21 replies to this topic

[Hans Etzrodt]

In 1932, Robert Gauthier (Bugatti T37A?) won at the Torvilliers Circuit in Troyes, France. Raymond Sommer (Alfa Romeo Tipo ?) came second and Jean Cattaneo (Bugatti T35B?) was third. Does anybody know if this was really a F. Libre race? I also would like to know the date of the event, distance, winner's time or any additional information.

[Ray Bell]

Monkhouse has the information as do you, less the car's designations. He says F Libre, but gives no race time. Some more newspapers to look up in Europe, Hans?
Can Yves help?

[Marcor]

I've found a mention of the Torvilliers circuit.

"Raph" (Raphaël Béthenod de Las Casas) scored his first podium when he finished second in the Troyes GP. His car? a SCAP or Ruby-engined Rally 1.1-litre.

Not a lot but...

[Hans Etzrodt]

Thanks for the effort, gentlemen.
I will add it to my list of items wanted and see what can be found once I am in Europe.

[David McKinney]

Earlier editions of the Torvilleurs race (in 1929 and 1930) were sportscar races, but I think the 1932 edition might have been a libre race. I cannot add much more detail, except to say that Sommer was in his Monza Alfa and Cattanéo’s Bugatti was indeed a 35B.

[TonyKaye]

David,
Do you happen to know the approximate date of the 1932 race or which month the earlier races held in?

[David McKinney]

TonyKaye:
Sorry, no.
I've got the 1932 event listed between a mid-August race and another in mid-September but marked [when?] which in my records means I haven't got a clue. I think my info would have come from Monkhouse - but can't find it in the edition I have to hand

[Hans Etzrodt]

Gentlemen,
I again brought this old question about the 1932 Torvilliers race to the table. With the new members we now have, we probably also assembled a larger pool of knowledge here at TNF. Maybe a date for this race can be found in an old magazine, either a racing calendar or possibly a small report? Anybody?

[Hans Etzrodt]

Nobody?

[Hans Etzrodt]

Disappointingly, my recently acquired Historique de la Course Automobile 1881-1977 by Edmond Cohin, does not contain any information about the four Torvilliers/Troyes events. Does anybody know what other (French?) sources might provide additional details about the 1932 Torvilliers meeting specifically and the remaining three events in general?

The Troyes races at the Torvilliers Circuit in France were held between 1929 and 1932. Interestingly, the exact dates of when the events had taken place seem to be unknown, which of course just means that I cannot find them.

• 1929, 1.5-Hour Race for sports cars, 1st Lenart (Bugatti); 2nd Montier (Montier-Ford); 3rd Gauthier (Bugatti).
• 1930, 1.5-Hour Race for sports cars, 1st de Berc (Bugatti); 2nd de Gourmont; 3rd Patin (Chenard-Walcker).
• 1931, 1.5-Hour Race for voiturettes (or libre?), 1st Yves Giraud-Cabantous (Caban 1.1-liter); 2nd A. Vagniez (Bugatti); 3rd Dielly (Bugatti).
• 1932, Race for libre formula, 1st Robert Gauthier (Bugatti T37A?); R. Sommer (Alfa Romeo); 3rd Cattaneo (Bugatti).
  
  Sources:
• George Monkhouse/Roland King-Farlow in GRAND PRIX RACING Facts and Figures, Third Edition, London: Foulis, 1964, pg. 373: races from 1929-1932.
• Erwin Tragatsch in Die großen Rennjahre, Bern: Hallwag Verlag, 1973 : (Only contains the basic information, copied most likely from Monkhouse/King-Farlow), 1929 = pg. 114; 1932 = pg. 164.
• Additional sources: WANTED! DEAD OR ALIVE!

[Marcor]

The date of the 1929 edition: 26 May. Circuit de Torvilliers, organised by the AC des Ardennes & MC de l'Aube.
Source: Schedule of the 1929 motosport French events. (published in Les Sports, 9th January 1929)
The same day there were 5 other events:
1- 7 km race at Saint-Quentin (AC de Picardie & AC de l'Aisne)
2- Alpilles hillclimb (AC de Marseille)
3- meeting organised by the AC du Sud-Ouest
4- Fontainebleau Hillclimb (AC de l'Ile de France)
5- La Valette Hillclimb (ACO).

[Hans Etzrodt]

Marc, very interesting. Especially thanks for the hill climb dates.

Did you find any date for the 1932 race?

[Marcor]

yes, I've found !!

Not in August, not in September...

In Le Figaro, Saturday 9 April 1932, I've seen those lines: "Le Circuit de Torvilliers organisé par l'U.M. de l'Aube sera couru le 29 mai prochain".
So the date should be May, 29th. . I write "should be" as It could have changed. There were some change of dates in 1932 and some cancellations...

[Hans Etzrodt]

Marc - Thank you very Much. I use those pre-planned calendar dates in my lists if nothing else is available. But I note down that it is a date coming from a calendar. This puts it automatically down as a questionable date.

[quintin cloud]

Thanks Marcor

[Marcor]

Hans I can add some little details since my last post here. UM means Union Motocycliste, i.e Motorcyclist Union.

I've done some Google research and I've learn that this motorcyclist Club (The Union Motocylcite de l'Aube) is still alive and that the President lives at Torvilliers. I'm not sure he cares about motorsport history however...

I've found a second reference about the 1932 Torvilliers race, still from Le Figaro, April 29th, 1932 (The only French newspaper available in my library).

"Le Circuit de Torvilliers organisé par l'Union Motocycliste et Automobile de l'Aube à Troyes le 29 mai prochain sur un circuit de 7.6 kilomètres est ouvert aux motocyclettes et aux voitures."

Ie: The Torvilliers Circuit - organised by the Motorcyclist Union and Automobile Union of the Aube at Troyes next 29 May on a 7.6 km track - is opened to motorbikes and cars.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Marc - thank you very much for your fabulous piece of detective work. It is just amazing that you are able to always come up with your surprise answers about questions nobody else can figure out.

[Marcor]

Does anybody know something abouth the Circuit de l'Aisne, similar race meeting, also in the North of France ? 1932 was the 9th edition. I have partial results of 1926, 1927, 1929, 1930 and 1932. The Circuit was called "the Cornet d'Or" and was 21.134 km long. The connection betweeen the two meetings is fun as the Cornet d'Or was near a village (or a little town ?) called Urvillers.

[Marcor]

I don't know if it was held in the same Torvilliers track but I've found the trace of a race at Troyes, May 2nd, 1926 won by Antonio Valette (Salmson) 17 laps in 1 h 26m 47s. The weather was execrable and the road were waterlogged.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Marc,
Torvilliers or Troyes was sometimes mentioned as course de côte, sometimes circuit. So, it was either a Circuit or a Climb with same name or both. This is all I know about this obscure, little event held probably from the mid twenties to early thirties.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Marc,
Torvilliers or Troyes was sometimes mentioned as course de côte, sometimes circuit. So, it was either a Circuit or a Climb with same name or both. This is all I know about this obscure, little event held probably from the mid twenties to early thirties.

[Marcor]

a new info about Torvilliers here in the incredible post of Humphries
http://www.atlasf1.c...077#post1159077

2 other from La Moto & L'Auto (1926 and 1927, monthly bulletin, Belgium / France)

Troyes race, 2 May 1926, 17 x 6.5 km = 110.5 km
1- Valette (Salmson 1100 cc), 17 laps, 1 h 26m 47s
2- Ivernel (Bugatti 1500 cc), 14 laps, 1 h 28' 40"
3- Jannel (Jannel Spéciale 1100 cc), 14 laps, 1 h 29' 18"
4- Boeglin (Fiat 1500 cc), 14 laps, 1 h 29' 41"
5- Gérard (Voisin)

Org: UM and AC de l'Aube

Circuit de Troyes, 8 May 1927, 240 km
Race mixing cyclecars and motorbikes, overall winner + fast lap : Japy (Cyclecars Sandford 1100 cc)