20 replies to this topic

[Udo K.]

In 1935 there was no 24 Hours race at Spa. Instead, to my knowledge,
a "Grand Prix des 10 Heures de Spa-Francorchamps" was held. I have no results or any reports from this race. Can anybody help?
Also in 1935 there was a "1000 Miles" race through Czechoslowakia - and that's all I know about this event. Maybe somebody out there has more.

Thank you for helping me again.

Udo

[Vitesse2]

Coincidentally, I was reading about both these tonight! They're both mentioned in David Venables' new Bugatti book.

Info from the above, plus Monkhouse/King- Farlow

Spa 10 hours July 22nd 1935 Production sports cars

1 Jean Desvignes/Norbert Mahé (Bugatti T44) 72.46mph
2 M.Trévoux/Vasselle (Hotchkiss)
3 C.Pintacuda/Nardilli (Lancia Astura)

2-litre class winner: du Roy/Blicquy (Bugatti T35)

Other entries: 2 Aston Martins, 1 Bentley, 2 more Lancia Asturas etc.

The Czech race took place on 15-16 June, the same weekend as Le Mans. It was held over four stages on roads which were guarded, but not closed, so was presumably a sort of Czech Mille Miglia - major checkpoints were Prague and Bratislava. There were 55 starters, who lined up in a single column and started simultaneously! The over 2-litre class was won by Jan Kubicek in a Bugatti - some reports say a T55, but it may have been his T35A in road trim. No other details, I'm afraid - not even the name of the event!

[sat]

Name of event was "1000 mil Ceskoslovenskych" (read Mille Miglia). It was held on public roads and after some heavy accidents never raced again.

[David McKinney]

Although the 1935 Czechoslovakian 1000km race was not repeated, there had been two earlier editions.
1933
Run on 9/10 June. Won by Peter Mucha (Praga) with Jindrich Knapp (Walter) second.
1934
Also apparently 9/10 June. Mucha was killed during a practice run. Knapp in a factory 3.5-litre Walter won. Class winners were Szyzycki (Wikov 2000), Ella Slanik (Aero 1500), Josef Mamula (Z 1100) and Nahodil (Aero 750).
1935
15/16 June. Kubicek was in his eight-year-old Bugatti 35B, which was now fitted with a Ford V8 engine. Studeny (Ford) was second and Count Felix Spiegel-Diesenberg (BMW) third. Italian entries won both the 1500 (Renzo Cantoni, Lancia) and 1100 (Ruggero Minio, Fiat) classes, but the 750 went to Jaroslav Kaiser in a Jawa.

[David McKinney]

In their book 60 Ans de Compétitiion Automobile en Belgique, Kupélian etc give the date for the Spa race under discussion as 8 July 1934
The entry comprised a variety of French, Belgian and Dutch amateurs, but none of the big names.
Desvignes in his 3-litre Bugatti was early leader from Trévoux (Hotchkiss), with Hertzberger from the Netherlands third in his Bentley. Fernand Sommer, brother of the GP driver, soon moved his Hotchkiss up to third, only to tip it over at Eau Rouge. In another accident in the second half of the race Hage destroyed his 4.1-litre Hudson eight, which he had had running with the leaders.
The Desvignes/Mahé Bugatti thus won from the Hotchkiss of rally drivers Trévoux and Vaselle, with Italians Pintacuda and Nandelli in their 3-litre V8 Lancia Astura saloon third.
The biggest class went to the Colas/André Hudson while the Hotchkiss took the 4-litre class, with a sister car (Helaers/Thélusson) third, behind the eight-cylinder Buick saloon of “Paolino” and James. A Bugatti driven by du Roy de Blaicquy and de Berc took 2-litre honours with a 1500cc Aston Martin (Elwes/"Vincent") second and front-wheel-drive 1650cc Impérias (actually licence-built German Adlers) third, fifth and sixth. The 1100 class went to the Breyre/Pizzimenti Fiat, which finished ahead of an MG and the various French cars. Vincent was of course the nom de course of later voiturette regular Reggie Tongue

[anjakub]

First 1000 mil czeskoslovenskych run on 10-11 June 1933 on track Praha - Bratislava - Praha - Bratislava -Praha. (4 x 400 km = 1600 km = 1000 mil). Race (or reliability trial) was run on open roads during normal traffic. Started only cars produced in Czechoslovakia. Won Petre Mucha with codriver Urban (Praga Alfa 2000). Second was Jindrich Knapp with codriver Vojir (Walter Junior S - licence Fiat 508 S Balila). Knapp won also class 1100 cc.
Second edition 1000 mil czeskoslovenskych won Knapp (Walter Standart S) time 15h22m = 103,6 km/h.

PS. Szyzycki (Wikov) - correct name: Adolf Szczyzycki (Walter). Say that ;)

[Udo K.]

Yes, David, I also have Desvignes/Mahe winning in 1934, which leaves a question mark on a possible race in 1935. Maybe there was no race at all that year.

Thanks all for the info on the Czech event. Great!

[David McKinney]

I'm fairly certain there was no sportscar race at Spa in 1935

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by David McKinney
I'm fairly certain there was no sportscar race at Spa in 1935

OOPS! My mistake! Both Venables and King-Farlow do give 1934 as the date. It was late etc etc ....

However, Venables states that the race was a week before the Belgian GP ie 22nd July. Seems a bit unlikely that they'd run big events on successive weekends - perhaps he's mixed it up with 1935 at some point too, as the 1935 GP was on July 14th.

[anjakub]

Once more about the 1000 mil ceskoslovenskych :

Winners:
1933: Petr Mucha (Praga Alfa) 19h01m15s, 83,76 km/h
1934: Jindrich Knapp (Walter Standard S) 15h22m37s, 103,598 km/h
1935: Jan Kubicek (Bugatti) 15h46m12s,

Mucha (constructor of the Praga factory cars and winner of the first edition) was seriously injured during a practice run on 6 June 1934 near Caslavi, died on 24 June 1934.

[David McKinney]

I don't know as much as I like to think - what was a Praga Alfa? Was it related to the Italian marque?

[anjakub]

David,

Praga is the Czech marque, no relation to Italians. Alfa was name of one type. Other: Piccolo, Lady, Baby, Mignon etc.

Also see: www.praga.cz/e_index.asp ; www.autogallery.org.ru/praga.htm ; www.veteran.cz/pragamuseum/ (in Czech).

Petr Mucha's winning car: www.veteran.cz/pragamuseum/expozice-exponaty/12.htm

[David McKinney]

Thanks Andrzej
I'd already looked at some of those sites and thought some models looked like Alfa Romeo saloons of the same period
Couldn't find any meaningful references to Petre Mucha though. Mind you, I didn't investigate many of the Czech language sites

[anjakub]

Several words about engineer Petr Mucha.

Petr Mucha was born on 3 June 1902 in Brno. First he worked in the factory Tatra. Later he studied theory of engines in the Faculte de sciences in France. After return Mucha begun work in the car factory Praga.
Well-educated and talented project has been recorded as first winner of the 1000 mil ceskoslovenskych in 1933.
The next edition of this race was last for Petr. Three days after his 32 birthdays Mucha had fatal accident on training. There was on 8 kilometer beyond Caslavi (direction Golcov Jenikov). His sports Praga Alfa at speed 140 km/h ran into traverse inequality. Driver not kept car on way. Praga ran into right ditch after some hundreds meters. Car cut off telegraphic pole, reversed and stopped on lime tree. Under wreck of car lay seriously injured Mucha. His codriver Kalensky was not injured. In hospital driver combated for live several days. Petr Mucha died on 24 June 1934.


And one story from the past...

Mucha's mother was a teacher and father has died before his time. Family must help renting of apartment.
In year 1917 family city Olomouc left Eliska Junkova. In Brno she begun work in bank. Her father has agreed, that she has left house, if she will find apartment at respectable family. She found apartment at Mrs. Mucha.
And this way 17-years old Betka Pospisilova met 14-years old Petr and his oldest sister Maruska.

Note: Betka - a girl diminutive name for Alzbeta, Pospisilova - maiden name.

[Marcor]

I'm very suprised that I've posted nothing in this thread. Of course there was no sportscar race at Spa in 1935. The Belgian season was very poor in 1935. I've listed in all

31 March 1935: km lancé de Bonheyden, for members of the AMC de Bruxelles, postponed for 7 days because of rain...
7 April 1935: km lancé de Bonheyden... no results available ! maybe simply cancelled.

9 June 1935: GP des Frontières at Chimay, 217.4 km, won by Rudolf Steinweg (Bugatti T51A monoposto 1493 cc).

7 July 1935: Meeting de Spa, épreuves jumelées, including the 1 km Spa La Sauvenière Hillclimb and a downhill "race" (ignition / engine switched off). FTD of the hillclimb race = E. Warnotte (Ford #13), 45" 3/5 (78.94 km/h), Warnotte was an amateur from Trois-Ponts (Belgium, near Stavelot).

14 July 1935: GP de Belgique de vitesse du RACB, Spa-Francorchamps, International Formula, 1st Rudi Caracciola (Mercedes Benz).

and nothing other except some rallyes in July and August...

As for the 1934 Sportscars race at Spa, it was called "Le Grand Prix de 10 Heures du RACB". If anyone is interested, I can post the entry list and the results by class, no official outright winners. David had already told the essentials. (see post 5).

[dretceterini]

A 1000 mile race through Czechslovakia would be fascinating. Anyone have a time machine???

[Martin Krejci]

Originally posted by Marcor
As for the 1934 Sportscars race at Spa, it was called "Le Grand Prix de 10 Heures du RACB". If anyone is interested, I can post the entry list and the results by class, no official outright winners. David had already told the essentials. (see post 5).

Please, post it. I am interested in entry list and class results. I have only top 6 results overall. Thank you.

[terry mcgrath]

12.7.1936 24 h Spa Jaguar SS100 Emile Cornet DNF

Can anyone provide further details of this event ie copy of programme and more importantly information on Emile Cornet presumabaly a Belgium driver and his SS100
regards

[lil'chris]

12.7.1936 24 h Spa Jaguar SS100 Emile Cornet DNF

Can anyone provide further details of this event ie copy of programme and more importantly information on Emile Cornet presumabaly a Belgium driver and his SS100
regards

Have just checked Delsauxs "Francorchamps 1922 -1947 " which lists the top 18 finishers in the event and Cornet wasn't amongst them. There's a line drawing of his profile on page 72 incidentally.

[terry mcgrath]

unfortunately he was classified as DNF "did not finish"
some reader out there must have a 1936 Spa programme! and does anyone have access to any Belgium Motoring magazines of this period, in the good old days I would have rung Peter Richley he had them all
terry

Have just checked Delsauxs "Francorchamps 1922 -1947 " which lists the top 18 finishers in the event and Cornet wasn't amongst them. There's a line drawing of his profile on page 72 incidentally.

[VDP]

[Terry

Check your PM

Robert