MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - 50th Le Mans Anniversary EX-182

Just thought I would post some interesting trivia.
I'm a huge fan of 50's-60's sports car/grand prix racing and was reading an article last night on the Mercedes 300 SLR cars that were so dominant during the 50's.
I was doing some surfing today and came across a french website that details the horrific and tragic crash of Pierre Levegh in 1955 that killed over 80 people when his Mercedes went over the wall, exploding into flames and throwing pieces including the engine and front suspension into the crowd.It will be the 50th year since the accident on June 11th, 2005.

Anyway, I realized that this race was also the Le Mans race where the EX-182 cars (the prototype MGA's)were first raced. Came across some interesting photos including this one from the start of the race. If you look closely, at the 11th & 13th cars leaving, you will see what appears to be the #41 car of Ken Miles that finished 12th overall in the race and the #42 car of Dick Jacobs that was a DNF due to an accident. Further back you can also see the 3rd EX-182 car.

Check it out at:
http://chbastin.free.fr/dossiers/1955_accident/1955_accident_mirroir-sport-007.jpg

Make sure that all the requisite backslashes and periods are in place if you hand type it in.

Clayton
C. Merchant

I don't see any backslashes in that URL.
David Breneman

OK Dave,what, are you an English major?

Did you enjoy the picture or not?

C. Merchant

Can't quite make them out. Is there a larger scan available? I love these old photos!
Steve Simmons

hi guys,

a lot more pictures : http://chbastin.free.fr/dossiers/1955_accident/

Koen Ackermans

Clayton - The picture was great! I just wasn't sure that the URL you posted was the one you intended, or if there were more that somehow didn't get posted.
David Breneman

Dave, thanks, I wasn't sure that the link would become active as I posted it, but it all worked out.
Anyway, like Steve, I love these old photos of great racing events. I wish that this one was a little more clear. Unfortunately,It looks as if there is a fingerprint smudge right over the EX cars making them difficult to see. Some of the more notable cars in the photo that are easily identifiable are the #19 SLR of Juan Fangio and the Bristol 450C's that finished 7th & 8th as well as the Briggs Cunningham C6R.
Another interesting photo can be seen at:
www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/DickRussellPhotos.html
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you'll see Jim Parkinson doing a dance with his MGA sometime in the mid 50's.

Clayton
C. Merchant

I just spent an hour on that web site. Great stuff! And it's all from my local area which makes it all the more interesting.
Steve Simmons

This thread was discussed between 18/02/2005 and 19/02/2005

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.