Race :: Round 28 - Finland Gaps the Field

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Tavho Myrsky of Finland shifts up and skids through the curve at Opéra, opening up a small gap on the field. Yet the Fin is barely under control as the big Chrysler Special fishtails back and forth onto the Quai des États-Unis. Gripping the wheel, Myrsky contemplates the smoke cloud obscuring much of the pit lane and the paddocks. Meanwhile, the Belgian, Norwegian and English drivers hold together in a tight knot, working through the curve close behind. Vitez Rychly shifts down yet again and coasts his orange Bugatti gingerly forward, losing more time and needlessly sacrificing position to France's Aristide La Fontaine and Germany's Godeschalk Hegkman. The sound of the car engines is nearly drowned out by the crowd as they cheer on Aristide La Fontaine. With the Monegasque out of the race, those from neighboring Monte Carlo now join the Frenchmen in cheering on the big blue Salmson racer. Both La Fontaine and the German hammer past the Czech Bugatti in a competitive assault on the hairpin curve ahead. They fall in line behind the British Amilcar as the pack jostles for position. Farther back, demonstrating true mastery of his machine, Sebi Orsi smoothly shifts up and races ahead of the Spanish driver, who cannot seem to keep pace with the red Maserati. The Swiss Bugatti, driven by Petrus de Salvion Bernardus, skids badly into the debris field as he struggles to go around the stricken Swedish Monza and hold on coming out of Paillon. His only hope is to make up lost ground as the black Bugatti pulls rapidly away.

Race :: Round 27 - Reaching for Opéra

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Finland's Tavho Myrsky shifts down hard, desperately holding on as the big Chrysler Special roars its way around the curve at Opéra, still in the lead position. Norway's Megane Omalie pulls smoothly into the curve, taking the outside lane and slowing as the full weight of the challenge of the Opéra hairpin along the Quai des États-Unis becomes apparent. She glances over as the Belgian races past, intent on chasing Finland. The little yellow Bugatti runs deep into the curve in high gear as Victor Hugo Stéphane nervously glances over his shoulder, hoping to hold off the Englishman’s Amilcar. Yet John Milk holds steady and instead slides in beside the Norwegian car at the entrance to the curve.

Farther back, Vitez Rychly falls short as the Frenchman powers up from behind at high speed, the Salmson's large aircraft engine announcing the intentions of its race car pilot, Aristide La Fontaine. Even Germany's Godeschalk Hegkman comes onward now, despite being slightly off the pace set by France yet still positioning well despite the battered state of his white single seat Bugatti.

Italy's Sebi Orsi cuts right, skidding out of the curve, his red scarf snapping in the wind. Orsi is clearly seeking to hold off the Spanish driver, Teide Sorolla, who takes the corner at Paillon in textbook perfection. In last place, Switzerland slides into the Paillon curve as driver Petrus de Salvion notes the multiple skid marks and the field of debris leading to the wreck of the Swedish Monza -- all the ill-fated work of those who came before.

In the lead, Finland glances hopefully toward the pit lanes. Mon Dieu! The fires have spread! Smoke obscures much of the view down pit row. Only the first of the garages is in the clear, its roof graced by the red on white Cross of St. George marking out England's team. The flag flies strong before the tumult of menacing black smoke and flames beyond. Amidst the chaos, the British team's pit crew stands at attention, unfazed and ready to take the Amilcar if John Milk elects to make his stop. And through the dark smoke behind, there are but glimpses of other men running back and forth…. Mais… Voilà! On voit aussi la tricolore de la Belle France!

This is Jacques Hévin reporting on the Grand Prix de Nice for Radio Côte d'Azur, broadcasting on 240,2 meters, 0,8 kW and brought to you by the Société du Casino de Juan-les-Pins. We are the voice of Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Corse et de Juan-les-Pins.

Race :: Round 26 - Into the Straightaway

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Pressing on, Megane Omalie of Norway shifts down and again fumbles her gear selection, failing to capitalize on the lead position as Finland speeds by, deep into the curve in 3rd Gear. Behind, Britain races past the Czech driver and Germany gears carefully up to head into the straight, dismayed to see France's Aristide La Fontaine pull alongside and ahead. Italy's Sebi Orsi cuts to the center and prosecutes the curve at Paillon, holding off Spain's pressure to overtake. Carrying a lot of speed, Orsi cannot avoid the debris now littering the length of the curve from so many previous mishaps. Farther back, Switzerland glides into Jardin Albert 1er and prepares to head toward Paillon. The bulk of the field is now on the straightaway at the Quai des États-Unis, with Finland's Tavho Myrsky now the undisputed leader of the pack after a daring pass of the Norwegian driver who seems mired in the approaches to the curve at Opéra.

Race :: Round 25 - Collision at Paillon!

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Pressing on, Megane Omalie of Norway fumbles her gear selection and misses the opportunity to accelerate into the curve at at Opéra. From behind, racing up the straight of the Quai des États-Unis, Finland's Tavho Myrsky rapidly closes the gap once again. Belgium's ace, Victor Hugo Stéphane, presses in close pursuit. Back at the curve at Paillon, Vitez Rychly cuts to the outside of the curve, narrowly missing the stricken Swedish Monza, while Britain cuts around the Swede as Germany shifts down hard to 1st Gear in an attempt to avoid the traffic ahead -- mais non!! Vas ist das?? His tires and brakes shot, Godeschalk Hegkman's white Bugatti simply cannot stop and runs into the British Amilcar from behind! The impact nearly pushes the Britisher into the Czech car, but somehow yet another collision is avoided. Yet the damage is light to both the British and German cars. Behind, France's Aristide La Fontaine jockeys into the Paillon curve, skidding left and right and braking to avoid the German car just ahead -- ah, but he cannot avoid the debris in the roadway from the previous crash. Pieces cut into under body of the blue Salmson!. Farther back, Italy's Sebi Orsi shifts down and holds off, while Spain flies into the curve at Jardin Albert 1er and pulls close alongside the red Maserati, nearly clipping wheels as he challenges for position looking ahead to the curve over the old riverbed of Paillon. Switzerland's Petrus de Salvion Bernardus presses onward from behind but once again falls off pace. And what's this? Back at the pits, another explosion of fire erupts, filling the sky with black smoke, this time from Belgian garage.

Race :: Round 24 - Norway in a Breakaway!

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Rutger Hägglund's Alfa Romeo Monza is a wreck against the boards and wattle at Paillon, blocking the outer lane of the curve. Yet Norway's Megane Omalie is already past the wreck in a full-on breakaway down the straight of the Quai des États-Unis, pressing onward to the intersection with Rue Sulzer, halfway to the curve by the Nice Opéra house. Finland's Tavho Myrsky must slow to maneuver safely around the Swedish wreck, while behind, Belgium's ace, Victor Hugo Stéphane, too finds the way ahead blocked. To avoid a collision with the Fin, he slams on the brakes -- which are now glowing red hot from the abuse!

The Czech driver, Vitez Rychly, cuts hard left to avoid the traffic and mess ahead, as Germany's Godeschalk Hegkman in his white Bugatti, shifts down and takes the center lane to avoid any further stress on his car. Not so for Britain's John Milk who storms into the curve in higher gear on the outside. But what's that? It looks like he has picked up debris from the track, a part of the under body from the Norway and Sweden collision. Sparks fly as the piece momentarily cuts into his rear axle. Seeing the Swedish Monza blocking the lane ahead, John Milk hits the brakes to join a tight knot of cars crowding into the curve. But what choice is there? Fully half of the remaining racers are now tightly jammed into the curve over the old riverbed of Paillon.

Holding off, Italy's Sebi Orsi smoothly takes the curve at Jardin Albert 1er, seemingly content to stay clear of the melée. He is joined again by France's Aristide La Fontaine as the two jockey for position. Meanwhile, bringing up the rear in a black cloud of tire rubber, Spain's Teide Sorolla skids terribly out of the curve at Place Masséna. He is seemingly hell bent on taking advantage of the sudden, if small lead he has pulled over the Swiss driver, whose red and white Bugatti takes the rest of the Masséna curve at a more restrained pace.

Race :: Round 23 - Sweden Hits the Boards

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Sweden's Alfa Romeo Monza race car careens forward to the right as Rutger Hägglund struggles with the wheel. Despite his best effort, the car flips onto its side and slides into the wattle sideboards at Paillon. The Shark leaps clear, somehow uninjured amidst the debris and damage. Behind, Norway's Megane Omalie cuts left and shifts down to avoid the accident. Finland's Tavho Myrsky also cuts hard to the left to take the inside line, close on the heels of Omalie. Belgium flies forward to close the gap, taking the outside line as all watch the Swedish car come to grief against the wattle-backed sideboards, strangely still in the lead position, but only figuratively so as the Monza is clearly out of the race now.

Farther back, the Czech driver, Vitez Rychly, cruises smoothly into the curve at Jardin Albert 1er, while Britain and Germany fight for the lead into the curve. Hegkman's white Bugatti once again overtakes John Milk's Amilcar to come alongside the Czech driver! Yet the three take no notice of each other as they look to see what is happening at the pits.

They can see glimpses of the security man, Orlince Strazny, as he bypasses the fires at the Monaco garage and cuts to the rear of the buildings. Quickly maneuvering past trees and across the grass, he leaps from the red motorbike to slide feet first into the doorway of the flaming Czech garage. A flick of his wrist reveals a small gun suddenly in his hand. Mon Dieu!! A shot rings out!! The Czech pit crew dives aside as a second explosion takes the back of the garage area and Strazny disappears inside. What is happening in our beautiful race!!

But we must report the Grand Prix! There, at Place Masséna, France's Aristide La Fontaine shifts up as Italy's Sebi Orsi, in his red Maserati, presses forward. Both cars skid out of the curve with Italy barely in the lead. Coming out of Avenue de la Victoire at the rear, Switzerland presses forward into the curve yet is stunned to see Spain's Teide Sorolla explode once again out of the back to overtake, carrying speed deep into Place Masséna! Is this the return of the "Volcán legend", now suddenly taking his advantage to challenge those ahead?

And what will become of the pits -- are they even usable with all this damage? Our fair jardin! Our fair jardin all aflame!!

Race :: Round 22 - A Terrible Fate for Sweden!

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Sweden and Norway, both in Alfa Romeo Monza racers, are now in a tight battle for 1st place. In a surprise move, Norway cuts across to the right to edge out the Swedish car. Omalie must expect the famed Shark, Rutger Hägglund, to slide to left as well -- but he stays the course on ahead!! Hägglund presses the accelerator to take the lead as the two cars come to the Paillon curve. Mon Dieu! A terrible collision!! Just there at Paillon by Rue Sainte-François de Paule, the tires touch first and Sweden spins around as the Monza nearly tumbles!

Omalie holds the wheel and keeps to the track despite the damage to her car -- she drives on. In an instant, it is almost as if the rest of the race is forgotten. The two historic Scandinavian ice racing rivals nearly both come to grief in this ill-begotten challenge for the lead!! But Sweden is out!

Farther back, Finland's ice racing champion, Tavho Myrsky, holds off and takes the curve at Jardin Albert 1er, assessing the situation ahead. Belgium's Victor Hugo Stéphane now closes in steadily from behind. Germany's Godeschalk Hegkman barely holds the curve at Place Messéna, exiting to the outside lane as he downshifts. The white warrior watches the Czech driver, Vitez Rychly, fly past him -- and then the Amilcar of Britain's John Milk too pulls alongside the white Bugatti.

France's Aristide La Fontaine shifts down to enter the curve at Place Messéna, his blue Salmson holding to the outside as Italy's Sebi Orsi slides into trail, very close now and clearly about to challenge for position. At Avenue de la Victoire, Switzerland also shifts down and holds the curve while Spain's Teide Sorolla presses forward and nearly overtakes, cutting to the inside. Once again, the Spaniard strikes some of the debris in the road from a previous collision by the leading cars.

Looking to the pit area, the fires continue to burn vigorously as the crowds hold back from the heat. The pit crew of the Czech team is boldly rushing equipment out from the garage, knowing full well that the fire at the back is out of control. There, Orlince Strazny races into the pit lane and skids Orsi's Benelli motorbike sideways past the fires at Monaco! It is an amazing show of handling and talent -- perhaps he should take up racing himself! But what can be done!! What can be done? The conflagration at the pits is simply too great!

Race :: Round 21 - Norway Falls Off the Pace

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Racing ahead toward the Jardin Albert 1er, both Norway's Megane Omalie and Sweden's Rutger Hägglund take the curve beautifully and are now in a tight race for the lead. Tavho Myrsky of Finland, once the undisputed leader of the race, somehow fumbles his gears and cuts to the right lane, falling off the pace of the lead pack.

Belgium's Victor Hugo Stéphane shifts down and comes out of the curve at Place Messéna. For the Belgian, it is a near perfect exploitation of his previous overtake on the Czech driver, Vitez Rychly. His tires only skid slightly as he expertly maneuvers the yellow Bugatti T35B into position. It is clear to all that he will soon challenge the Finnish driver ahead for 3rd Place.

Vitez Rychly's continued hatred of the German again becomes evident as the Czech audaciously seizes an opportunity to force aside Germany's Godeschalk Hegkman, who is still carrying too much speed as his white Bugatti vaults toward Place Messéna. Gamely sacrificing the position to the Belgian Bugatti, Rychly instead cuts right and blocks the Teutonic ace, holding him to the inside lane. The German responds by cutting ahead of the Czech car, nearly skidding and at the edge of control, his tires clearly stripped of tread. There can be no doubt that shortly the Czech will cut back ahead of Hegkman, whose car is only barely holding to the line of curve.

Farther back, France's Aristide La Fontaine shifts up and heads toward Place Messéna, his powerful Salmson aircraft engine unsuccessfully straining to get the car back up to speed. John Milk of Britain now shifts up a gear, gunning his Amilcar to overtake. In a cloud of benzine, Milk uses the fuel boost feature of his car to vault ahead of France and come in behind Rychly. As he maneuvers past, his left hand flicks up into a smart British salute.

Meanwhile, Italy's Sebi Orsi maneuvers gracefully through the curve at Avenue de la Victoire, while Spain slams his car down to 1st Gear and carefully edges forward. Despite his slow speed, the Spaniard still manages to skid on a piece of debris in the roadway, damaging the under body of his all black Bugatti. Switzerland makes no attempt to slow and blazes past the Spanish driver to overtake for 10th place, cutting left to fall in behind the Italian, who does not even care to glance back.

Meanwhile, at the opposite side of the track by Hôtel Negresco, the Czech driver's security man, Orlince Strazny, races eastward along the Promenade des Anglais, his black suit flapping in the breeze as he leans forward and confidently shifts through the gears of Orsi's red Benelli motorbike, his eyes fixed upon the conflagration ahead at the pits.

Race :: Round 20 - The Nordic Duel

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At the tight curve of Place Messéna, the action is swift. Norway's Megane Omalie cuts off the Finnish driver, Tavho Myrsky, who must slam on his brakes to avoid a collision. Behind, capitalizing on the ruthless maneuvering, Sweden's famed Shark cuts to the right and overtakes Finland in a deadly scissors -- it is the battle of some of the world's greatest Nordic drivers!! Coming out of Avenue de la Victoire, the Czech ace, Vitez Rychly, cruises smoothly into the next curve, his driving technical perfection. But Belgium's yellow Bugatti racer, Victor Hugo Stéphane, now again challenges the Czech! Unexpectedly, he shifts up to make a daring pass -- and succeeds!! Now, the Belgian is deep into the curve at Place Messéna, nearly into the lead group, to take 4th place.

Farther back, Aristide La Fontaine proves to be a dark trickster, shifting down suddenly -- his blue Salmson gingerly passing through the debris left from Rychly's collision with Belgium a moment ago. But Hegkman of Germany will have none of it -- he cuts past and pulls to the right, skidding out of the curve, his tires now nearly bald from abuse. Mais oui! It is Britain's John Milk who is suddenly caught off guard by the Frenchman's brilliant maneuver! Milk must shift his green Amilcar down hard and hit the brakes to avoid colliding with the huge blue Salmson. A cloud of black smoke surrounds him. Amidst the grinding of gears, Milk glances up to see La Fontaine looking back at him, a wide grin spreading on his face.

Italy's Sebi Orsi downshifts again and gracefully enters the curve at Avenue de la Victoire, his Maserati almost purring from his gentle touch upon the wheel. Meanwhile, the backfield makes a daring dash toward the curve from behind, closing the gap but not yet finding advantage.

Suddenly, a gasp comes up from the crowd waiting by Hôtel Negresco. Bursting through the front door onto the street, Vitez Rychly's security man, Orlince Strazny, dressed in his all black suit, flies out to the street atop Orsi's red Benelli motorbike. With a flick of the throttle, he launches the borrowed bike skillfully over the wattle fencing at the barrier onto the street. His eyes narrow as he looks up the Promenade des Anglais into the distance at the burning fires by the back of the paddocks. Without further pause, he guns the bike toward the fires!! Almost covered by the loud roar of the Benelli, a shriek is heard -- mais non!! Was that not the pale wail of Rychly's fiancée, VV? What terrible mischief must be afoot!!

Race :: Round 19 - The Press for Position

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Somehow retaining control, Finland's Tavho Myrsky shifts down hard to rescue his big Chrysler Special from near disaster. As he settles into the curve at Place Messéna, both Norway's Omalie and Sweden's famed Shark press in from behind, rapidly closing the gap to take advantage of the Fin's error. Norway pulls alongside to edge out Myrsky for the lead while Sweden presses right up to the Chrysler's tail cone. Farther back, both the Czech ace and Belgium's top pilot, Victor Hugo Stéphane, crisscross through the curve at Avenue de la Victoire in a classic over and under. First Belgium seeks to overtake, almost succeeds, but is dismayed as Rychly slides back out front, both setting up for the upcoming challenges of Place Messéna. Ah! Belgian misjudges and grazes the Czech's rear tire! With too much speed, France downshifts yet again and must lock up his brakes to avoid another collision! Aristide La Fontaine skids to fall in behind Rychly at the curve, struggling to control the powerful Salmson racer, its aircraft engine protesting with a terrible noise. Behind, there is little room for Godeschalk Hegkman, the German pilot, who must cut left, then right to navigate the curve, shifting down hard to fall in behind Belgium. A piece of debris lodges into the left front suspension of the white Bugatti, but Hegkman presses on undeterred. Britain's John Milk also shifts down hard to 3rd Gear and falls in tightly behind France, closing the gap quickly.

It seems almost everyone is now in the curve at once even as from the backfield, Italy's Sebi Orsi downshifts to 3rd Gear and drives straight ahead toward the beginning of the curve, seemingly casual despite the traffic ahead. Orsi looks to be taking in the smell of burnt oil, tire rubber and transmission fluid just ahead, almost seeming to smile. It is as if he knows it is not his car that is coming apart from the abuses the pilots seem to so wantonly press upon the other noble race cars! All know that it is a two lap race, yet the battle seems relentless for position now so early on no matter how transitory or how much damage is sustained!! Indeed, to punctuate the thought, tearing up the straightaway in a desperate advance, Spain's Teide Sorolla flies toward the curve in a display of seemingly reckless abandon, followed distantly by the Swiss driver, Petrus de Salvion de Bernardus, who must yield the position now to the Volcán's suddenly aggressive driving style.

And there is the fire at the pits! The smoke and flames ahead on the other side of the course seem to grow! This must be racing fuel burning, but how? Why? Everyone realizes that two fires at once is too much a coincidence….