Autodrome de Montlhéry
The banked circuit to the south of Paris is one of the wonders of the vintage motoring world and still hosting festivals
to remember that France was the birthplace of motorsport, much of which then took place on public roads. Roads were easily requisitioned for closure and no need was envisaged for a specific closed circuit, as had been built at Brooklands, Indianapolis, Monza and Avus – but then a rapid increase in road traffic in France caused a change of mind.
A radiator manufacturer called Alexandre Lamblin took the opportunity to buy a 12,000acre plot about 20 miles south of Paris and employed thousands of workmen, using precast concrete, to ready the 1.6-mile banked oval for racing in only a matter of months.
In October 1924, 50,000 spectators saw a Morgan win the opening race, while the first day of competition also featured Ernest Eldridge’s Fiat battling Parry Thomas’s Leyland Eight… at an average of 121mph!
In 1925 a road circuit enlarged the available lap distance to 7.77 miles, ready for the French Grand Prix. The 621-mile race lasted ten hours.
Because night-time running was forbidden at Brooklands, Montlhéry became famous for the setting of speed and endurance records. There, the monumental 9.1-litre Renault 40CV Sport set a 24-hour record of 87.64mph.
In May 1939 the circuit, already in a state of decline and decay, was taken over by the French Government as part of its plans for national defence. It reopened after the war for some racing and a good deal of record setting, but was mainly used as a testing ground for the French Manufacturers’ Association, UTAC.
The Vintage Revivals that take place at Montlhéry nowadays are spectacular and the entry list of cars and motorcycles has run to almost 500, with so many exotic marques. A 1906 Mercedes-Simplex might be competing against cars such as a 1933 Citroën Rosalie, Vauxhall Prince Henry and 1920 Napier 75TT Sport. This would typically be followed by a motorcycle race with almost 50 starters. There are numerous excellent vantage points at Montlhéry and the infield is generally packed with auto parts stands and car clubs. You will be hard pressed to find anything modern there, but you will see strange and wonderful vehicles, with shabby chic commonplace.
On the infield, something odd will strike the spectator. Something is wrong here! Then realisation dawns. You are actually looking up as racing cars streak past – a strange sensation, like watching a low-level air display. From this vantage point it becomes clear that the track is very bumpy, as the paving slabs have settled with age. Some of the braver pilots run high on the banking, whereas the more sensible take lower lines. The high line of the banking was built to allow sustained speed of 136mph (220km/h). And the noise! No Brooklands silencers here, monsieur. Rather unnervingly, it is possible to walk under the banking to note the decaying condition of the support columns.
But is Montlhéry better than Brooklands? It’s neither better nor worse, but totally different. Brooklands looks to the future, with its additions to the displays, whilst Montlhéry is more than content to live in the past. The best idea is to go see for yourself. You’ll be glad that you did. A Vintage Revival is already planned for 2022, when the featured marques will be ABC cars and Motosacoche motorcycles.
AUTODROME DE MONTLHÉRY Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, Avenue Georges Boillot, 91310 Linas. Admission is usually around €20 for two days, when bought in advance. See Octane for details of future festivals and events, or visit www.utac.com; www.vintage-revival.fr.