Far away from my place of residence, the South of France is a region where I almost never go. And nevertheless, in this weekend of the middle of May, 2004, circumstances brought me to return near Monaco for two days.
Fortunate coincidence!!! Because some days before this trip, in a newsletter sent by Julien, our favorite webmaster, an information draws my attention: Jacky Ickx will not be any more this year the director of race of the GP F1 of Monaco. On the other hand he will occupy this function on the occasion of the historic GP which takes place the previous weekend before the GP F1.
I think and my mind ignites very fast. I do not believe it but it is nevertheless true, it is about the date when I shall be near Monaco. Immediately, I search information on the program of the historic GP and to its reading, a single evidence is leads: it is necessary for me to assist to this event so rare and beautiful cars will be numerous, and so much the races seem promising. And then, in this program, something draws my attention. In the middle of the day, between two races, an historic parade of Ferrari F1 is foreseen. And if in this occasion…???

Sunday, May 16th, 2004. The weather on Côte d’Azur is great, the day promises to be beautiful. The excitement is there.
I arrive on the circuit for the second race of the day and I take place in the stands which face the new pits which are going to be used for the first time this year (and which will moreover be officially inaugurated the same afternoon by Prince Rainier and Prince Albert). Here, the atmosphere is particular. I already had the occasion to attend once the GP of Monaco in 1989, and by settling in the stand I find, at once the same sensations as fifteen years ago. At any rate, with a program of historic races, these feelings – appeared too from past – are again going to strengthen the nostalgia.

Monaco, it was repeated many times, it is the perfect frame, the environment letting believe that we are on another planet. But especially, as regards the sport, the most extraordinary, it is the nearness of the track. Here, we are almost on the track, we can practically touch cars when they race. We have the impression to go into the cockpit with the drivers, we see their fast and precise movements and we can almost hold out the hand towards the gear lever to participate in the driving !!!!

When the first race which I attend starts , the magic is immediate. It is about sportscars before 1953 (Jaguar type C, Ferrari 166, Cisitalia) with at the steering wheel of glorious former : Stirling Moss and Phil Hill. The promising beginning.
The following race concerns the cars of Grand Prix of before 1947. It is in this field that is the oldest car of the meeting: a Bugatti 35 of 1925. This race surprises me and impresses me excessively. I would never have believed that the cars of this time ran so fast. The entertainment is hallucinating. Here, no electronic helps and other gadgets which distort the motor racing. Here, a man, a machine, skids and true entertainment. Exceptional !!! I finally understand why this period of the motor racing was called, rightly, “the era of the Titans“.
During the afternoon, three races at the program:
– GP cars with front engine from 1947 till 1960 with Maserati 250 F, Lotus 16, Gordini, Ferrari Super Squalo
– GP cars with back engine from 1954 till 1965 with Cooper, Lotus 18, Brabham BT 11.
Two very full of life races, with as in every race of the day, drivers really attacking and driving with a very steady rhythm.

Finally, the highlight: the race of F1 from 1966 till 1977 (return to engines 3 liters) with a luxurious field : Lotus 72 and 77, Tyrell 001, 006 and P34 (six wheels), McLaren M19, Brabham BT33, March 761 and many others. A flood of power, an orgy of decibels, an excessive attack and the magnificent winner, the specialist of these historic races, Martin Stretton. A beautiful conclusion of a day full of feelings, nostalgia and beautiful pictures.

All these races were magic but for a fan of Jacky Ickx, the highlight of the day was the historic parade Ferrari F1. Before this one begins, at the time of the warm-up of engines, an excitement in the other end of the pitlane let me suspect that something occurred. But from my position, impossible to discern whatever it is. It is only when the track was opened to these Ferrari that the explanation of this excitement appeared. The first car began to run slowly and behind the steering wheel, the man wore a night blue helmet. A mythical helmet, an helmet of legend.

As I had imagined myself it, as I had secretly hoped for it, as I had dreamed about it, Mister the Director of race had just taken the steering wheel of one 312 B2.
In the first passage under my eyes, some metres from me, the emotion submerged me. Nineteen years (since Le Mans 1985) that I had not seen Jacky Ickx in action (with the exception of a ceremonial lap in slow motion in the GT 40 during the opening of the 24 hours of Le Mans 2000).He) was there, driving at a good rhythm and my eyes were only for him. Among about fifteen Ferrari from 1970 till 2000 which were on track, only one existed. The only one shone. Nothing else counted that this 312 B2 and its driver at that time at the steering wheel. Regrettably, Jacky made only some laps, stopping fifteen minutes to resume his functions of Director of Race for the following races. I saw him returning slowly to the pits. Then the initial excitement having disappeared, I could perceive him going out of the car and removing his helmet. He took some moments to talk with two or three persons and went away quietly until disappear behind pits. The dream had gone, it had fainted as a ghost appeared from past. It had been too brief but so intense and in accordance with the contents and the spirit of this day.

Later, I still had the occasion to see again Jacky but it was only on the huge screen arranged in front of the stand while he congratulated Martin Stretton, the winner of the last race.
Even if I did not have been able to approach him very close as sometimes in the past, I had the true pleasure to see him on a circuit and to see him at the steering wheel. As when I was a kid !!!

May 16th, 2004 in Monaco, a magic day printed of nostalgia. Happiness in pure state.