Honouring a Pioneer.
Honouring a Pioneer.
The name of Benz has been associated with automobile design and racing since the very earliest days of motoring, and it is gratifying to learn that the Automobile Club of Germany, in conjunction with other official bodies, has undertaken to raise a monument to the late Charles Benz.
The unveiling of this monument, which will be erected in the famous pioneer’s birthplace, Mannheim, will take place with due ceremony on April 16th, 1933.
A New French Track. . . .
In view of the fact that it has not been possible to hold many race meetings on the Montlhery and Miramas tracks, it is rather surprising to.hear that a new track has been planned at Vincennes.
The proposed site is part of a large section of land now used for military manoeuvres, but the new track will not interfere with this activity. The length of the track will be 3 kilometres 330 metres, and its width will be 16 metres on the straights and 20 metres on the corners. Huge grandstands have been planned, 225 metres long, to hold 15,000 spectators.
. . And One in Austria.
Another project is that of building a motor track at Baden, in Austria. Official sanction has been given to the scheme, but the only details to hand so far is that the track will be 5 kilometres in length.
Gometz la Chatel Hill Climb.
A large entry was received for the Gometz le Chatel Hill Climb, which was run off on October 23rd, some 30 kilometres from Paris.
Fastest time of the day was made by the well known Bugatti driver, Jean Gaupillat, who covered the kilometre course from a standing start in 29 2/3 seconds, beating Zanelli’s old record of 302/5 seconds. Many well known drivers took part, including Felix (Alfa Romeo), Sommer, winner of Le Mans (Alfa Romeo) and Mme. Siko (Bugatti).
A fine sunny day attracted a large crowd of spectators, but the high wind which prevailed did not encourage good times. An interesting entry was that of Prince Nicolas of Roumania, who drove a Duesenberg up the course in 44 seconds.
Le Mans Entries.
Entries have already been received by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest for the Grand Prix d’Endurance at Le Mans. Three Alf a Romeo 2,350 c.c. ” biposto ” cars have been entered by the works, and thy will be driven by Lord Howe and Sir Henry Birkin, Dreyfus and Schumann, and Chinetti and a driver yet to be named.
In Memory of Andre Boillot.
French motoring circles were deeply grieved by the untimely death of Andre Boillot last June in a motoring accident, and a movement was immediately put on foot to perpetuate the memory of the famous Peugeot driver.
As a result, arrangements have now been completed to erect a monument on the site of the fatal accident, which took place on Route Nationale 143, about a mile from La Chatre. The ceremony of unveiling the memorial will be held next June, on the day of the Ars Hill Climb, the event in which Boillot was about to compete.
Who Will Drive ?
Now that the racineseason is finished continental drivers are already making plans for next year, and manufacturers’ teams are being decided upon. One of the most surprising of the changes is that Louis Chiron will no longer be a member of the official Bugatti team, which will be composed of Varzi, Williams, Dreyfus and Divo. It is possible that Chiron may drive a Bugatti next year, privately, but for the present he is having a rest, hunting in Central Europe, and following this up by winter sports in Switzerland. Bouriat, who holds a business post in the Bugatti firm, will only drive occasionally, and then as an ‘amateur.
Incidentally, Guy Bouriat has not yet fully recovered from his operation for appendicitis, but hopes to be fit again after a month in the country.
The German driver, Rudolf Caracciola, has not yet decided his plans for next season, but he has retired from the Alfa Romeo team. It seems quite possible, however, that he will drive an Alfa again next year.