Waiting the two years before the Monaco Historique rolls around is always worth it. There is always a sensational array of cars, there are great added attractions, it’s full of interesting people and it’s…Monaco.
This year’s event, held May 20–21, was again well-organized and very entertaining. Denis Welch achieved his ambition to be a three-time winner at Monaco in the Formula Junior race, taking his Merlyn Mk.5/7 to a good win over young Edwin Jowsey in a Lotus 22. Jowsey was a Monaco newcomer and was thrilled at his own result. A protest from the driver of an American-owned Stanguellini against Welch was thrown out (the Stanguellini had been banned after it was found to have been carrying much modern equipment!)
The pre-1947 Grand Prix and Voiturette race was a trip back in time, as Stefan Schollwoeck’s Maserati 6CM beat three ERAs, which were in turn followed by an Alfa Romeo P3, another Maserati and two more P3s. It was hard to imagine a more stunning field than this, and the racing was of top quality.
American Duncan Dayton took his Lotus 16 to a win in the race for 1947-1960 front-engine Grand Prix cars, beating the Maserati of Barrie Baxter. Dayton was on very good form all weekend, also winning the 1966-74 F1 race in his Brabham from Joaquin Folch’s McLaren. Grand Prix Masters impresario Ron Maydon brought the Amon F101 home to finish its first Formula 1 race in 10th place.
The race for 1954–’65 rear-engine Grand Prix cars saw another hard competition which eventually fell to the Cooper T51 of Nick Wigley from Barry Cannell’s well-driven Cooper T-53. Cannell successfully held off an attack from American James King’s Brabham BT7.
Stirling Moss only had a few laps in the Ferguson 4-wd car, the P99, until the gearbox broke, but he was certainly enjoying himself, even without brakes! Phil Hill was on hand along with Tim Parnell, Mike Sparken, Paul Frére and many other members of the Anciens Pilotes. The Ferrari F1 demonstration struggled on Saturday when one car’s stoppage turned Monaco into a car park! However, the Sunday demo was fantastic with a 625, 312B2 and B3, T, 643, 642, F93A, 412T1, five ex-Schumacher cars, as well as ex-Ferrari pilot Jackie Ickx all on track…very serious entertainment.
By Ed McDonough
