21 replies to this topic

[Hans Etzrodt]

Robert Cazaux won the 1935 Sézanne Climb on June 16, with his Bugatti T35B. AUTOMOBIL-REVUE wrote on Friday, June 21, 1935: He mastered the course at an average of 140.620 km/h. A short time later, when he drove the course once more, so to speak as a 'lap of honor', his car swerved in a bend and ejected the pilot out of his seat. Consequently, the car itself tumbled over. Cezaux suffered such serious injuries that he died soon thereafter. Fortunately, there were no spectators at this particular spot and so it did not come to an even greater catastrophe.

Did Robert Cazaux die on June 16, 1935, the day of his last victory or did he succumb to his injuries days later in a hospital?

The Sézanne Climb was located about 70 km south of Reims. One of my sources tells me the 1935 climb was the 5th time the event was held. So, what about the other four climbs before? Was the 1926, June 6 climb the first edition? June 3, 1934 is a date I found in an magazine race calendar but don't know if the event took place. And how long was the course?

[Jimmy Piget]

Hans,
I confirm the 16 June, according to the death certificate of Robert Cazaux (aged 29 at this time).

[Hans Etzrodt]

Jimmy - Thanks a lot.

[Marcor]

Course de côte de Sézanne, in the côte de Sans-Souci, 1 km flying start, 8%
I confirms 1935 was the 6th edition. No trace of an other edition later...

1- 06 June 1926, 1st = Perrot (Salmson 1100 cc, Racing car)

2- 07 June 1931, 1st = Devaud or Desvaux (Amilcar) 42s 4/5, to be confirmed
Org: AC Champagne-Ardennes-Aisne, Section de la Marne.

3- 05 June 1932, 1st= Tédaldi (Bugatti 2 L racing car), 28 s 3/5 (125.870 km/h)
Org: AC de la Marne.

4- 04 June 1933.

5- 03 June 1934.

6- 16 June 1935.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Marc - Thanks for your enlightenment. It sure helps.

[humphries]

Hans and Marcor

More information on the 1km sprint at Sezanne, AC du Champagne

4/6/1933 "Trebuh" Bugatti 35B (124.140)
3/6/1934 Robert Cazaux Bugatti 51 (132.353)
16/6/1935 Robert Cazaux Bugatti 51 Spl (140.620)

No idea who "Trebuh" was; these pseudonyms are a pain. No record of any event after 1935.

John

[Doug Nye]

'Motor Sport' - August 1935 page 437

FRENCH DRIVER KILLED

When the organisers were in the act of congratulating themselves on the success of the Sezanne hill-climb, tragedy stepped in and put an end to their jubilation. Robert Casaux, the star performer of the event, was allowed to make a climb of honour before the crowd dispersed, and in so doing he overturned his Bugatti on a corner. The unfortunate man was thrown heavily on to the road, and was killed in his hour of triumph. The public did not witness the accident, for no one was allowed to stand near the corner where it occurred.

Robert Casaux was the head of the Ecurie Casaux, the remining partners being Girod, Cesure and Roumani. His racing had been confined to hill-climbs and speed trials, and he always piloted a 2.3-litre Bugatti.

Here are the winners of the Sezane hill-climb:
Sports 1100cc - Lagrolliere (Salmson)
Sports 1500cc - Jahan (Salmson)
Sports 2000cc - Bey (Bugatti)
Racing 1100cc - Jahan (Salmson)
Racing 1500cc - Leoz (Bugatti)
Racing 2000cc - A. Ferrier (Bugatti), 134kph.
Racing unlimited - R. Casaux (Bugatti), 140.620kph

DCN

[Hans Etzrodt]

John and Doug,
Thank you both for the Course de côte de Sézanne information and for providing more detail on the tragic event.

Erwin Tragatsch referred to the car as a T35B with a single camshaft but I can accept the T51 twin-cam. Do we know the source for the T51 reference?

[Jimmy Piget]

Little footnotes.

"Trebuh" is the first name "Hubert" backwards. Which Hubert ? Don't ask me...

Bey — Mattéo André Lucien Ismalun Bey, 1896-1951, Egyptian citizen livings in France at the time.

Jahan — André Jahan, 1902-1973, mechanic for the Ecurie Torril, later the guru of a sect (!) who spent some times in jail (in the '1950s) when convicted of murder on a young woman from this sect.

Lagrollière — or Lagrolière, another member from Ecurie Torril.

Leoz — One (but which one ?) of two Spanish racing brothers, Ennaro & Génaro Leoz Abad.

[Marcor]

Originally posted by Doug Nye

Racing 2000cc - A. Ferrier (Bugatti), 134kph.
I guess it was André Février.


Originally posted by Jimmy Piget:

Bey — Mattéo André Lucien Ismalun Bey, 1896-1951, Egyptian citizen livings in France at the time.

Is this the same person as the Salmson and Panhard driver know as ISMALUN (André Ismalun according Paul Sheldon) who raced intensively in the second part of the 20's ? Strange, I have no record in 1928. And what about his name, is it Bey or Ismalun Bey ? What is his common christian name ?

date, race, location, class, car, results, time, length, organisation.
02 August 1925, GP de la Marne, Reims, 1100 cc, Salmson VAL, DNF.
18 October 1925, Course de côte de Gaillon, near Vernon, Sport 1100 cc Salmson #102, 1st in 51 s 6, 1 km, L'Auto.

04 April 1926, Circuit de l'Aisne, 3rd edition, Le Cornet d'Or, 1100 cc, Salmson #42, 4th in 3 h 40 m 34 s, 13 laps = 274.742 km.
11 April 1926, Course de côte de Château-Thierry, Sport 1100 cc Salmson, 2nd in 55 s 2, 1 km, AC de Picardie et de l'Aisne.
02 May 1926, Course de côte de Chanteloup, Touring 1100 cc Salmson, 3rd in 1 m 17 s 2, 1200 m, AC de l'Ile de France.
09 May 1926, Course de côte de Alouettes (Coupe des 3 Villes), Tours, Sport 1100 cc Salmson, 3rd in 1 m 11 s 3/5, 1500 m + 2 km, ACO.
13 May 1926, Course de côte de Saumur (Coupe des 3 Villes), , Sport 1100 cc Salmson, 1st in 31 s 9, 1km, ACO.
16 May 1926, Course de côte de Limonest, near Lyon, Touring 1100 cc Salmson, 1st in 2 m 56 s 2/5, 3.740 km, AC du Rhone
23 May 1926, Course de côte des Dunes (Coupe des 3 Villes), Poitiers, Sport 1100 cc Salmson, 5th in 30 s 2/5, 500 m, ACO.
30 May 1926, Course de côte de Fontainebleau, Touring 1100 cc Salmson, 3th in 1 m 37 s 4, AC de l'Ile de France.
30 May 1926, Course de côte de Fontainebleau, Touring 1100 cc Salmson, 4th in 1 m 45 s 2, , AC de l'Ile de France.
06 June 1926, Course de côte de Sézanne, Côte de Sans Soucis, near Reims, Sport 1100 cc Salmson, 1st in 44 s 8, 1 km, 8%.
20 June 1926, Course de côte de La Motte-Ste-Héraye, near Niort, Touring 1100 cc Salmson, 1st in 53 s 1/5, AC des Deux-Sèvres.
27 June 1926, Meeting de Saint-Malo, on the beach, Sport 1100 cc Salmson, 1st in 7 m 03 s 7, 1 km + 10 km, ACO + L'Ouest-Eclair.
11 July 1926, Course de côte de Saint-Alban, Racing 1100 cc Salmson, 3rd in 4 m 08 s 4/5, 4 km, AC de Roanne or AC du Forez.
22 August 1926, Course de côte de des Justices, Vichy, Sport 1100 + overall, Salmson, 1st in 3 m 41 s 2/5, 4 km, AC Vichy.
03 October 1926, Course de côte de Gaillon, côte de Sainte-Barbe, Touring 1100 cc Salmson, 2nd in 52 s, 1 km, L'Auto.
17 October 1926, GP du Salon de Cyclecars (Monthléry), Monthléry, 1100 cc, Salmson, 5th, 3 heats, 50, 30 and 20 km.

in January 1927, Rallye de Monte-Carlo, Touring 1100 cc Salmson #55, ?, AC de Monaco.
22 January 1927, Course de côte du Mont des Mules, Touring 1100 cc Salmson #55, ?, AC de Monaco.
09 March 1927, Course de côte de la Moyenne Corniche (Coupe de Monte-Carlo), Monaco, Sport 1100 cc, Salmson, 1st in 1 m 17 s 3/5, 1 mile, 6%, AC de Monaco.
10 March 1927, Course de côte du Mont Agel, near Monaco, Sport 1100 cc, Salmson, 2nd in 15 m 24 s 4/5, 10.6 km, AC de Monaco.
12 March 1927, Course de côte de La Californie, Nice, Sport 1100 cc, Salmson, 2nd in 50 s 1/5, 1.100 km, AC de Nice.
15 March 1927, Course de côte de La Turbie, Sport 1100 cc, Salmson, 2nd in 6 m 02 s, 6.300 km, rain, AC de Nice.
18 April 1927, Course de côte de St-Lô, Route de Villedieu Les Poëles, Racing 1100 cc Salmson, 1st in 1 m 13 s 2/5, 1 km (or 2 km), ACO.
24 April 1927, Course de côte de Château-Thierry, Sport 1100 cc Salmson, 1st in 51 s 4, L'Echo des Sports + AC de Picardie et de l'Aisne.
01 May 1927, Circuit de l'Aisne, 4th edition, Le Cornet d'Or, Sport 1100 cc Salmson #58, 2nd in 2 h 30 m 03 s, 10 laps = 211.34 km, AC de Picardie et de l'Aisne.
15 May 1927, Les 7 kilomètres de St-Quentin, St-Quentin-La Fère, Sport 1100 cc Salmson, 1st in 7 m 35 s 4/5, 2 x 7 km, AC de l'Aisne.
29 May 1927, GP des Frontières, Chimay, Sport 1100 cc Salmson GS- VAL 3 #14, 2nd in 2h 54 m45 s, 24 laps = 260.88 km, AMC de Beaumont-Chimay.
12 June 1927, Courses de vitesse de Thuin, Thuin, 1100 cc, Salmson, NA, RAC de Charleroi.
17 July 1927, Coupe Florio, Saint-Briac-sur-Mer, 1100 cc, Salmson #6, NA, 30 laps = 462.204 km, AC des Côtes-du-Nord.

01 April 1929, Course de côte de Torigni, St-Lô, Touring 5 L, Panhard, 1st in 36 s 8, 1 km, ACO.
28 April 1929, Course de côte de Champillon, 1st edition, near Epernay, Sport 5 L, Panhard, 2nd in 1 m 43 s 2, 2 km, .
18 August 1929, Course de côte des Justices, Vichy, Sport 5 L, Panhard, 3rd in 4 m 11 s 6, 4 km, AC de Vichy
27 October 1929, Course de côte de Gometz Le Chatel, 10th edition, Sport 5 L, Panhard, 1st in 49 s 4,1 km, AC de l'Ile de France.

And maybe more...
Data collected from various sources.

[Jimmy Piget]

Marcor,
Yes I guess he's the same.
André was his used first name, Ismalun his family name and Bey an ottoman title (such as "Sir" in Britain).
My source on this driver is a correspondance I had some years ago with one of his young cousins living in france.

[humphries]

Hans

As far as I am aware Cazaux's Bugatti was a 51 but identifying types of Bugattis has always been a bugbear (sorry!) My initial research was done years ago and the source long forgotten.

Obviously reference to the text is preferable. However it can be done by looking at photographs provided they show the right hand side of the car. The hole in the bonnet of the 51, for the supercharger pressure release valve outlet, is lower down and slightly larger than that on the 35C or 35B bonnet. The unsupercharged 35, of course, has no hole.

If time has passed from the cars being new, however, this method is less reliable owing to repairs, modifications and cannibalization.

Experts can tell by other ways, the manifold etc, but I cannot.

John

[Hans Etzrodt]

Originally posted by humphries
...identifying types of Bugattis has always been a bugbear...

John - I fully agree. This is a rather time consuming business. For that reason I don't spend much time on these less important details otherwise I will never complete my present project. My main lines have to be accurate and as complete as possible, the lesser details can be added later.

Marc - You listing of venues attended is of great help to me, especially the dates are very useful. I expect my list of mountain- hill climbs to be finally presentable this coming May.

[Felix Muelas]

Originally posted by Jimmy Piget
Leoz — One (but which one ?) of two Spanish racing brothers, Ennaro & Génaro Leoz Abad.

With all due respects, I am as of today very inclined to believe that somewhere along the process Genaro (not Génaro) Leoz became one of two brothers.

I do not think that is the case. Whilst Genaro is well documented -well, is somehow documented would be more appropriate- a brother of him isn't, and the name Enaro or Ennaro is so unlikely that one should suspect immediately.

This subject has appeared recently on TNF, when Leif was requesting our help in order to find the racing colours of a series of podium finishers in the 1934 season, and it prompted me to contact almost everybody here in Spain who might have a clue about Leoz. Not one person thought that my remark about an hypothetical brother of Genaro Leoz with such an improbable name was not a practical joke.

Just my two cents, Immy.

Elix

PS : I am aware that Aul Sheldon shows two Leoz (s) at least in one entry list, I have seen it myself...but still...

[humphries]

Felix

Leoz/Leoz drove a Lagonda in the French GP of 1936. The initial E. for the less active one. Any idea on the E?

John H

[Felix Muelas]

I retake the subject of the Leoz brothers that has been bothering me -self-inflicted, make no mistakes about it- for the last six months.

I am now sure that the late Anthony Blight ("The French Sports Car Revolution") is convinced that there were two Leoz brothers, and that not only they were two, but they raced together in a perfectly located Lagonda in the French Grand Prix 1936 (and in the Marne GP, BTW).

I have to say that reading the above book has produced the effect in me of essentially respecting the late Mr Blight´s invetigation, namely that I trust what he says!

It might take me another couple of months or even more, but I´ll end up with the name of the brother, now that I believe it was not a typing mistake as I pretended when I was less...informed.

What a fantastic sensation to make mistakes and to learn from them ;)

[D-Type]

The Irish have a phrase "a man amongst men".

It takes a "man amongst men" to admit he is wrong so publicly.

I areally admire the way that TNF contributors will not stop short of the whole truth.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Originally posted by Felix Muelas
... but I´ll end up with the name of the brother, now that I believe it was not a typing mistake as I pretended when I was less...informed...

Félix,
Genaro and E. Léoz in a 4.5-liter Lagonda? They were able to complete only 67 laps out of 80, finishing 18th. I wonder why they needed to rest their car in the pits for so long? And what was the other brother's first name?

[Barry Lake]

Originally posted by Felix Muelas

I am now sure that the late Anthony Blight ("The French Sports Car Revolution")... I have to say that reading the above book has produced the effect in me of essentially respecting the late Mr Blight´s invetigation, namely that I trust what he says!

I agree entirely with Felix' opinion on this book and author. I became an owner only when it was remaindered and the price looked too god to refuse. Once having read through it, I realised it was cheap at the original price. It has great depth and accuracy of information, and contains material that is (indirectly) relevant even to those who specialise only in grand prix racing. It should be on every serious historian's book shelf.

[Roger Clark]

Originally posted by Barry Lake


I agree entirely with Felix' opinion on this book and author. I became an owner only when it was remaindered and the price looked too god to refuse. Once having read through it, I realised it was cheap at the original price. It has great depth and accuracy of information, and contains material that is (indirectly) relevant even to those who specialise only in grand prix racing. It should be on every serious historian's book shelf.

Agreed - as should his earlier book on the Roesch Talbots.

[Marcor]

1)- According L'AUTO, Trebuh's (a pseudo) real name was COBAS.

2)- According LA TRIBUNE DE L'AUBE (a local newspaper), l'Union commerciale et industrielle de Sezanne also organised an hillclimb in 1930, in la côte de Sans-Souci at Sezanne. Winner was Rodanski (Bugatti 1500 cc racing car) in 32s 1/5. The date was Sunday 8 June 1930. So 7 editions instead of 6.

3)- According the same local source, winner at Sezanne in 1931 was rather Ivernel (Bugatti 2-litre racing car), so Devaud being just a class winner.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Thank you, Marc. I just included your post in the update I am presently working on.

However, I won't be able to complete this update in January as planned, so hopefully by the end of February.