| The first Monaco Grand Prix was held in 1929 and it is | | | | that have their cars sliding on the edge and giving |
| now an important part of the Formula One calendar. | | | | spectators images that will last forever. 2006 |
| The race covers many of the streets Principality of | | | | The 5th Historic Grand Prix was no exception. |
| Monaco. | | | | Memorable. It took place on Sunday 21st May 2006, |
| It is probably one of the most spectacular on the | | | | with practice sessions on Saturday 20th May. |
| Formula One season being set a few metres from | | | | The day's racing included a 10 lap event for sports |
| the Mediterranean Sea and at the foothills of the | | | | cars built before 1953. In 1952, the Monaco event had |
| Alps. It is also very expensive and restaurant and | | | | been run for sports cars, as this was a period in F1 |
| hotel prices are adjusted accordingly for the long | | | | when the regulations were being changed from one |
| weekend event that is normally held in May. This is | | | | engine to another and there was not an abundance |
| the same time as the Cannes Film Festival. | | | | of single-seater racing cars. How different to 1974, |
| In 1997 the first Historic Monaco Grand Prix (Grand | | | | when 32 cars vied for 25 places on the grid..... The |
| Prix de Monaco Historique) was held. The idea was to | | | | 2006 sports-car race featured cars that had |
| hold the race the week before the main Formula One | | | | competed in the '52 event or were competing in |
| event on the same circuit, particularly as all the | | | | similar races at that time. |
| infrastructure is in place. | | | | Amongst a gaggle of well driven 3.4 litre Jaguar C |
| It was then held in 2000 and since then every two | | | | types, a brace of Ferrari 2-litre spyders, an Aston |
| years in May. Unlike the Formula One event that is 78 | | | | Martin DB3, a magnificent Gordini and two pre-2nd |
| laps the races are only 10 to 15 laps depending on | | | | World War BMWs were a trio of Frazer-Nash cars. |
| the category of cars racing. The event that is | | | | Much less powerful than many of the other runners, |
| organised by the Automobile Club de Monaco is held | | | | one of them, in the masterly hands of John Ure, |
| over Saturday and Sunday with qualifying on the | | | | dominated the event in early 2000 Schumacher style. |
| Saturday. Cars that are racing date back to pre- | | | | Every lap, right on the limit, every lap like poetry in |
| 1947, but there cannot be any post 1978 cars. | | | | motion. That's why so many enthusiasts show up |
| The day will attract many visitors who will also go to | | | | from around Europe and beyond. |
| the annual "Goodwood" Revival meeting in England in | | | | Martin Stretton, in one of two 6-wheel |
| September. Unlike the Formula One race the tickets | | | | Tyrrell-Cosworth 'bolides' in the 1975-78, was another |
| are not expensive (about 10% of the cost - | | | | on the edge throughout the penultimate race, |
| Approximately 15 euros) and restaurant prices are still | | | | perhaps the most exciting event of the day. |
| normal unlike when the Formula One event is on. You | | | | Stretton, who prepares historic cars for a living, |
| can have a most enjoyable day's entertainment. | | | | certainly knows how to make 'em slither and slide but |
| If you are visiting Monaco for the day, as many of | | | | somehow manages to keep them out of the barriers. |
| the roads are closed off, parking can be very difficult. | | | | He is the only driver to have won here at each |
| An excellent alternative to trying to come in by car is | | | | Historic meeting to date. |
| to take a train. There is a great service running along | | | | Another sparkler, American Duncan Dayton came |
| the coast from Ventimigla in Italy (plus Italian | | | | away from the meeting with two fine victories, one |
| connections) on one side to Marseille on the other. | | | | in the beautiful 1959 Lotus 16 and another in a 1970 |
| The noise from the track is not so loud as it would | | | | Brabham. In both races he and his great rival, |
| be for a modern Formula One race, unless they hold | | | | Spaniard Joaquin Folch, locked horns for the |
| a parade of Ferraris as they did in 2004 and many of | | | | umpteenth time. Folch, a previous multi-winner here, |
| these were Formula One models. There is plenty of | | | | had to settle for 2nd in one event and retired early in |
| atmosphere to absorb including people watching the | | | | the other, mechanical gremlins spoiling what should |
| race from the yachts in the harbour or just people | | | | have been a battle royal between the two Lotus 16 |
| watching! | | | | matadors. |
| The Historic Grand Prix meeting is not over | | | | Further information about Monaco: It is located on |
| expensive to organise, as the stands, safety barriers, | | | | the Mediterranean Sea, tucked into the Maritimes |
| and the other essential infrastructure parts are | | | | Alps, it is only minutes from Nice International Airport |
| already in place for the following week's F1 World | | | | ( bus, train and helicopter connections) and the |
| Championship Grand Prix. Because many of the races | | | | French and Italian Rivieras. It has a population of |
| are for cars from an age when drivers could be seen | | | | 32,020 and is 2 sq km in size. The currency is the |
| at work. | | | | euro as in the neighbouring countries. Most of the |
| Today's F1 cars have high cockpit surrounds so it's | | | | people who dwell here come from somewhere else, |
| difficult to see anything except the driver's head | | | | drawn by the sun, glamorous lifestyle and - most |
| safety helmet - with the cars in the Historic Grand | | | | importantly - tax-free income and more police per |
| Prix you can enjoy watching these racers with arms | | | | head of population than in any other European |
| steering their beasts, often on opposite lock as they | | | | country. |
| defy physics whilst treading that invisible line between | | | | If you are in the area for the Historic Grand Prix or |
| total control and spinning off into the barriers. | | | | the Formula One Grand Prix and are staying for a |
| Of course, it's only the bravest and most talented | | | | few days an enjoyable pastime is a visit to the |
| who drive these beasts at 10/10ths - some others | | | | annual Cannes Film Festival. Like in Monaco if you |
| are content to lap the circuit much more sedately, | | | | enjoy watching people, there are certainly plenty to |
| not wishing to take huge risks with their irreplaceable | | | | watch at Cannes. |
| historic cars. But the heroes and heroines are those | | | | |