AC Ace Bristol's at Le Mans 24hr... 57-62

[Louism]

BEX 1192 again at Tour de France 1961.
   
   Thanks to Lutz Montowski
   
   

[Louism]

Back to BEX 289.
   
   
   View of the dashboard:
   
   
   
   
   
   The cylinder head shows today 100D 684, fitted before on BEX 343 it was removed and took place in BEX 289 in early eighties by Alain Larive.
   As far as I know 100D 627 "passed away".
   
   
   
   
   
   Very special Gachnang' sump ready for Le Mans but still on the car today...
   
   
   
   
   
   Pictures Alain Larive

[Louism]

Quite an interesting document:
   
   BEX 289 in preparation in Gachnang's workshop, note that headlights are not cut off yet...
   
   

[Louism]

Before I leave for Aigle in Switzerland with friends from the ACO, a picture from the race in 1960 viewing the famous "Esses de la Forêt".
   
   Works Ferrari TR 59/60 #9 driven by Phil Hill/Wolfgang von Trips chased by NART Ferrari TR 60 #17 of Ricardo Rodriguez and André Pilette.
   Ferrari #9 will withdraw from the race after three hours (lack of petrol...!)
   Ferrari #17 will finish in second place behind the winning Ferrari of Belgian drivers Olivier Gendebien and Paul Frère.
   
   BEX 289 is behind the two Ferrari's
   
   
   
   
   
   At the back of the Ace is John Wagstaff/Tony Marsh's Lotus Elite.

[Louism]

Very pleasant journey we had in Switzerland, magnificent landscapes with such a wonderful weather.
   
   Aigle was one of our main destination, visiting Georges and Claude Gachnang home.
   The first evening was a dinner at Le Sépey with Georges, his granddaughter Natacha and Jo Siffert's son Philippe.
   
   From left, Georges Gachnang, Patrick Gruau (vice president ACO), Your Le Mans fan, Bertrand and Claude Gachnang.
   
   
   
   
   Philippe Siffert:
   
   
   
   The day after was a visit to the Gachnang's familiy business, garages VW and Toyota in Aigle and a reception at Yvorne village, famous for its vineyard. The Gachnangs drove from home, a few miles away, with their "everyday" cars...
   
   AC, CEGGA Maserati and COOPER Monaco.
   
   
   
   
   Georges was driving the CEGGA powered with a V12 Maserati, can you imagine the music and its echo in the quiet mountain village !
   
   
   
   As you know, Georges is also Formula 1 driver grand father, Sébastien Buemi: here in between Bertrand and grand-dad.
   
   
   
   
   I will post some more pictures of BEX 289 from Le Mans 1960. For now, that's the one we have seen at Aigle...
   
   
   
   
   We did not have enough time to talk about that blue Ace you can see on the picture.
   It is not a Cobra but an Ace powered with a V8 Ford, possibly BEX 480...Can you confirm ?
   
   

[Louism]

Blimey ! We have to call Georges, that blue car is a RHD...

[Louism]

Confirmation from Georges Gachnang, the "Blue Snake" is BEX 480...
   
   I think it will be great to learn about its history but in another topic.

[Louism]

So I can post now the latest period pictures of BEX 289 from Le Mans 1960:
   
   Scrutineering
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Before the race in front of the pits:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   And now during the race:
   As you know Georges went off the track at Arnage corner just before midnight, it's easy to identify the pictures taken before or after that incident. The grille has been damaged during this drive in Arnage sand area, you will note the car started the race without extra lights fixed in the grille.
   
   Here after the pits entering the Dunlop curve.
   
   
   
   Arnage, where Georges made his gardening...
   
   
   
   Arnage again but from the back, a more usual angle
   
   
   
   
   Pit stop:
   
   
   
   Again in the pits during the night trying to adjust those lights:
   
   
   
   
   Action in the pits by Sunday morning:
   
   
   
   
   Dunlop curve on Sunday:
   
   
   
   
   And after the race, ready to drive back to Switzerland !!!
   
   
   
   
   Sorry for the quality of those pictures...

[Louism]

BEX 365 from Le Mans 1960 very recognizable with its split windscreen.
   
   
   
   
   And with its special fuel cap !
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Pictures Alain Larive around 1980.

[Louism]

My best wishes to all of you, health and happiness...
   
   Hope to meet some of you at Le Mans or Goodwood in 2012.
   
   
   Le Mans 1962, BEX 1192 going to be placed for the famous Le Mans start...
   
   
   
   Picture from forum motorlegend, copyright François Rivière

[Louism]

Information from Georges Gachnang:
   
   The picture below is not BEX 289 but another Ace (BEX 429...) bodied by Carrosserie Ghia at Aigle for Bungener with a similar front in collaboration with Gachnang brothers.
   We can see here the Ghia workshop not the Gachnang's where BEX 289 was modified...
   
   

[nikbj68]

This photo supplied by Keith shows BEX429 in April 1962 driven by André Bungener:
   
   

[Louism]

Montlhéry 1963, the Paris outskirts circuit.
   
   BEX 289 and the driver is probably swiss Jean Zufferey.
   from the book: Les beaux Dimanche de Montlhéry 1962-1969 by Christian Courtel.
   
   
   

[Louism]

Nice picture with following caption: Goodwood 1955.
   From left to right: John Turner, John Coombs, Ken Tyrrell, Alan Brown, John Young.
   
   I think it could be Easter 1956 when Ken Tyrrell drove a Cooper T24 for John Coombs. I have to ask John Turner some more details...
   
   
   
   Edit:
   Confirmation from John Turner who knew that picture, the photographer was Patrick Benjafield, son of John Benjafield, one of the Bentley Boys who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1927 with Sammy Davis...

[Louism]

So 1959 was the year for BE 214, John Turner and Ted Witheaway.
   
   Before showing the next picture, I need to tell you a story.
   Of course, both 24 Hours of Le Mans and AC Aces are great interest for me. Back some years ago in early 2004 I went with Betrand to visit the workshop near London where BEX 1205 has been prepared for the next Le Mans Classic '04.
   Quite a few interesting cars in different work progress and I remember a lovely aluminium roofline catching my eye at the back of the workshop, after enquiry the coachbuilder confirmed it was a car I did not know at that time:
   A Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupé...
   What a gorgeous British little car sharing with the Ace the Bristol engine, only nine of them were made by the Frazer Nash company between 1953 and 1955. Three of them have been entered at Le Mans in 1953, 54 and 59.
   
   The ex Le Mans 53 and 54 coupé, lovely isn't it !
   
   
   
   
   
   A few days ago on the french forum was posted that picture (copyright Michael Cooper Archives)
   
   
   
   
   
   My two favourite cars on the same shot from Le Mans 1959 !
   
   Action is at Arnage corner early saturday evening, elegant Ted Witheaway driving BE 214 in front of the unfortunate Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupé #421/200/203 stopped in the sandbank.
   It will be the end of it for the lovely coupé, driven by Dashwood the car slid into the sandbank with fading brakes. Gearbox and steering were also damaged, that was the last appearance of a Frazer Nash at Le Mans...