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Spa Francorchamps before 1939


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#1 paulhooft

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Posted 03 January 2003 - 10:29

Before 1939 the circuit of Francorchamps had a Hairpin corner after l' Eau Rouge, called L' Ancienne Douane.
Since then in racing, this corner was bypassed by the famous Radaillon.
Francorchamps was until a year or so ago, normal road, so normal traffic used L'Ancienne Douane, joining the track again on top of the Radaillon most of the time.
I have been there a few times but then I was driving.. so I did not have to much time to look around.
And now the $$-gang have closed it all off...
I have a map of the old circuit and one or two foto's of L'Ancienne Douane, and even some seconds of video of the 1925 GP, but not much more.
We like to do a pre 1939 version in GPL of the track, so I was asked for more information about pre 1939 Francorchamps
I am looking for more information on the corner , and if possible a plan with the layout of the roads from Eau Rouge to the top of Radaillon, if possible with the height figures.
And: More Photo's are very welcome
Paul Hooft
Netherlands

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#2 LittleChris

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Posted 04 January 2003 - 02:24

The only info I'm aware of are the Jean-Paul Delsaux books. Maybe Marcor has more information ?

#3 Marcor

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Posted 04 January 2003 - 02:41

You want pictures so I can't really help you directly. I've no scan.
Those books contained what you'are searching for: pictures of the old track (hairpin of the ancienne douane)
Delsaux: Francorchamps 1922-1947
Delsaux: 100 ans de Sport automobile Belge
Kupelian Y and J.: 60 ans de compétition automobile en Belgique
Delsaux-Asselberghs-van Steenkiste: 24 Heures Spa-Francorchamps 1924-1998.
Nixon: Racing the silver arrows (1937)
...

I've personal archive with pictures from newspapers, magazine... (photocopies)

Contact me by e-mail...

#4 paulhooft

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Posted 04 January 2003 - 18:53

Thank you for this reply:
In fact I have the Book:
Francorchamps 1948-1960
and I am looking for Francorchamps 1925 to 1947
the year I was born...
Paul

#5 Patrick Italiano

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Posted 08 January 2003 - 15:43

Here are, from Delsaux' Francorchamps 1922-1947, useful material:

A map with height figures, but those refer to the 47 situation with raidillon. However the roads are still indicated.
http://newedgeconcep...pa map 1947.jpg

And some more pics: the corner and the Douane building

http://newedgeconcep...nc douane 1.jpg


http://newedgeconcep.../img/douane.jpg

And a last one with the original eau rouge showing it was quite a tight bend


http://newedgeconcep...uge pre war.jpg

Hope it helps



#6 paulhooft

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Posted 08 January 2003 - 16:30

Une grand Merci!!!!
Les photo sont tres bien!!!
Paul Hooft
Pays Bas

Thanks for the photo's!!
They are very welcome
Do you have more??
Paul Hooft
Netherlands

#7 Marcor

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Posted 17 January 2003 - 00:40

Paul, have you received my e-mail with the 2 scans ? The images show the Montier-Ford at the hairpin of the former custom.

#8 paulhooft

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Posted 17 January 2003 - 07:45

Yes Marc:
Thank You!!
I have recieved them and send them to Mark Beckman..
And I found another one of the start of the 1936 sportscar race from behind,
that one shows Eau Rouge Before Radaillon clearly.
Paul

#9 MichaelJP

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Posted 17 January 2003 - 09:14

Originally posted by paulhooft
And I found another one of the start of the 1936 sportscar race from behind,
that one shows Eua Rouge Before Radaillon clearly.
Paul


Paul, I'd be interested to see that - can you show us that?

Thanks,
- MichaelJP

#10 lustigson

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Posted 17 January 2003 - 09:42

I found this map of the track of that time. Maybe it's useful.

#11 paulhooft

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Posted 17 January 2003 - 10:13

Thank you:
we have the same layout as on this site in another map,
but I still learned one or 2 things from the site.
Paul

#12 LittleChris

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Posted 17 January 2003 - 11:20

Malmedy was much tighter as well. In 1939, I believe it pretty well followed the line of the chicane used in 1970 ( ie it used the road junction ) , before being turned into a much faster corner after the war.

#13 Mark Beckman

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Posted 18 January 2003 - 06:31

Hmmm it seems as there may have been a deviation at Stavelot too according too the map at Leifs site.

http://www.kolumbus....lman/t6.htm#SPA

#14 Mark Beckman

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Posted 18 January 2003 - 06:50

Ahh here is a better example, obviously this is a picture of Spa.

The blue track is an overlay of the Grand Prix Legends layout and the yellow lines indicate where tha 1937 track went.


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#15 paulhooft

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Posted 18 January 2003 - 08:57

I fact I have driven the road around the Ancienne Douanne some 5 years ago, I am not sure that it is still there, they have reconstructed the newest parts of the track a lot, and I could not access it any more
At Malmedy the big white line is the new Highway that goes from Verviers (were it joins the Antwerp Liege to Aachen Koln Highway ) to St Vith and futher into Germany..
There is an entrance there to the Highway and a road into Malmedy.
From that point at malmedy you can follow the orginal circuit to Masta and Stavelot.
The high speed corner and the hairpin at Stavelot are still intact
Until about a year ago, the whole track was still open road, it was possible to drive around the old track.
But now they have put gates before La Source, at Les Combes, and on the backleg, where the old track joines the new!
And there is a new road that starts at La Source, and joins the old track just after Les Combes.
A big shame!!
Paul