for it