Tragedy and triumph in France
A sad shadow fell over this year’s Circuit des Remparts meeting at Angoulême on 16 September, following the death of Denis Derex. The Mini driver fell ill at the wheel during a practice session and crashed above the Fangio hairpin. There was a minute’s silence before the afternoon’s Plateau Beltoise race, which was won by Nicolas Pinon – poignantly, Minis took the first three places.
In Plateau Sommer, for pre-war light cars, Simon Kelleway (Riley Sprite) won from Richard Iliffe’s Riley 12/4 Special. Anna Tiger performed well, but rolled her 1924 Ratier monoplace after the chequered flag, breaking her shoulder.
Julian Grimwade (Norris Special) took pole for the Plateau Frazer Nash race, but victory went to Tony Lees’ AC/GN Cognac from Dougal Cawley’s GN ‘Piglet’.
Six Morgans and 18 Darmonts took to the grid for a three-wheeler demo, cut short when Frédéric Viginier overturned his 1927 Darmont Special on the first lap. Fortunately, he walked away.