THE CIRCUIT OF ORLEANS

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TUE CIIIECIAT Cr CIRILEANS A SERIES OF EVENTS FOR SPORTS AND RACING CARS. SPECTATOR KILLED WHEN CAR

AN interesting programme of motorracing was staged by the A.C. du Centre at Orleans on May 26th. Instead of having long distance races, it was decided to hold a number of short races for sports and racing cars. The circuit lies in the heart of the city, has two good straights along the faubourg de la Madeleine and the bank of the Loire, and several tricky corners. It is 3.611 kilometres in length. This year great improvements were made in the matter of grandstands, while the corners were properly protected by bales of straw and sandbags.

In the sports classes the fastest time was made by Albert Perrot, on a 3,547 c.c. Delahaye. Perrot drove magnificently, and his car was a model of speed, silence and efficiency. In the same class Mme. Schell was second, also winning the Ladies’ Cup.

The new Pegasus model Amilcar, a 4 cyl. car of 2,350 C.C. with independent front springing, made an impressive racing debut by winning the 2.5-litre class in the hands of Maurice Mestivier. Another Pegasus would have been second had not the throttle control worked loose. The z,soo c.c. winner was Lecoq (Bugatti), while Gordini’s French-built Balilla Fiat, fresh from its triumph in the Bol d’Or, carried off the 1,too c.c. category. The 750, 1,100 and 1,5oo c.c. racing cars all started together. E. Leoz, younger brother of the better-known “G,” led for some time with his Bugatti. On the fifth lap he came up to a corner where another competitor was in the throes of a hectic skid. The flag marshal waved his warning, and Leoz thought he was being ordered to pull up. He did so, and at that moment

CRASHES INTO CROWD.

Mestivier (Amilcar Six) slipped by to take the lead. This seemed to upset Leoz, and he steadily fell back, finally finishing 32 seconds behind the Amilcar. However, he had the consolation of winning the 1,500 c.c. class.

M.G.s filled second and third places in the 1,too c.c. class, driven respectively by Maillard-Brune and Hertzberger. Both were Magnettes, and only 3 seconds separated them after 25 laps.

The lowering skies now carried out their threat of rain, and in view of the slippery state of the road it was decided to reduce the length of the last race from 30 to 20 laps. Six cars started and Cazaux (2.3 Bugatti) was soon building up a comfortable lead from Ralph (Alfa-Romeo). After a quarter of an hour, however, there befell another of those catastrophes which are an unfortunate accompaniment of many French races. Buffy, driving a 2.3-litre Bugatti, skidded on the wet tarmacadam surface and crashed into a tree. The impact sent the car with great force into the barrier, which collapsed and allowed the hurtling machine to charge the crowd. Luckily there was only a few people standing at this point, but the sight of twelve prone figures was unpleasantly reminiscent of Château Thierry. Eight of them were removed to hospital, the remaining four suffering mostly from shock. Buffy himself was slightly bruised and shaken. The next day one of the injured, Eugene Regrain, a 35 year old resident of Orleans, died at the hospital. With typical French excitement, the crowd had immediately swarmed on to the road, doing their level best to increase

the death-roll. The cars were promptly flagged down and the race was decided on the laps already run. Here are the full results: SPORTS,

1,100 c.c.-1, Gordini (Fiat 995), 11 laps in 28m. 39secs.•• 2, Pole (Fiat 995), 2 laps behind; 3, Savoye (Singer 950), 2 laps behind; 4, Delpech (Amilcar 1,100). 3 laps behind; 6, Ciron (Amilcar 1,100), 3 laps behind. Also ran: Levits (Amilcar 1,100) and Mm. Roux (Fiat 1,054).

1,600 c.c.-1, Leceg, (Bugatti 1,496), 10 laps in 27in. 22secs.2, Machat (Citroen 1,490). 2 laps behind; d, Andreany (Peugeot 1,460), 2 laps behind. Also ran: Scordel (Rally 1,298), and Mm. Conche (Salmson 1,496).

2,500 c.c.-1, Mestivier (Amilcar 2,850), 11 laps in 26m. 20secs., 90.503k.p.h.: 2, Chabrier (Bugatti 1,994), 26m. 28secs.; 8. Rucheton (Citroen 1,911), 28m. 20secs. ; 4, Pousse (Amilcar 2.350), 1 lap behind; 5, Barre (Citroen 1,900), 1 lap behind; 6, Dory (Citroen), 2 laps behind,. Also ran: Pousset (Citroen 1,1100).

Unlimited.-1, Perrot (Delahaye 3,547 12 laps in 25m. 31secs. 101.890k.p.h • 2, Mme.

Schell (Dela,haye 3: .

547), 1 lap behind; 8. Mme. Savoye (Renault 4,000), 2 laps behind.

RACING.

750 c.c.-1, jahan (Salmson 750), 21 laps in 56m. 4secs.

1,100 c.c.-1. Mestivier (Amilcar 1,090, 25 laps in 54m. lOsecs., 99.999k.p.h.; 2, biaillardBrune (M.G. 1,087), Mm. 66secs.; 8. Hertzberger (M.G. 1,087), 54m. 59sees.; 4, Gilbert (13..C. 1,100), 4 laps behind.

1,500 c.c.-1, E. Looz (Bugatti 1,600), 26 laps in 64m. 92secs.; 2, C•esure (Bugatti 1,500). 1 lap behind; 3, Saug4 (Bugatti 1,500), 3 laps behind.

UnlimIted.-1, Cazaux (Bugatti 2,300), 7 laps in 16m. 34secs.; 2, Raff (Alfa-Romeo 2.300), 6 laps in 16m. 37secs.: 3, Montier (Ford 3,640), 6 laps in 16 m. 40secs.; 4, G. Leos (Bugatti 2,300), laps in 17m. Moos.; 5, Rottman’ (Bugatti 2,300). 5 laps in 18m. 55Recs. Also ran: Buffy (Bugatti) 2,300).