Grand Prix de Monaco Historique
7 May 1997
by Andrew Frankl European Bureau Chief Good news for American readers of TACH--the first race in possibly the only historic Grand Prix to be held in the Principality was won by Duncan Dayton of the USA in a 1963 Cooper. Not that it really mattered, the whole weekend was a celebration of days gone by. We had seven races during Sunday, each consisting of 10 laps of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit. The reason for this extravaganza? 700 years of the Grimaldi family in the Principality. As they had to put up all the seats, all the barriers for the real race the following week, some bright person suggested that they did it a week earlier. Whoever that clever person was deserves everybody's thanks. The whole thing worked like a dream. After the Formula Juniors we had the magic spectacle of Ferrari sportcars racing each other. There were 250s, 375s, 750 Monzas, Ferraris from 1950 right through to 1959. Watching the drivers--and make no mistake, this time it was possible to see the drivers as they were fighting these mighty machines through the narrow streets-- was absolutely amazing. In the race for two seater Grand Prix cars pre-1934 we had the unique sight of car No 22, the very Bugatti which won here in 1931 with Louis Chiron at the wheel. Chiron, who raced at Indy in 1929 where he came 7th in a Delage. Not only was he a Monegasque, but he was the only person to have won both the Grand Prix and the famous Monte Carlo rally! Well, he did have some local knowledge you might say. Having said that, he did put it to good use. After lunch--which was a properly organised event with a two-hour break in the middle of the day--it was the great Stirling Moss' turn to take the wheel of a Maserati Tipo 1961, made in 1969. Even Bernie Ecclestone, here complete with wife and kids, walked on to the grid to wish the former double winner good luck. Whilst the British ace could not repeat his performance of yesteryear, he did come fourth after a great drive and the crowd went crazy. He also had the consolation of beating his great friend Nick Mason of Pink Floyd fame. Nice to see a great musician turning to racing cars and doing it really well. The last race of the day was a bit of a disappointment, a Lotus 49 with a Cosworth engine proved way too powerful for the opposition. Still, a great time was had by all winners and losers alike. The whole event was such a huge success there is talk of having vintage races before the Monaco Grand Prix more regularly in the future. We had lunch with Mika Hakkinen who will of course be driving his heart out in a week's time. His regret? Not having had a 1954 Mercedes to give the Ferraris a run for their money. Maybe next time...
