TALBOT - LAGO car / race log

[AUSTRIA]

Working on TALBOT-LAGO's history I wasn't yet successful in finding complete chassis and race logs from the types 150C, 90MD (T26SS), 90MC (T26), T26C, T26-DA, T26GS. There is a book from Pierre Abeillon, but only a short looking for the logs $250 are too much i think.

Is anybody here able to help me?
Great Thanks

[Peter Mallett]

Come on folks. There's somebody needing help here.

[TimD]

The best I can do is the "Record of Grand Prix and Voiturette Racing", now into 11 volumes, and still only as far as 1974.

It has every race result in GP and F2, and attempts to record chassis details as well.

I have all the ones for the Talbot Lago period, so I shall start digging. It won't be a complete record chassis by chassis, but it will be a start for separating which car achieved what.

I suspect though that it will be limited to T26C types only...

[AUSTRIA]

To Peter:
Thanks for first aid ( and how can I insert a Smily ;-) here? )

To Tim:
It is kind to help me. I've good information about the T26C in WC races, not so good in non-WC races, but missing the 110003 and the 110010 completely. Is there a 110051 and a 110056?

Mainly interesting for me are the 90MC(T26) and 90MD(T26SS)types with each 2 chassis I suppose. (The 90111; 90130 or 90131 - presumable the same; 90201; 90203).
The 150C types are not so important.

I don't expect you, to work hard in this matter. Maybe it's easier for you, to scan/mail some pages?

But first of all: I've been looking for "A Record of Grand Prix and Voiturette Racing", but it seems to be not easy to catch one of it. I know the authors Sheldon et al., but who published it? Do you know, whether it is still obtainable and when yes, where? Many questions, I know ...

Nice to make your acquaintance by this way, so long.

E.T.

[Peter Mallett]

Austria,

I've found that there are some very knowledgable people on this BB. All we need is people like you to prompt them.

Keep it up.

[TimD]

Just a quick note about "History of Grand Prix & Voiturette Racing".

My crib sheet for most of the historical trivia questions posted here!

Paul Sheldon and Duncan Rabagliati have been working on this project for 15 years now, publishing themselves as "St Leonards Press".

Unfortunately, while the first volume ran to about 1000 copies, they discovered for some obscure reason the so-and-so didn't sell in that sort of numbers, and they were forced to pulp hundreds. All other volumes have been printed in numbered editions of 500.

They have also done International F3, Tasman series, Formula 5000 and the South African races.

I'm hoping that my Brooklands project is going to wind up alongside them.

While the books go out of print very quickly, most can be hunted down in the specialist bookshops. My set, now complete to 1960, came from Simon Lewis Transport Bookshop, Chris Knapman's Connoisseur Carbooks, Motorbooks in Central London, and of course Chaters in Isleworth. All good and reliable specialists. Expect to pay between £50 and £65 per volume at the moment.

I'm working on annotating results from the mid fifties for my own records at the moment, so it is no chore to pluck out the Lago chassis details as I go. I'll keep you posted on progress.

As to sports car chassis, I am more in the dark. I have enough trouble just sorting out the type designations. Except the T150c, which I think is gorgeous!

Can you tell me, what was the type number of the car Levegh "almost" won Le Mans with? 1952? 1953? I always liked the bug-eyed look of that one.

All the best,

Tim

[AUSTRIA]

To Peter:

Thanks for your kind compliment, bur as you can see at the left side, i'm a rookie !!
BTW, you didn't tell me, how I can place a smily ;-) here !

To Tim:
Thank you for your detailed note about "History of Grand Prix & Voiturette Racing". I will commission my bookseller to procure it as possible and i think he will do a hard job, don't you think so?

I'm delighted you will help me in my Talbot-matter and you'll keep me posted on progress.

As for you it's valid for me that i'm "in the dark" as for sports car chassis.
Therefor I can not safly answer your question but 'Levegh' drove 1951 and 1952 both times with his co René Marchand a T26GS, in 1951 a works car and in 1952 a own car, as I think. Dont know the chassis numbers, as you can guess.

To the 150C: Did you ever hear one? I didn't, but must be infernal.

Closing, want you to tell me, what is your 'Brooklands project'?

Also all the best to both, Tim and Peter

E.T

[Peter Mallett]

Austria,

If U look in FAQ u can find the codes for smileie. However, anoth way is to go to a post with a smiley in it and click on edit. You will see how its done.

Cheers
Pete

[Peter Mallett]

From an MG standpoint you may find some info in "MG by McComb". Can't help today cos I'm nowhere near home.

[TimD]

Sorry to disappoint anyone reading this thread who is hoping I'm about to post my chassis number research up here...

I've e-mailed them to AUSTRIA, because there really are an awful lot of them! Hope they are of use, AUSTRIA.

If anyone else needs them, give me a shout.

Tim

[TimD]

AUSTRIA,

Thank you for the details of Pierre Levegh's car at Le Mans. I always think of poor Levegh, and the story of how he drove single-handed for 23 hours, only to miss a gear change and over rev the engine.

I've only ever seen T26 single seaters racing, but the T150C always looked wonderful from the pictures of club racing at Goodwood (car 82934). I wonder where it is now?

You asked about the Brooklands project? Well, at the risk of boring all the other good people on this site, because I have posted about it before, I have embarked upon the job of compiling all race results for Brooklands race track from 1907-1939. I actually wrote to Paul Sheldon a couple of years back to find out if they knew of one, and when told there was still a gap there, I decided to try and fill it.

The lists of runners at each meeting I have found reasonably easy to locate. First, second and third past the post are not too difficult either. It's the details of the minor placings and the back-markers that are really tricky to pin down. The contemporary press was not always bothered with recording them, and I haven't gained access to the BARC timesheets yet.

So once again, I call upon the world out there, if anyone is listening and can help me....!

What's your interest in Lago-Talbots? I'm intrigued.

[AUSTRIA]

Hallo Tim !

Thank you very much for this great stuff you mailed ! It must been sighted and discussed. But I need a few days from now on as you can think. I will answer per e-mail too, because this matter is as special as it can be and as you postet - maybe boring to others.

By E.T.

[Testa Rossa]

To TimD

I am deeply interested in racing cars of the 50s and 60s and would be very please if you share you knowledge about Talbot-Lago with me. I am of course ready to answer any questions as far as I can in counterpart.

Thank you

[TimD]

Greetings, Testa Rossa,

I am always delighted to discuss great racing cars, but I suspect in this particular case, it's AUSTRIA who you need to be talking to. I've sent him a lot of information which he has been able to incorporate into an ongoing project. In the process, he has been able to show me where my sources are in some cases decidedly "wooly".

AUSTRIA's the Talbot Lago expert. That I can guarantee.

If there are any specific questions you have, please feel free to e-mail me. I'm always happy to try to help. But I've got to say, I'm more of a Bentley/Aston Martin person myself!

[AUSTRIA]

Hi Testa Rossa !

What are your interests? Can you define it a bit? I'm working on a project, including the years 1945 - 1951 and maybe I have something for you or - the other direction - you for me

E.T.