Thirteen to five… On the speedway in front of Dijon, twenty-five cars are waiting for the signal in a vibrating atmosphere. Everyone is ready to go and beat a record. Fourteen cars will race for the morning trophy, reserved for cars sport category only.
Divo, winner of the famous Targa Florio, who is ready to give the beginning signal, is talking to a timekeeper in fiddling nervously with his fingers on the pole of the traditional green flag; he seems to be more confident when he sits in a small bolide’s cockpit.
But it’s now time to start; the green flag is up; engines, which were puffing, sound crying for the delivery. Two seconds, the flag is down and the sport cars are taking their run up and leave like a bullet from a gun.
Five minutes after, it’s now time for the racing cars to take part to the show. The same flag is down entailing a real howling of machines, which lead off the dance.
The masses listen with bated breath; everybody is giving part from his impressions, some are ever doing prognostications. The first car which goes round the first lap is a Licorne driven by Michel Doré, who run away in an appalling vrombing while spectators are clapping for him. Behind, Lamy, winner of the Yacco trophy last year, then Colas on D.F.P. and Mrs Scheel and Jennky on Bugatti; Chiron is following them with the intention to prove they are only charming laddies.
Loud speakers inform the public to the coming of cars in Rendez-Vous des Chasseurs, in Savigny, and in Norges. Even though we know the ability of these crack drivers, we are still afraid of an accident in one of these three dangerous curves.
On
the big board located in front of officials’ tribune each time of each lap of
each pilot is written. The audience is always waiting for this piece of
information, which are sources of most varied comments. Eventually serious
prognostications are just going to be concluded between friends about results
ever known. Michel Doré is clear leading the sport car category while he is
going round the 6th lap and had ever 105 kilometres covered in 53
minutes and 51 seconds; behind him: Burie on Ira, 6 laps in 57’49’’; Laly
on Ariès 6 laps in 58’28’’; then Dugat on Derby, Colas on D.F.P., Stoffel
on Chrysler, Gabriel on Ariès are following with 5 laps.
Edition 1928