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

[Louism]

A JP Margnac's picture at the arrival of the race.
   
   
   
   Ted is driving and John sitted nearby without helmet.
   At the back, Athur Harwood with his hat. Jane Waugh is behind the man with the red shirt.
   I suppose the guy who took the B&W picture you saw before in that topic is the one wearing a stripped white and navy shirt.
   
   You may be surprised by BE 214's green, it is due to that early colour picture.
   BE 214 was jewelescent green as well as AC's works entries at Le Mans.
   
   At that time, it was a tradition after the finish-lane for cars with their drivers and team to make a U-turn after the pits to be able to use the "Kings' alley" in between the fences and public as you can see here:
   
   1964, the winning Ferrari 275 P driven by Jean Guichet (at the wheel) and Nino Vaccarella followed by Cobra Daytona on 4th place (Dan Gurney/Bob Bondurant).
   
   
   
   In a few moments after Margnac's shot, Ted and John will be kings too...

[Louism]

BE 214 last monday at Goodwood...
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

[Louism]

Last monday I was able to look at the amazing collection of John Deveson's documents about his car's participation at Le Mans:
   
   - Official entry form.
   - Pictures album.
   - Scrapbook.
   - Jane Waugh's hotel bill.
   - Complete scrutineering file.
   
   At that time, cars had to go through 11 different scrutineers stations...
   
   STATION 1: Vehicle identification
   
   STATION 2: Drivers and team identification
   Drivers: Ted Whiteaway and John Turner
   Reserve driver: Bob Staples
   Mechanics: Arthur Harwood, R. Battes, Bob Staples, J. Hamblett.
   Petrol assistant: Tony Cowley
   
   STATION 3: Specifications
   
   STATION 4: Body control
   Seats
   Doors
   Windscreen
   Wings
   Hood
   Mirrors
   Horn...
   
   STATION 5: Electricity
   
   STATION 6: Sealing and stamping
   
   STATION 7: Ignition, extinguisher.
   
   STATION 8: Tanks (petrol, water and oil)
   for BE 214, petrol 111 litres
   
   STATION 9: Petrol notification for the race = 1300 litres
   
   STATION 10: Race numbers
   
   STATION 11: Exhaust, weight, turning radius.
   
   I have one more piece to add, the form given to media members summing-up technical datas:
   
   

[Louism]

As Jerry said earlier in this topic:
   
   you should never take anything for granted because other people say so or even have done so for years!
   
   I told you about the "King's Alley", true it was existing in 1956 after the track and pits had been modified due to 1955 disaster.
   It appears, looking at all photographics archives, that the first car seen in this alley was in 1961 and the last one in 1968.
   
   Ted and John drove the car behind the pits after the 1959 finish.
   
   Sorry about that, for me they are still Kings anayway...

[Louism]

BE 214 has been delivered new to Don Levy in november 1956. At that time it was fitted with front drum brakes.
   
   We can all see front disc brakes on 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours pictures, it is also confirmed on scrutineering documents.
   A few month ago I asked John Deveson when the conversion was made.
   Don Levy had a bad crash at Mallory Park on 6th august 1957 and John suspects the discs were fitted during the re-build of the car.
   
   An early picture of BE 214 with Don Levy at the wheel, thanks to John Deveson.
   
   

[Louism]

The always young John Turner was aslo at Goodwood last monday, driving on the track a Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica...
   
   
   
   

[Louism]

One more thing about Goodwood last week:
   
   Many of you will be glad to see that picture of some good looking guys, won't you ?
   
   

[Louism]

1960, BEX 365 the Ace with split windscreen.
   
   Drivers: Jean RAMBAUX and Pierre BOUTIN
   Engine failure after 14 hours.
   
   First picture taken on april 9th during preliminaries practices, best lap 5'26'2.
   
   
   
   June 25th before the race, last preparations of the Aston Martin of Jim Clark and Roy Salvadori (they will finish third). BEX 365 can be seen close to the Aston.
   
   
   
   Start of the 24 Hours 1960, both Aces can be seen...
   The #30 of Wicky and Gachnang and #57 of Rambaux and Boutin
   The order of the starting grid does not depend of the two official practices sessions from wednesday and thursday (5'04" for BEX 365). The Le Mans Start is in the order of the engine capacity of the cars, the Corvettes #1, 2 and 3 at the front.
   
   
   
   Another colour image of the start.
   
   
   
   Tertre Rouge esses or Indianapolis curve.
   
   

[Louism]

As you read in this topic I am chasing AE 205 from Le Mans 1957 and I can't find recent pictures from that Ace. Tony Bancroft showed me a document from its owner in 1999 but I still don't know if the car is now in its original Le Mans colour.
   
   I found this on flickr today:
   
   
   
   Richard Milo's son posted that picture with this comment:
   
   Not sure what year. AC Ace. I know that Dad owned both this car and the red AC concurrently. This car was on it's way to Sebring in 1958 on a trailer when my my Dad and Mom were in a nasty auto accident. Not sure what happened to this car, but my Dad flew back to PA and drove the red car to Sebring for the race. That must have been serious determination for an SCCA amateur driver.
   
   We have the story in Tony's book at page 62.
   
   It is AE 205 but still not recent picture...

[Louism]

Two more pictures of AE 205:
   
   In front of the same house than the previous post.
   
   
   
   Another one where we can see Richard Milo, race and track unknown.
   
   

[Louism]

The last picture was taken at the Grand Prix of Watkins Glen 1958, september 19/20.
   I have already post a picture of AE 205 at the same race earlier in this topic.
   
   Thanks to the Nostalgia Forum.

[Louism]

AE 205 at Le Mans in 1957, a picture I did not post before...
   
   
   
   Mulsanne corner from the inside

[Louism]

It was a fantastic weeekend at Le Mans...
   Some interessant informations for this topic will follow.
   
   John, I did the correction with the right spelling for Ted Whiteaway.

[Louism]

Firstly I spoke with Olivier Gachang, Georges' Son, Natacha's father and Sebastien Buemi's uncle...Hope you still follow me.
   
   Olivier has rented a shop at Le Mans Circuit village during the 24 Hours to retail a selection of his cloth's collection "Warson". Philippe Siffert, Jo's son, was also a member of the staff. Various pictures were on display on walls and some of them from BEX 289 at Le Mans 1960.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Philippe Siffert:
   
   
   

[Louism]

A car we did not talk about: BEX 399.
   The only one scoring two entries at the 24 Hours, 1958 and 1961.
   The car is today like at Le Mans 1958 with its swiss colours.