3 replies to this topic

[LotusElise]

I'm doing some research for a new Speedqueens profile, and found two references to a "Paris-Vichy race" held in 1931.

However, I cannot find any entry lists or "official" confirmation, or even anything saying whether the event was a road race, rally or trial. The only clue I have is that the Paris-St. Raphael Rally went via Vichy during its early runnings; the "race" may have been a component of the Rally.

Can anyone throw any light on this little problem? The only other piece of data I have is that Simone des Forest was one of the competitors, with her mother as a co-driver!

[Vitesse2]

Paris-Vichy was the first stage of the Paris-St Raphael, as confirmed by this, which actually covers the 1931 running:

http://www.automobil...paris-raph.html

I'm guessing one of your sources is the French Wikipedia page on Simone?;)

En 1931, elle participe à la course Paris-Vichy ; sa mère est son co-pilote.

I've just had a dig through the daily papers on Gallica, but - as usual - the Paris-St Raphael was very under-reported. All I found was a very general preview in Le Figaro - plus two subsequent reports which contrive to say precisely nothing! Not even a mention of who was leading There is a final report, which is more concerned with the Concours d'Elégance than the overall finishing order and gives very little detail:

http://gallica.bnf.f...f6.image.langEN

My money would be on them having retired on the first stage.

[LotusElise]

Paris-Vichy was the first stage of the Paris-St Raphael, as confirmed by this, which actually covers the 1931 running:

http://www.automobil...paris-raph.html

I'm guessing one of your sources is the French Wikipedia page on Simone?;)



I've just had a dig through the daily papers on Gallica, but - as usual - the Paris-St Raphael was very under-reported. All I found was a very general preview in Le Figaro - plus two subsequent reports which contrive to say precisely nothing! Not even a mention of who was leading There is a final report, which is more concerned with the Concours d'Elégance than the overall finishing order and gives very little detail:

http://gallica.bnf.f...f6.image.langEN

My money would be on them having retired on the first stage.

Thanks for this.

The Wiki info is taken from another article which is more informative. Somewhere, I have an email from someone about Simone, and I think they might have written it.

I've done a fair bit of digging into the Paris-St. Raphael, and I still haven't even got a definitive list of years when it actually ran, let alone who won and who took part.

Edited by LotusElise, 24 August 2012 - 12:52.

[Vitesse2]

I've just emailed you a bunch of stuff on the 1938 running - a spreadsheet and various French and Swiss event reports.