|
The sense of anticipation of the Prescott faithful in seeing a driver of International distinction driving a Works’ Bugatti is no better illustrated than in the event report from Bugantics September 1939: ‘Shortly after practice had commenced, we were thrilled to see a large blue lorry arrive with a familiar red badge on the side and two typical Molsheim mechanics in the cab.The Works car had actually arrived!’ It is worth quoting the report further as it gives the period feeling of excitement for the event with the details given: ‘The whole equipe proceeded up the hill to the courtyard of the house, where a garage had been put at their disposal. Some while afterwards, we went up to see what there was to see, but of the Grand Prix there was no sign. The mechanics had dismantled quite a proportion of the lorry engine, because apparently, on the way down it had failed to maintain the steady 60 mph which from many sources we heard it had kept up on the way home!
However, on a later visit, after both M. Jean Bugatti and Jean Pierre Wimille had arrived, we paid another visit, and this time were rewarded by seeing the car itself. It all brought back vivid memories of Molsheim to see the racing car, the blue clad mechanics, Jean Bugatti and Wimille and the Works lorry amidst the stone surroundings of Prescott House, and it seemed so absolutely right that the car and equipe should have come from the chateau at Molsheim to what is almost its equivalent over here.’
The Works’ mechanics referred to were Robert Aumaitre and Lucien Wurmser. Prior to this meeting the holder of the Prescott record was George Abecassis, who in his supercharged Alta had achieved a time of 47.85 secs. on July 3rd 1938. Abecassis was to be a non-starter at this meeting.
Rain fell on the Friday night and continued for the Saturday morning practice sessions (rain and hill-climbs is not a new phenomena!) and it was not until the middle of the Saturday afternoon that the road had dried sufficiently for good times to be made. Raymond Mays, Wimille and Beadle, the latter in his Alta, all broke the existing record for the hill.
On the Saturday night more rain fell with a terrific storm over Prescott. We, who had the running of the event, became more and more depressed. To have achieved such an
|