1936 24 Hours of Le Mans

Cancelled motorsport event 1935 1936 1937 The 1936 24 Hours of Le Mans was originally planned to be the 14th Grand Prix of Endurance to be held on 14 and 15 June 1936. However, after several years of economic recession, France was in the middle of the turmoil and civil unrest sweeping over Europe. A general strike across the country in the wake of the recent electoral victory of the Popular Front had only been resolved days before scrutineering was due to start. In response to the dominance of the German teams in grand prix racing, the Automobile Club de France (ACF) had chosen to run their Grand Prix to a sports-car formula, which would in turn be eligible to run at Le Mans. Owing to the strikes, many of the teams had been unable to prepare their cars sufficiently, and even such matters as getting fuel, transportation or fuel for entrants and spectators would be difficult. Therefore, at the beginning of June, the ACO organisers postponed the race. However, at the end of the month, being unable to arrange a suitable alternative date later in the year with the motorsport governing body (the AIACR), the event was cancelled. There had been fifty-eight entries applied at the time of cancellation. It comprised French teams of Talbot, Delahaye, and Delage, along with privateer cars using Alfa Romeo, Lagonda, and Bugatti. thumb|300px|Le Mans circuit in 1936 Regulations The AIACR had introduced the new 750 kg Grand Prix Formula in 1934. It had taken a year, but the state-sponsored German teams of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union now dominated racing. The formerly pre-eminent teams of Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Bugatti had tried to compete but were quite out-classed. After two years with no success, the Automobile Club de France (ACF) decided not to hold the French Grand Prix to the AIACR formula. That meant, of course, that it was no longer part of the European Championship, but in a period of growing international tensions, the ACF wanted to return French national pride in their motorsport.Spurring 2017, p.224 Their answer was to run the Grand Prix to its own, new regulations – open to two-seater, open-top cars matching the manufacturers' public purchase catalogues. There were no limits placed on engine-capacity nor weight, however supercharging was prohibited. At least 20 had to have been built by January 1, 1936, or in the process of being built. This was strongly supported by French motor-industry and followed a similar ban on supercharged cars by the British RAC for the 1934 International Tourist Trophy. The Le Mans race was scheduled two weeks before the French Grand Prix and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) promptly ratified that ACF-regulation cars would be given entry. They did choose to keep the racing-classes from the previous year. They also allowed superchargers but raised the equivalency calculation of capacity from x1.4 to x1.6. Entries The changes by the ACF in turn provided the incentive for probably the strongest Le Mans entry list to date. This meant that French cars once again had the very real prospect of outright victory. A dozen cars came from the ACF regulations – from Delahaye, Delage and Talbot-Lago. The new Bugatti was not ready though. Of the 58 cars, fully 30 could be classed as works, or works-supported, entries, representing 13 manufacturers.Spurring 2017, p.223Bernard et al 2023, p.80 It also saw the entry of Adler, only the second German manufacturer to enter Le Mans. From the previous year’s race, there were sixteen cars entering for the Coupe Bienniale.Spurring 2017, p.222 Category Entries Classes Large-sized engines 23 over 3-litre Medium-sized engines 10 1.5 to 3-litre Small-sized engines 25 up to 1.5-litre Total entrants 58 Official entry list List taken from Quentin Spurring's book, officially licensed by the ACO.Spurring 2017, p.2 It references the ACO archives which had a provisional numbering by an official. Normally sorted by engine capacity, there are several cars out of the regular sequence that would have been corrected for the final race entry list.Spurring 2017, p.223 No. Car number Class Team Drivers Chassis Engine BiennialEntry 1 4.0+ * AUS/GBR F.J. McEvoy(private entrant) AUS/GBR Frederick McEvoy Mercedes-Benz 540K Mercedes-Benz 5.4L S8supercharged 2 4.0+ * FRA G. Nancy(private entrant) FRA Georges Nancy . Pehache Bugatti Type 50 Sports Bugatti 5.0L S8supercharged 23 4.0+ * FRA R. Labric(private entrant) FRA Roger Labric Bugatti Type 50 Sports Bugatti 5.0L S8supercharged 34 4.0+ * FRA "Jean Renaldi"(private entrant) FRA "Jean Renaldi" (André Carré) Bugatti Type 50 Sports Bugatti 5.0L S8supercharged 3 4.0+ GBR Arthur W. Fox GBR Brian Lewis, Baron EssendonGBR Tim Rose-Richards Lagonda M45 Rapide Meadows 4.4L S6 B 4 5.0 GBR Arthur W. Fox GBR Goldie GardnerGBR Freddy Clifford Lagonda M45 Rapide Meadows 4.4L S6 5 4.0+ GBR E. Hall(private entrant) GBR Eddie Hall Bentley TT 4.5 Bentley 4.3L S6 6 4.0 FRA Automobiles Talbot-Lago FRA René Dreyfus Talbot T150C Talbot 4.0L S6 7 4.0 FRA Automobiles Talbot-Lago FRA André MorelGBR Jim Bradley Talbot T150C Talbot 4.0L S6 8 4.0 FRA P. Louis-Dreyfus(private entrant) FRA "Heldé" (Pierre Louis-Dreyfus) Talbot T150C Talbot 4.0L S6 B 9 3.0 ITA 1861 L. Chinetti (private entrant) ITA 1861 Luigi ChinettiFRA Raymond Sommer Alfa Romeo 8C-2900 A Alfa Romeo 2.9L S8 10 4.0 * FRA Viscomte P. Merlin(private entrant) FRA Viscomte Pierre Merlin Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 LM Alfa Romeo 2.3L S8supercharged 11 4.0 * FRA J. Chancerelle(private entrant) FRA J. Chancerelle Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 LM Alfa Romeo 2.3L S8supercharged 12 4.0 USA 1912/FRA L. O'Reilly Schell(private entrant) USA 1912/FRA Lucy O'Reilly SchellFRA René Carrière Delahaye 135 CS Delahaye 3.6L S6 14 4.0 FRA L. Villeneuve(private entrant) FRA Louis VilleneuveFRA André Vagniez Delahaye 135 CS Delahaye 3.6L S6 B 15 4.0 FRA "Michel Paris" (private entrant) FRA "Michel Paris" (Henri Toulouse)FRA Marcel Mongin Delahaye 135 CS Delahaye 3.6L S6 B 16 4.0 FRA Société des Automobiles Delahaye FRA . DhômeFRA Albert Perrot Delahaye 135 CS Delahaye 3.6L S6 18 4.0 FRA Société des AutomobilesDelahaye FRA Albert DivoFRA Robert Girod Delahaye 135 CS Delahaye 3.6L S6 19 4.0 FRA Écurie Jacques Menier(private entrant) FRA Philippe Maillard-BruneFRA Charles Druck Delahaye 135 CS Delahaye 3.6L S6 B 20 4.0 FRA D. Porthault(private entrant) FRA Daniel PorthaultFRA René Marie Delahaye 135 CS Delahaye 3.6L S6 21 4.0 FRA R. Le Bègue(private entrant) FRA Réné Le BègueFRA Jean Danne Delahaye 135 CS Delahaye 3.6L S6 22 4.0 FRA E. Chaboud(private entrant) FRA Eugène ChaboudFRA Jean Trémoulet Delahaye 138 Spéciale Delahaye 3.6L S6 - 4.0 GBR Earl Howe(private entrant) GBR Francis Curzon, Earl Howe Bugatti Type 57T Bugatti 3.3L S8 24 3.0 FRA R. Kippeurt(private entrant) FRA René Kippeurt Bugatti Type 44 Bugatti 3.0L S8 25 4.0 FRA Société Nouvelle desAutomobiles Delage FRA Henri FretetFRA Robert Laly Delage D6-80 Delage 3.2L S6 - 4.0 FRA Société Nouvelle desAutomobiles Delage Delage D6-80 Delage 3.2L S6 26 2.0 GBR J.C. Noël(private entrant) GBR Charles BrackenburyGBR Pat Fairfield Aston Martin Speed Aston Martin 1967cc S4 B 27 2.0 GBR Aston Martin Ltd GBR Sammy DavisGBR Bill Everitt Aston Martin Speed Aston Martin 1967cc S4 28 2.0 FRA G. Pfister(private entrant) FRA Guy Pfister FRA Jean-Pierre Rault Citroën Traction Avant 11CV Citroën 1911cc S4 29 2.0 * NLD E. Hertzberger (private entrant) NLD Eddie Hertzberger MG K3 Magnette MG 1087cc S4supercharged 43 2.0 * GBR Capt. G.E.T. Eyston MG K3 Magnette MG 1087cc S4supercharged B 30 2.0 FRA Mme A.-C. Rose-Itier(private entrant) FRA Anne-Cécile Rose-Itier ? . Boetzkes Adler Super Trumpf Rennlimousine Adler 1645cc S4 sidevalve B 31 2.0 GER 1935 Adlerwerke GER 1935 Rudolf SauerweinGER 1935 Peter Graf Orssich Adler Super Trumpf Rennlimousine Adler 1645cc S4 sidevalve 32 2.0 GER 1935 Adlerwerke AUT Wilhelm "Max", Prinz zuSchaumburg-Lippe ? Edouard Legré Adler Super Trumpf Rennlimousine Adler 1645cc S4 sidevalve 33 2.0 GER 1935 Adlerwerke GER 1935 Otto Löhr GER 1935 Paul von Guillaume Adler Super Trumpf Rennlimousine Adler 1645cc S4 sidevalve 35 1.5 GBR Automobiles Frazer Nash Ltd GBR "Tim Davies" (Dudley Folland)GBR Alfred Fane Frazer Nash Gough 1496cc S4 36 1.5 GBR Riley (Coventry) Ltd FRA Jean SébilleauGBR Cyril Paul Riley TT Sprite Riley 1496cc S4B 37 1.5 GBR Riley (Coventry) Ltd GBR Alex “Bill” van der BeckeGBR Edgar Maclure Riley TT Sprite Riley 1496cc S4 38 1.5 GBR Riley (Coventry) LtdFRA J. Trévoux(private entrant) FRA Jean TrévouxGBR Charles Dobson Riley TT Sprite Riley 1496cc S4 39 1.5 GBR Aston Martin Ltd GBR . HeadlamGBR Boris Harcourt-Wood Aston Martin Ulster Aston Martin 1494cc S4 40 1.5 GBR Aston Martin Ltd GBR Dr Dudley BenjafieldGBR Jim Elwes Aston Martin Ulster Aston Martin 1494cc S4 41 1.5 GBR Aston Martin Ltd GBR Mortimer Morris-Goodall Aston Martin Ulster Aston Martin 1494cc S4 42 1.5 GBR C.T. Thomas(private entrant) Aston Martin Ulster Aston Martin 1494cc S4B 44 1.5 GBR M.K.H. Bilney(private entrant) GBR Maurice BilneyAUS Joan Richmond Ford 10 Model CX Special Ford 1172cc S4 45 750 FRA Amédée Gordini SIMCA Cinq Gordini Simca 570cc S4 46 750 FRA Amédée Gordini SIMCA Cinq Gordini Simca 570cc S4 47 750 FRA Amédée Gordini SIMCA Cinq Gordini Simca 570cc S4 48 750 FRA M. Moly(private entrant) SIMCA Cinq Gordini Simca 570cc S4 49 750 FRA Clément-Auguste Martin (private entrant) FRA Clément-Auguste Martin SIMCA Cinq Gordini Simca 570cc S4 50 750 FRA J.-É. Vernet(private entrant) FRA Just-Émile VernetFRA Gaston Tramer SIMCA Cinq Gordini Simca 570cc S4 51 1.0 GBR Team AutosportsGBR F.S. Barnes(private entrant) GBR Norman Black GBR Tommy Wisdom Singer Nine Le Mans Replica Singer 973cc S4 B 52 1.0 GBR Team AutosportsGBR R. Eccles(private entrant) GBR Roy EcclesGBR Marjorie Eccles Singer Nine Le Mans Replica Singer 973cc S4 B 53 1.0 GBR Team AutosportsGBR M. Collier(private entrant) GBR Michael CollierGBR Alf Langley Singer Nine Le Mans Singer 973cc S4 54 1.0 GBR A.R. Marsh(private entrant) GBR Arthur MarshGBR Trevor Guest Singer Nine Le Mans Singer 973cc S4 55 1.0 FRA R. Gaillard(private entrant) FRA Raymond GaillardFRA . Corbell Singer Nine Le Mans Singer 973cc S4 B 56 750 GBR Austin Motor Co. GBR Pat DriscollGBR Charles Goodacre Austin 7 AEK Grasshopper Austin 749cc S4 B 57 750 GBR Austin Motor Co. GBR Elsie WisdomCAN 1921 Kay Petre Austin 7 AEK Grasshopper Austin 749cc S4 58 750 GBR Austin Motor Co. GBR Charles DodsonGBR Donald Barnes Austin 7 AEK Grasshopper Austin 749cc S4 59 750 GBR J. Carr(private entrant) GBR John CarrGBR John Barbour Austin 7 AEK Grasshopper Austin 749cc S4 B 60 750 GBR R. Marsh(private entrant) Austin 7 AEK Grasshopper Austin 749cc S4 BSources:Spurring 2017, p.222 https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-1936-06-14.html Le Mans 24 Hours 1936 - Racing Sports Cars www.racingsportscars.com 2022-09-20http://www.lemans-history.com/provas.php?ano=1936 Le Mans History www.lemans-history.com 2022-09-20http://www.wsrp.cz/prewar1936.html#6 World Sports Racing Prototypes www.wsrp.cz 2022-09-20 http://www.formula2.net/1936.htm Formula 2 www.formula2.net 2022-09-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20170704230642/http://www.formula2.net/1936.htm 4 July 2017 dead Note *: equivalent class for supercharging, with x1.6 modifier to engine capacity.Spurring 2017, p.224 Disruption and cancellation Throughout the mid-1930s, France had been undergoing major economic and political upheaval – as had much of Europe, as opinions became more polarised to fascist and communist groups. Unemployment, inflation, class inequality and military friction with Germany all contributed to the violent unrest.Spurring 2017, p.225 In the general election in May, it was the popular Front coalition of leftist parties that swept into power under Léon Blum. The second mass general strike occurred on 26 May to pressure the new government to pass sweeping reforms. Over two million workers from all over the country, including from the automobile factories, walked off the job for better work conditions. The strikes spread until five million workers were involved.Clarke 1998, pp.148: Motor Jun16 1936Laban 2001, p.83 However, there were no major riots. Ettore Bugatti was shut out of his own factory at Molsheim and the new car for the ACF could not be readied in time for Le Mans.Clausager 1982, p.64 http://www.radiolemans.co/charles-dressings-history-of-le-mans/1936-2/ Radio Le Mans www.radiolemans.co 2022-09-20 At the occupied Renault plant there were 25,000 strikers who were kept in high spirits by a fine Senegalese men's choir. By the time the government was able to negotiate a settlement it was 7th June. This was only three days before the nominal start of race-scrutineering. Faced with fuel shortages and the prospect that many entrants, and spectators, would be unable to get transport, accommodation or even food for the event, the ACO therefore announced that the race would be postponed. There was also the issue of having sufficient workers to prepare the public roads used for the circuit and getting officials and marshals to run the event. They approached the AIACR with several rescheduled dates – the following weekend, and the first weekend of August. However, both weekends were vetoed by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) who had their own "international" (albeit minor) events on at the same times. The AIACR was swayed by the British group and blocked the submissions. Without any other potential options, the ACO officially cancelled the Le Mans race on 23rd June.Williams 2023, p.82-3 Georges Durand, General-Secretary of the ACO, wrote: "I know that we have many friends in neighbouring countries who will be filled with astonishment and indignation by this setback for the 24 Hours and will draw the conclusion that things are going badly for France. It takes little more to compromise the reputation of a people in the opinion of foreigners and to alienate sympathy." The French Grand Prix was held just five days later, run to the new formula. Raymond Sommer and Jean-Pierre Wimille won the 8-hour race with the new Bugatti Type 57G ahead of four Delahayes.http://www.wsrp.cz/prewar1936.html#6 World Sports Racing Prototypes www.wsrp.cz 2022-09-20 In mid-July, Spain erupted in civil war, and abruptly motorsport was not important for an anxious and nervous Europe. The new French works teams would have to wait a year to test themselves against the proven experience of the Alfa Romeo and Lagonda privateers. References Citations 30em Bibliography Bernard, Davoine, Holtz & Holtz (2023) '100 Years of Legends' Sherborne, Dorset: Evro Publishing 978-1-910505-75-5 Clarke, R.M. - editor (1998) Le Mans 'The Bentley & Alfa Years 1923-1939' Cobham, Surrey: Brooklands Books 1-85520-465-7 Clausager, Anders (1982) 'Le Mans' London: Arthur Barker Ltd 0-213-16846-4 Laban, Brian (2001) 'Le Mans 24 Hours' London: Virgin Books 1-85227-971-0 Spurring, Quentin (2017) 'Le Mans 1930-39' Sherbourne, Dorset: Evro Publishing 978-1-91050-513-7 Williams, Richard (2023) 24 Hours – 100 Years of Le Mans London: Simon & Schuster 978-1-3985-1722-6 External links Racing Sports Cars – Le Mans 24 Hours 1936 entries, results, technical detail. Retrieved 20 Sep 2022 Le Mans History – entries, results incl. photos, hourly positions. Retrieved 20 Sep 2022 World Sports Racing Prototypes – results, reserve entries & chassis numbers. Retrieved 20 Sep 2022 Radio Le Mans – Race article and review by Charles Dressing. Retrieved 20 Sep 2022 Unique Cars & Parts – results & reserve entries. Retrieved 20 Sep 2022 Formula 2 – Le Mans results & reserve entries. Retrieved 20 Sep 2022 Category:24 Hours of Le Mans races Le Mans Category:1936 in French motorsport 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1936