1954 French GP and Mercedes return
#1
Posted 13 January 2013 - 11:50
A little background. Philip went to Rheims (I think it usually wore an h in those days!) to cover the 12-hour sports car race, which started on the day before the French Grand Prix, but when Rodney Walkerley (his predecessor as The Motor's Sports Editor) damaged his back by falling down the hotel stairs, he found himself covering the GP as well, while Rodney was confined to bed. A slightly complicated task as when Philip returned to the hotel on the Sunday evening, he found Rodney's room full of Grand Prix drivers keen to tell the invalide what had really happened in the race. Can just imagine that happening today!
Even so, Philip had found time to take a few photos, I think mainly during practice, though the old Leica II's wind-on mechanism was playing up, so there are even fewer than he might have hoped. This race of course marked Mercedes' post-war return to racing with the W196 streamliners, so most of the photos not surprisingly concentrated on them, starting with Karl Kling's car being unloaded.
They took the opportunity to do a plug change.
A sneaky view of the underside - I hadn't realised those big front drums stuck out into the airflow for extra cooling - obvious, really.
Cockpit view.
Moving around the Paddock.
And these are described as Mercedes lap scorers - presumably time-keepers?
There were others cars taking part! This is Hawthorn's Ferrari having its rear axle ration changed, I think watched by JMH.
And here we are on race day, with car and driver making their way to the grid.
And finally, Fangio leads Kling, I think on a parade lap rather than during the race, given the attitude of those in front of the pits. But then again, things were more relaxed in those days.
Enjoy! As always, any comments, additions and amendments very welcome.
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#2
Posted 13 January 2013 - 12:51
Edited by Alan Cox, 13 January 2013 - 16:00.
#3
Posted 13 January 2013 - 13:53
As for those enormous inboard drum front brakes on the W196, very impressive.
#4
Posted 13 January 2013 - 14:18
#5
Posted 13 January 2013 - 16:11
#6
Posted 13 January 2013 - 16:31
#7
Posted 13 January 2013 - 19:22
OT question: When did the pits as we see them on those pictures turn into the garages we have today?
#8
Posted 13 January 2013 - 21:37
I ate them all , hungry for more , many many thanks for showing !
Here's a little extra bonus, this time one of the entrants in the sports car race (I believe a D.B. Panhard), plus a rather handsome M-B 300 Cabriolet plus, especially for Bjorn, a rather mysterious Rubery Owen/BRM transporter - even though there were no BRMs on the entry list. I think 1954 was the first year BRMs were entered by the Owen Racing Organisation - had they been there for pre-race testing and run into problems, or (pretty unlikely) loaned theirr transporter to another team? No doubt DCN will be along shortly with chapter and verse.
#9
Posted 13 January 2013 - 21:43
#10
Posted 13 January 2013 - 22:20
The book "Reims, Vitesse Champagne et Passion" lists car 66 as a 750 Renault, driven by Guy Michel and Jean Malleret, which finished 6th in the up to 750cc class in the 12 hour raceHere's a little extra bonus, this time one of the entrants in the sports car race (I believe a D.B. Panhard)
#11
Posted 13 January 2013 - 22:40
No BRMs. But a BRM-entered Maserati 250F for Ken Wharton.
Ah, thank you. Hadn't heard of that.
#12
Posted 13 January 2013 - 22:42
The book "Reims, Vitesse Champagne et Passion" lists car 66 as a 750 Renault, driven by Guy Michel and Jean Malleret, which finished 6th in the up to 750cc class in the 12 hour race
Thanks, Alan, was just going by my Dad's rather sketchy notes on the negative index. Let's hope he got it right in his report!
#13
Posted 14 January 2013 - 00:04
Is that really a 750 Renault?The book "Reims, Vitesse Champagne et Passion" lists car 66 as a 750 Renault, driven by Guy Michel and Jean Malleret, which finished 6th in the up to 750cc class in the 12 hour race
#15
Posted 14 January 2013 - 01:14
Originally posted by Roger Clark
Is that really a 750 Renault?
One would assume a private entry, a Special with 750 underpinnings...
I grant you, it does look a little large, like it maybe was intended to go on and grow into something larger one day.
#16
Posted 14 January 2013 - 02:16
Edited by Andretti Fan, 14 January 2013 - 02:18.
#17
Posted 14 January 2013 - 06:44
Philip's photos are wonderfully evocative. This was Daimler-Benz's postwar return to frontline Grand Prix racing. The streamlined cars looked (and sounded) simply sensational.
The Men from Mars were back.
DCN
#18
Posted 14 January 2013 - 07:00
One would assume a private entry, a Special with 750 underpinnings...
I grant you, it does look a little large, like it maybe was intended to go on and grow into something larger one day.
The car is a BMS (Bosvin-Michel-Special).
#19
Posted 14 January 2013 - 07:12
Can you tell me more about it?The car is a BMS (Bosvin-Michel-Special).
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#20
Posted 14 January 2013 - 09:35
http://autodrome.ove...e-27857018.html
#21
Posted 14 January 2013 - 09:50
http://www.velocetod...s/#.UPPPP3wgGSM
I've ordered the book. It seems that the BMS cars were advanced for their time, featuring space frames and a mid-mounted engine. It was the difficulty of imagining an engine in that long sloping tail that made me question its being a 4CV.
#22
Posted 14 January 2013 - 10:25
Edit: A further search turns up this photo of the car following the VP of Giraud-Cabantous/Neiret (another make which I had not heard of before)
http://image.doc2pdf...p/1954_1101.jpg
Edited by Alan Cox, 14 January 2013 - 10:43.
#23
Posted 14 January 2013 - 11:42
Well, actually there are some photos I'd rather not see and this site has pictures of what I witnessed during my last visit in 2008 with felow TNFer Roger Clark - the destruction of the part leading up to Muizon. Criminal.
http://www.circuitso.../reims/lapreims
Thankfully I've memories - and pictures as yet unscanned - dating back to the 80s when a complete lap was possible - and the RN31 was still a two lane road.
Looking forward to more Tony....
Rob
Edited by Kingsleyrob, 14 January 2013 - 11:44.
#24
Posted 14 January 2013 - 13:50
Looking forward to more Tony....
Rob
1954 British Grand Prix coming soon(ish).
#25
Posted 14 January 2013 - 14:10
Hungry? Maybe that advert for Aero on the pit roof is responsible...I ate them all , hungry for more , many many thanks for showing !
#26
Posted 14 January 2013 - 17:28
Wonderful Rheims images. Thank you very much for posting. I look forward to the 1954 Silverstone pictures. Those Mercedes werent quite as 'sensational' there!.1954 British Grand Prix coming soon(ish).
#27
Posted 14 January 2013 - 20:46
Maybe, but the advert is for petrol, not chocolate.Hungry? Maybe that advert for Aero on the pit roof is responsible...