Hommage à Lecot

 

 

Objective

  During the « 75 hours for 75 years » we would like to pay homage to an outstanding man and the record he set which, to this day, has never been equaled. In addition to the 4000km which we will be driven during this challenge the plan is to run a Traction for a period of 75 hours, from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th July, and to have the run recognized as a record. To show that old cars do not necessarily mean pollution we intend to run this Traction on Bio-Fuel, courtesy of TOTAL

 

The car

 

 

The car will be loaned to us by « Vintage Roads ».   This company specializes in hiring out Classic Cars – and in particular, Citroen Tractions.  It will be a Traction 11BL which has been specially prepared as a hire car (4-Speed gearbox, 12 volt electrics, etc….).

 

 

 

 Project plan

The start will need to be at about 15:00 on Thursday 9 July in order to finish at about 18:00 on Sunday 12th July, during the “Grand Parade.”  The finish will be in front of a crowd of thousands, including the press and officials.  The finish will also coincide with the “Unofficial” start of the Paris-Moscow-Paris which our Dutch friends are organising for the summer of 2009.

 The car will travel through the whole of the Department of the Pas de Calais.  The route will be a circuit starting in Arras and passing through places of high tourist interest via “welcome points” which will be arranged by the Conseil General of the Department especially for the event.  The itinerary will be given advanced press publicity in order to attract the maximum possible number of spectators along the route.

Teams will drive in relays, day and night, throughout the full 75 hours. Each team will consist of 2 drivers.  They will all be traction owners/drivers and will be chosen in advance by lottery from those who have pre-registered for the event.

 In order to guarantee the safety of the Car and to make the public aware of its presence one or two official vehicles (cars or motorcycles) will accompany the Traction throughout its entire journey.  Additional Tractions may also accompany the Challenge Traction on one of the circuits and so create a bigger show during the drive.  It is also hoped a publicity caravan will be available.

 

Logistics

             We shall require an area in Arras Town where the car will be refuelled and any routine maintenance carried out (fluid levels checked, joints greased, etc.) whilst the driving team hands over to their successors.  This will need be arranged in conjunction with TOTAL.

            A limited selection of spare parts will be prepared to cover any mechanical problems and there will be a breakdown truck on standby at all times, wherever it may be required, throughout the 75 hours of the Challenge. 

 

Verification

We hope this Challenge will qualify for entry in the Guinness Book of World Records

 

Driving a Bio-Fuel powered 50+ year old car for 75 hours

 

 

 

Francois Lecot – the personification of endurance. 

 

 

Originally from the Ain, then Lyon and finally La Rochatailee-sur-Saone, where his wife was a hotelier/restauranteur, Francois Lecot was a sportsman keen on gymnastics and athletics in addition to his automotive interests.

His personality, together with a rare determination, led him to become a specialist in long distance events: 100,000km, first in 111 days then, later, in 105 days; the first Paris-Moscow-Paris run; etc… .

 

But his dream was of an adventure that would only be possible thanks to one particular avant-garde motor car.

Andre Citroen first presented his Traction at the 1934 Paris Automobile Salon – the first mass-produced Citroen.

And so, it was in a Traction (a 4 cylinder, 11CV model) that, between 22 July 1935 and 26th July 1936, Francois Lecot drove 400,134 km - equivalent to 10 times around the world.  On average he covered 1100km per day from Rochetaillée via Paris to Rochetaillée or Rochetaillée via Monaco to Rochetaillée

 

Photos courtesy of the excellent book "François Lecot - 400 000 km en Traction" 1935 - 1936" Edition SPE, by Fabian Sabates and Gilles Blanchet.

 

Partners :

VINTAGE ROADS LOCATION

tél 06 08 85 38 31

contact@vintage-roads.fr

www.vintage-roads.fr

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