In 1962, just for a change, my dad didn’t go to Le Mans. Instead, Bill and he went to Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix. Did they fly? No. They made a proper petrolhead trip of it.
First up, they drove to Germany (what in those days would have been West Germany, to be precise) for the Nurburgring 1000km. Then they drove down through the Alps to Monte Carlo, watched the Grand Prix, and then drove back up through France, via Arles, the Gorges du Tarn, Le Mans (OK, so he went there, but not for the 24 hour race this time) and then back to Calais.
Not something you see every day – a racing car (Formula Junior – the precursor to Formula 3) parked at the side of the road, between a couple of oh-so-French vans.
One of the most iconic Formula 1 cars – the Sharknose Ferrari 156, driven here by Phil Hill.
Jack Brabham in a Lotus-Climax 24, in Casino Square.
A Porsche 718, driven by Jo Bonnier, also in Casino Square.
Bruce McLaren in a Cooper-Climax T14, celebrating his win with what looks suspiciously like a bottle of Coke. You don’t see Lewis Hamilton doing this, do you? For one thing, he’d expect to be paid an obscene amount of money to do it, and Bernie Ecclestone probably wouldn’t let him.
I think that these are some of the best photos so far. Not only did he get very close to the actions, but some of them are in colour as well:
A view down over the harbour – is this heading down towards the Rascasse corner?
Jack Brabham.
The Sharknose Ferrari 156.
Jim Clark in a Lotus-Climax 25.
Graham Hill in a BRM P57.
Love the photos, thank you for creating the site. FYI – on Friday I will be setting off the Monaco for the Historic Grand Prix and my retrun route will be almost the same as your father’s.
Sorry, now with the spell checker switched on.
Love the photos, they are so evocative of a wonderful time. The early to mid sixties are when I first going to race meetings and the images here are a wonderful reminder of that time, thank you for creating the site. FYI – on Friday 4th May I will be setting off across Spain and Southern France for Monaco for the Historic Grand Prix and later this year will be the Le Man Classic. My return routes will be almost the same as your father’s.
Great, great, great pictures! If only everyone had someone carrying cameras around “back in the day”!
The picture of Monaco is likely up the hill behind Sainte Devote looking down at Ste Devote corner and the straight up up the hill is up to Beau Rivage.
Was just there in 2012 and probably walked the area where this picture was taken.
Thanks so much for sharing these wonderful time capsules!