REAT NEWS from Jacques Potherat – determined action by French old car and motorcycle enthusiasts has ensured a stay of execution for the historic Montlhéry circuit. Please note - sadly Jacques passed away recently after a short illness and this item is now time expired. We will be publishing Jacques' obituary in due course.

In Autumn 2000 France’s Commission Nationale des Circuits de Vitesse, the body responsible for licensing the country’s race circuits, said that it would renew Montlhéry’s homologation provided that major works costing £120,000 were put in hand. UTAC, the owner of Montlhéry, played dog-in-the-manger and said that it would not undertake the work, adding that the historic meetings which have kept this amazing banked track in the public eye would not be permitted after 2001.

But Jacques’ Vintage Montlhéry organisation joined the Coupes de l’Age d’Or, Moto-Legendes and Trophées Jumeaux (which hold the other Montlhéry meetings) to lobby UTAC, and thankfully persuaded it to change its mind. The work will be carried out and the homologation extended until 2004, after which UTAC declares that the Autodrome will close for ever. This reprieve has a high price: Vintage Montlhéry, which operates on a non-profit basis, will have to pay a £15,000 surcharge as its share of the costs and has thus been forced to increase entry fees for the Fourth Vintage Montlhéry on April 21-22 to Fr1300 (£130) for cars, Fr 600 (£60) for motorcycles.

Having been part of the Vintage Montlhéry organisation from the start, I have to say that it is the finest vintage event any Brooklands devotee is ever likely to see: the unique spectacle of pre-1940 sports and racing cars and motorcycles in action on a 1920s banked circuit is well worth crossing the Channel to witness. - David Burgess-Wise, Brooklands Society Committee Member.

For further details, fax or e-mail Vintage Montlhéry at [+33]-(0)-164242688 or vintagemontlhery@minitel.net or telephone the organisation’s 
British representative Rebecca on 01684-295326.

Brooklands Society members can read more articles like this one in the quarterly Brooklands Society Newsletter and the quarterly Gazette. If you want to join, click here.