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The Automobile Club de France Grand Prix de Vitesse
It is being run today starting at 8:00 a.m. on the Linas-Montlhéry circuit. The President of the Republic will be in attendance.
Linas-Montlhéry, July 25.
The following is a list of competitors who were inspected and weighed today at the Montlhéry autodrome. In fact, in varying ways, the manufacturers participating in this event were required to develop their cars in accordance with the regulations governing sporting events and records of the Automobile Club de France. Here are the main provisions of these regulations:
The race is international.
- All vehicles in all categories of Class E with a maximum total cylinder capacity of two liters are eligible; a minimum unladen weight of 650 kilos. The vehicles were weighed with their bodies and their four wheels fitted with the tires on which they start; No water, fuel, tools, or lubricants; no spare parts, wheels, or tires. Only one person (the driver) on board.
- The rear fuselage of the bodywork may not extend more than one and a half meters beyond the rear wheel centerline.
- Distance: 1,000 kilometers, 80 laps of the circuit.
At the refueling point, each driver has an assistant (this was the mechanic who was previously on board his car); this assistant is permanently at the refueling station and can only help the driver of the car to which he is assigned. All refueling, repairs, wheel reassembly, etc., may only be carried out, for each vehicle, by the driver in the race with his authorized assistant. No refueling is permitted en route outside the designated station; but repairs are permitted en route, provided that they are strictly carried out by the driver. - The driver may be changed during the race, but only at the end of a lap and with the permission of a steward.
The first driver to complete the course in the fastest time will be declared the winner of the ACF Grand Prix and will receive a prize of 150,000 francs offered by the Automobile Club de France; the second-place finisher will receive 30,000 francs in cash; and the third-place finisher will receive 20,000 francs in cash.
As a side note, here is how two of the major manufacturers have "translated" this regulation:
- At Alfa Romeo, the engine is an inline 8-cylinder unit cast in pairs, with a bore of 61 and a stroke of 85. The total displacement is slightly less than 2 liters. There are four gears and reverse. Compression is 7. The engine revs at over 6,000 rpm and develops a power output of 160 to 170 hp. Supercharging is achieved by a rotary turbocharger at the front of the Alfa-Romeo system. It is driven by the drive shaft, has two speeds, and has two side air intakes. Above 3,000 rpm, supercharging provides a power increase of approximately 30%. The car's wheelbase is 2.60 meters. Weight: approximately 700 kg.
- The Delages have a 12-cylinder V-engine with a total displacement of just under 2 liters. Bore 51.3, stroke 80. Power is supplied by two carburetors; supercharging is provided by two compressors, one per bank of 6 cylinders, located at the front of the engine and controlled by pinions inserted in the timing gears. Each cylinder has two inclined valves, each biased by three concentric springs. The compression ratio is 7. The engine's maximum revs are between 6 and 7,000 rpm.
- The Bugattis have three valves per cylinder, including two intake valves, no supercharger, Bugatti rear suspension, which ensures good grip on the road, and cast aluminum wheels. The engine is an 8-cylinder, 60 x 83 mm.
- The Sunbeams have 6 cylinders, 67 x 94 mm; a Roots-type turbocharger, compression ratio: 7.
In short, a truly remarkable field of racers and fine mechanics will be touring the Linas-Montlhéry circuit between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The President of the Republic will hopefully see a fine finish to the race, especially if the favorable weather allows for high speeds (180 km/h in a straight line, 115 or 120 km/h on average).
The ACF deserves to have its day.
WEIGHING--THE STARTERS
This evening of the ACF Speed Grand Prix was devoted to weighing and checking the competing cars. The Mathis and Eldridge cars, which did not show up for the weigh-in, will likely be missing from the start. Finally, the No. 4 Delage will likely be out of action. Also noteworthy are the numerous driver changes.
In summary, here is the list of probable starters:
1. Sunbeam I (SEGRAVE).
3. Alfa Romeo (CAMPARI).
5. Bugatti I (PIERRE DE VIZCAYA).
6. Delage I (ALBERT DIVO).
7. Sunbeam II (GIULIO MASETTI).
8. Alfa Romeo II (ASCARI).
9. Bugatti II (Goux).
10. Delage II (ROBERT BENOIST).
11. Sunbeam III (CONELLI).
12. Alfa Romeo III (BRILLI-PERI).
13. Bugatti III (COSTANTINI).
14. Delage III (WAGNER).
15. Bugatti IV (F. DE VIZCAYA).
16. Delage IV (TORCHY).
17. Bugatti V (FOREST).
As we indicated above, the Delage IV will probably not be at the start. There would therefore be 14 starters.
In addition, the following houses gave the commissioners the names of replacements: Sunbeam: Bourlier and F. Conelli; Alfa Romeo: Sozzi, Minozzi and Brune; Delage: Thomas, Torchy (if he does not start); Bugatti: Joan de Viscaya, Maggi, Frederick and Ettore Bugatti, that is to say the manufacturer itself.
But, regarding the Bugattis, a rather serious incident occurred: the stewards did not want to admit the sheet metal plate that Bugatti established to protect its drivers a little; they claim that this does not at all correspond to the spirit of the regulations (which do not mention it). Mr. Bugatti did not want to comply with this ukase and he left the weighing, declaring that his cars would not start if the decision was maintained. The matter remained at that point at the close of operations, but it is to be hoped that it will be resolved, because the abstention of the Bugattis would take away a great deal from the interest of the race. Indeed, if the Bugattis have the handicap of not using the engine supercharger (they are, let us remember, sports cars, but at the same time customer cars), they have a road holding and a way of cornering which must partly compensate for this handicap. Another technical detail: the Delages are mounted on Dunlop tires; the Alfa Romeos on Pirelli tires; The Sunbeams were on Englebert tires, and the Bugattis were on Michelins. All the wheels were Rudge-Whitworth detachable wheels, a system licensed to that firm. There were some threats of downpours, but overall the skies were kind, and we hope for similar weather tomorrow, Sunday.
G. de L.
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