Le Mans Journal Day 5- Down the Rabbit Hole of History

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Photo The winner of the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hour race, the Chenard-Walcker.

Auto racing honors the ghosts of their past in a way few sports can. Cars endure, unlike uniforms or equipment. Winning cars are a select class of memorabilia. The ghosts of Le Mans past are alive and well in the Musee Des 24 Heures, the museum located at the north main entrance to the track.

Getting to the museum was a bit of a hike from the closest bus stop, but it was well worth the time. Admission is free during race week for fans with event tickets. The rest of the year it is 12 Euros, about the same amount that IMS charged when the museum was open. The admission price I saved easily became moot during the post museum visit to the gift shop.

As happens each time I visit my beloved IMS Museum, goosebumps sprouted on my arms at the first steps inside. I liked the presentation, and I hope IMS will use some of these concepts when they reopen next April.

The journey into the past begins in what is essentially a Hall of Fame of sorts. Race founders, owners, and drivers greet vistors from banners on both side of the corridor. Biographical plaques are in French and English.

Georges Durand was one of the founders of what become Automobile Club l’Ouest, and was an early supporter of the 24 hour race.
Ferrari won nine times between 1949 and 1965, and again in 2023. The plaque mentions the feud with Henry Ford. Enzo never attended the race at Le Mans.
Collette Siko and Marguerite Mareuse teamed up in 1930 as the first all woman team in the race. She finished fourth in 1932. Collette is one of two women in the hall. Christine Beckers also has a banner.

After the Heroes’ walk, the next room is one ofr the most amazing displays i have ever seen. The room contains a detailed diorama of the circuit in its center. Against the walls of this circular space are display cases of diecast cars-virtually one of every car to race at Le Mans. The models are arranged by years, withe podium finishers on a stand.

The Dan Gurney/A. J. Foyt winning car from 1967. The other 90 + races are represented as well.

I noticed a familiar name on the diorama

Cars by Decades

Of course the machines are the heart of the place. The museum has the race cars grouped by decades. I loved this concept. It is easy to see the development of aerodynamics and safety improvements. I have a better understanding of how the modern car evolved. The 1950s seems to be th era when aerodynamic ideas fully took shape.

This is just my opinion, but the cars of the 1980s are some of the most unattractive cars as a group I have ever seen. They are bulky and overly wide. Some of the collection.

1950 Ferrari
1970 Porsche. One of my all time favorites.
Shelby American Cobra.

Chills

The names on this 1994 car gave me chills. This car finished second in the race.

Ratzenberger was killed at Imola that same year. Krosnoff died in an accident at an Indycar race in Toronto two years later.

My journey through the museum brought me back to being that 12-year-old kid, reading tales of a romantic all day and night race half a world away, wondering what it was like to race at this track. It is hard to imagine racing 24 hours in a roofless car, or even racing as part of only a two driver team. I also wondered if I could ever come see this race in person. Can my dreams of seeing F1 at Spa or Monaco be far behind?