Montlhéry 2011: A New Event?

It appears that motorsports activity hasn’t entirely died at the Circuit du Linas Montlhéry, just south of Paris. This is the most historic banked racetrack in the world, which is still intact and functional (Brooklands is too far gone, Daytona is too new, and Indianapolis only had ONE motorcycle race in the 20th Century – 1909). Finished in October 1924, the fully banked oval is 2.5km long, and two longer ‘road courses’ using only one end of the banking were also laid out, although the much longer circuit through the adjoining forest is no longer in use.

While Brooklands was built ‘the old fashioned way’, by piling up earthen mounds and digging out the track near the river Wye at Weybridge (see some historic photos here), Montlhéry was designed and built as a modern piece of engineering, using a lattice of reinforced concrete beams and pillars to support the high banking. The near-vertical top section of the track was designed to withstand use by racing cars up to 1,000 kilos (2,200lbs) moving at 140mph (220km/h).  Motorcycles present no such hazard to the infrastructure!

Having walked the complete circuit and raced on the track,  I encourage anyone with a passport and an appreciation of racing history to make a pilgrimage next May 8/9, 2011, and see the place for yourself.  The facilities are a bit crude, but it’s possible to camp in the forest inside the circuit, which has a grubby charm, as many of the competitors are camped as well, with their vehicles – a relaxed opportunity for a conversation.

If you have the opportunity to enter a racing motorcycle, I can imagine few opportunities to sample an extant Vintage track, on which an incredible legacy of speed events was laid.  Every long-distance speed event, from 1, 12, or 24 hours, was held post-war at Montlhéry, from the Velocette 24hr/100mph record, to the less successful attempts by Vincent at 24hrs, Norton’s streamliners, plus a host of European factory attempts.  (For a video of several ex-record breakers on the banking, click here)

My own experience of the circuit is sadly limited to one weekend in 2000, where I was invited to ride a ‘49 MkVIII Velocette KTT by my friend Rob Drury.  While camping conditions were primitive, my personal hygiene was forgotten once I was underway in a pack of racers in my class.  The Velo seemed perfectly matched with a Mondial 250cc racer with full dustbin fairings, and we always seemed to round the hairpin on the ‘road’ section at the same time, his lithe machine undercutting the much heavier Velo every time!  Frustratingly fun.

Riding the banked track is an acquired taste, and most riders preferred to keep fairly low on the track and their speed down.  You won’t get up above the top white line at less than 100mph, at which point you’re literally perpendicular to the slower riders below.  I’ve passed other motorcycles from every vantage point – inside, outside, crossways – but never while looking at the top of their helmet!  Disorienting at first, but after a few laps it became really enjoyable and the chicane set up to slow riders down mid-bank was ignored by the lustiest riders, without censure from the organizers I might add.

The surface of the track brings to mind the many descriptions of Brooklands in the 1920s onward, as the plates of concrete paving began to settle and shift.  Bumpy!  But still better than most California backroads… although I imagine riders took quite a pounding after a few hours at full chat.

The future of the Montlhéry track always seems uncertain; the Coupes Moto Legende hasn’t been held there for almost 10 years, so a weekend at the track will be welcome in 2011.  There are consistent rumors that the track will be torn down, as the proximity of this large plot of acreage to Paris makes the land worth billions.  But, what price history?

ADDENDUM:  Below is a note from the organizers of Vintage Revival Montlhéry:

“VINTAGE REVIVAL” AT MONTLHERY

Plans are well advanced for a vintage gathering next year at Montlhéry, the dates being 7^th and 8^thMay 2011. Many will remember the tremendous atmosphere of the events a decade ago and it is hoped to recreate this spirit in 2011. Organisation is in the hands of two French clubs, “Vintage Revival” (of which Mrs. Jacqueline Potherat is honorary chairman) and “Patrimoine Sportif et Mécanique”.

Pre-1940 sports and racing cars and sporting motorcycles will be able to circulate on the famous banked circuit, as will racing bicycles with vintage motorcycle pacers. The less sporting vehicles of the same era will be equally welcome to attend and will be able to drive the circuit at their own pace at the end of the weekend. There will be provision for commercial and club stands. Enthusiasts, clubs and businesses wishing to be kept informed are encouraged to register their interest by e-mail to Vincent Chamon at vintage-revival@voila.fr.

The website is at http://vintage.revival.free.fr

 

 

Anonymous said…

One other historic race track could be mentioned, Indianapolis. Twelve years old when Montlhery opened, and twice the corners.

JUNE 30, 2010 

 

murderdromecycles said…

Hi Paul,

my friends and me are loving Montlhéry. We raced there from ´99 to 2005 and had a lot of fun. Good news for May 2011! Look my Blog

JUNE 30, 2010 

 

Dave said…

I must dispute the contention that Montlhery is the most historic race track in the world that is still intact and functional. The Milwaukee Mile race track has been stages race every year since 1903 and is in the same location and configuration as it was in 1902 EXCEPT that it was paved in 1954. pretty much every American racer of note has raced here from Barney Oldfield up to Danica Patrick and everyone in between. The first win for the Lotus Ford Indy cars was here. Several races are held here each year although the Indy cars will not appear here in 2010.

Almost as old is the hill climb at Shelsley Walsh. They are still holding hill climb events here although it is perhaps technically not a race track.

Great Blog BTW

JUNE 30, 2010 

 

J Kraus said…

This sounds like a fantastic event and I may have to make room on my calendar. Montlhéry is indeed a wonderful circuit, and I had the pleasure of sampling it first-hand in a vintage Porsche at the 2000 Rallye de Paris. That was the era prior to the mid-bank (East) chicane. The highlight of every lap was coming off the high bank at speed and diving into the exit chicane.

The track was closed shortly thereafter and was thought to (as you mention) be headed for extinction, yet once again it has successfully defied “progress.”

JULY 02, 2010 

 

WooleyBugger said…

I enjoyed the heck out of this article. I can’t get enough of history of this sort. Thanks

JULY 04, 2010 

 

Bob said…

It’s possible to maintain the track if vintage events could be scheduled there more frequently. Seems the track became outdated in the early 1960s as the prevailing speeds were unsuitable. But it could be fun with Morgan Super Sports, Norton Manx, etc.

MAY 07, 2011 

 

Anonymous said…

Hi ,does anyone know what A.G.A.C.I

means that was on the outside of the banking wall ?

Thanks

APRIL 11, 2012