5 replies to this topic

[cabianca]

There was a vintage race or exhibition at Le Mans in 1973 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first 24 Hours. I cannot find a report on this event, so will pose some questions:

When did it take place? Perhaps on the Friday before the Saturday start?

Was it a race or simply exhibition laps?

If a race, does anyone have results?

Both Luigi Chinetti and Phil Hill supposedly drove a Ferrari Barchetta (not the 1949 winning car, although it was painted to resemble it) in the event itself or events related to it - practice? Can any one clarify their roles?

Many thanks

Edited by cabianca, 28 October 2016 - 22:07.

[raceannouncer2003]

Found this link to a Denis Jenkinson column...he talks about why he didn't report on the event:

 

http://www.motorspor...european-letter

 

And this response:

 

http://www.motorspor...3/talbot-bgh-23

 

Also, some photos here:

 

http://www.paulskill...hp?/category/84

 

http://www.paulskill...hp?/category/85

 

And here is a link to the Barchetta, supposedly in the event itself:

 

http://www.paulskill...328/category/85

 

Apparently this car:

 

http://www.barchetta...0014m.166mm.htm

 

Video here...the Barchetta appears at 3:55...looks like Chinetti?  Moss appears near the end in Delahaye:

 

 

Vince H.

Edited by raceannouncer2003, 29 October 2016 - 06:57.

[Roger Clark]

Autosport (14/6/73) contained a report of the race.  There were two: one for pre-war cars, the other for 1945-60 cars.  The races took place on the Thursday before the 24 hours.

 

Results of the post-war race were:

 

1 Willie Green (3.8 Jaguar D) 45m39.8

2 Neil Corner (Ferrari GTO) 47min 39.5

3 Martin Morris (Jaguar D 48min 16.5

4 Clive Aston (Aston Martin DB3S) 49min 25.9

5 Anthony Hutton (Lister-Jaguar) 49min 29.8

6 Phillipe Renault (Jaguar D) 50min 20.17

7 Chris Drake (Lister-Jaguar) 50min 38.7

8 Lord Cross/John Pearson (Jaguar XK140)

9 Mike bowler (Frazer Nash Sebring) 

10 Rupert Glydon/Robin Rew (Jaguar C)

 

There must be some mistake about Neil corner's time as the report said that he and Green virtually deadheaded.  Also I don't see how a GTO could qualify.  

 

The only mention of Hill/Chinetti is that they drove a Ferrari 500.

[raceannouncer2003]

In the video, there are a number of Ferrari GTs, but no GTOs.  Which Jaguar D in the video is the Phillipe Renault car?

 

Vince H.

[Tim Murray]

The report in Motoring News said that Neil Corner in the GTO had a two-minute handicap applied as the car hadn't raced in the period 1949 - 1959. Willie Green in the JCB D-Type (described as the 1957 winner) had spun and dinged the Armco whilst contesting the lead with Corner and Richard Bond in Robert Cooper's Lister Jaguar (which later retired). After a quick pit stop to check for damage, Green went on a charge and almost caught Corner on the line. Green then became the comfortable winner after Corner's handicap was applied.

On Chinetti it said: '... further back a lounge-suited Luigi Chinetti drove a couple of laps before handing his 1949 race-winning (sic) Ferrari 166M over to Phil Hill.' Other entrants in the race included Jean Beurlys in a Ferrari 250 Monza and Maurice Trintignant in a Lola-Climax.

The race for cars which raced between 1923 and 1939 was comfortably won by Hamish Morton in a 4.4-litre Bentley ahead of Anthony Blight's Talbot 105 and Simon Phillips in a BMW 328. Stirling Moss was uncharacteristically caught napping at the start (he was still putting his helmet on) but then, driving Rob Walker's Delahaye 135, charged through the field to finish fourth. MN described his drive as 'quite mighty'.

[Roger Clark]

MN actually said that Corner's car "first raced in 1960" which no GTO did. Autosport said that it was ex-Moss (and a GTO).

The Paul Skilleter site linked above has pictures of a 250GT SWB, in Rob Walker colours with JCB stickers - Corner was entered by Anthony Bamford.

I don't think it likely that Neil Corner drove a GTO, despite what MN and Autosport both say.