Sommer of '59

Sir,

A few months ago, I noted in Motor Sport reference to a memorial to Raymond Sommer close to the old Sommer family business in the Ardennes. Sommer was, of course, killed at Cadmus in the Haute Garonne. At the point on the circuit where he met his end, there still exists a memorial, which I believe replicates that in the Ardennes. I enclose a photograph of this work by sculptor Lucien Pessey (below).

I also have a photograph of that same memorial taken in 1959, with Bill de Selincourt standing in his usual relaxed manner beside the sculpture. He eventually got his road car out, and a friend and I stationed ourselves so that we could give Bill the ‘all clear’. He then had a real go on what were public roads closed for practice and the race.

De Selincourt was down to drive one of the Fitzwilliam Racing Team Elva-BMC Formula Juniors. The competition was pretty intense and included Michael May, Fritz D’Orey (both driving Stanguellinis) and Gerhard Mitter driving a DKWengined special of his own build.

I think May blew his engine and Fritz broke his accelerator pedal on the penultimate lap. Bill, therefore, came home a very surprised winner and, I believe, picked up the first victory by a British Formula Junior car on the Continent.

I AM, YOURS ETC,

John Fieldan, Bellegarde Durazes, France