Event Information

Race Schedule

DATE	DESCRIPTION	ENTRANTS	RESULTS
Sat, May 27th	Pre-1961 Grand Prix Cars (Classes 1-8)
Sun, May 28th	Pre-1966 Grand Prix Cars (Classes 9-12)
last updated: 11/06/2006

Race Report

The Grand Prix Historique de Pau traditionally follows on a week after the more famous Monaco historic weekend. Both events run on demanding historic street circuits near the Mediterranean which either continue to, or have in the past, hosted F1 Grand Prix racing. This is where their similarities end. Where Monaco is brash, Pau is sublime – where Monaco obstructs, Pau welcomes; brushed out of Monaco almost before the end of the race by the modern F1 invaders, members moving on to Pau were able to enjoy a relaxed weekend in glorious sunshine.

The HGPCA were providing two grids of Grand Prix cars for the Pau meeting, one based on pre 1961 front-engine Grand Prix cars, including small rear-engine Coopers and the other on pre 1966 rearengine Grand Prix cars. An excellent entry of six V8 engine cars in the later race was complimented by nineteen other cars to fill the grid.

Sadly the pre 1961 grid was depleted by two when Jose Albuquerque’s 250F Maserati savaged the back of Michael Steele’s C type Connaught at Monaco the preceding weekend. Nevertheless, the ‘big beasts’ were still well represented by Tony Smith in his Ferrari, Hubert Fabri in his Aston, Nick Wigley in his B type Connaught, Rod Jolley in his gleaming Monza Lister Jaguar and Duncan Dayton in his Lotus 16.

Each grid was allowed 30 minutes practice and two 30 minute or 14 lap races. Practice for the pre 1961 grid was fortunately uneventful on the track, the only problem being David Wenman’s Connaught pitting after two laps with a misfire. This proved to be valve problems – repaired over lunch by his hard working crew. Fastest by a proverbial mile was Duncan’s Lotus, some four and a half seconds faster than second place men, Nick Wigley with Tony Smith third fastest just ahead of John Clark in his diminutive Cooper. Heading class 5 was Paul Grant, flying around the circuit in his Cooper Bristol whilst first pre-war car on the grid was Paddins Dowling handling the ex- Nick Mason ERA superbly in his first race with the Association.

At the end of the practice session for the pre 1966 grid, Duncan posted a time 5/100ths of a second fa ster than Nick Wigley’s Cooper with John Harper two tenths of a second slower in third. Tony Ditheridge led class 9 with John Elliott fastest in class 10. Sadly Richard Longes in his first race with the Association, touched a barrier and retired as did Francois Duret who did so with rather more severe results. The other non-starter was possible front runner, the Minshaw Brabham (father & son) after son had had an off.

As the cars were called to the start line for the first race of the pre 1966 grid, Duncan’s pole position Brabham suffered a suspension ball-joint breakage; rapid repair got him into the race to start from the pit-lane at the rear of the pack. Nick Wigley led the race with John Harper on his tail for the first few laps but just as John passed the gear-box f a iled causing his retirement. Further down the field, a close race developed between Alan Baillie and Tony Ditheridge, too close at one point when the latter collected the rea r of Alan’s Cooper causing him to spin. Duncan moved steadily through the field up to eighth by lap 4 but by the end was unable to catch the leaders, finally finishing third. John Clark had a excellent but lonely race to second place some twelve seconds behind Nick Wigley’s winning car.

For the first race of the pre 1961 grid, many of the same runners were at the front - in different cars of course. Duncan made a slow start in the Lotus 16 allowing Nick to initially lead in his Connaugth with John Clarke third in his other Cooper. Thereafter the Lotus led but an excellent battle developed for second place between the Connaught, the Cooper, Tony Smith in his Ferrari and Rod Jolley in his Lister Jaguar. Initally it looked like Duncan had the race wrapped up but for the last couple of laps the engine in the Lotus started to cut out on corners allowing the chasers to close within a second of him. Further down the field, Paul Grant was having an excellent race with Jean-Louis Duret finally passing him on the penultimate lap as they crossed the start line.

With the grid for Sunday’s racing decided by the finishing order of Saturday’s race, Duncan’s Lotus 16 was in pole position and, having been a second faster that anyone else in race one, looked a likely winner. Lap two and Richard Pilkington’s Cisitalia lost a rear wheel (fortunately with no further damage to driver or car) causing the safety car to be brought on to the track. Jean-Louis Duret had a very slow start and had to work hard to finally get up to seventh place. The race settled down and it looked as though the front positions were confirmed until right at the last moment, Tony Smith missed a gear in his Ferrari and was almost passed by the silver bullet of Rod Jolley. At the HGPCA prizegiving, Duncan Dayton was presented with the Alberto Ascari Trophy being the first front engine car in the race as well as overall winner.

Drama in the assembly area of the pre 1966 grid when Alan Baillie found that the bolt holding his steering column together had sheared (almost certainly as a result of the bump in race one); a very rapid repair managed to get him on the track in the correct starting spot.

Nick Wigley, on pole, made a very slow start (brain & car out of gear?) allowing John Clark and Duncan Dayton to lead him at the end of the first lap. Alan Baillie had an excellent start and was right with the leaders initially but lacked the power to hold the cars with 2.5 litre Climax engines. With the same problem was Duncan, the V8 engine of his Brabham sounding superb but did not have enough ‘grunt’ to stay with the larger engine cars up the hill after the Virage de la Gare. Excellent races developed throughout the field; Brian Jolliffe and Mark Clubb in their identical Cooper T45’s finished half a second apart as did Eddie Perk (having a guest drive in his unique Heron) and Trevor Needham a little further back.

The hospitality supplied by Stella and Ian Douglass at the Red Truck was superb and much appreciated by all. Sadly the Saturday evening gala dinner arranged by the event organisers lacked any sparkle (possibly due to the recent death of Pau’s charismatic mayor) but this did not take anything away from a very enjoyable weekend’s racing.