Being held only two weeks after my exit of the hospital, following my heart stroke, I didn’t think of being able to answer the invitation of Jacky Ickx to attend the Ferrari Track Days. But on the insistence of my friend Popol, I finally decided to accompany him on the circuit of Nurburgring.

The event being held during two days, I attended only the first day but what a delight. The weather conditions were ideal, beautiful sun and light breeze made the temperature pleasant.

While waiting for Jacky Ickx ‘s arrival, my friend Popol and myself visited the various stands in which racing cars of past and present times were displayed. From the Formula 2 of the Fifties to the new Ferrari Enzo including the various Formula 1 with the pulled up horse, all in an great state.
Accidentally, I got acquainted of Roland Schmitt, also admirer of Jacky Ickx. Fortunate coincidence, because it is thanks to him that I was going to obtain photos of the second day which I was not going to attend. At once, we became friends.

Jacky Ickx had made the trip in motorcycle and arrived on the circuit at the pennant of his BMW. To his great surprise, I met Jacky as soon as he had dressed his racing overall. Indeed, in the daytime of my return from the hospital, he had phoned me and had disadvised me to do the journey to the Nurburgring because he considered that my convalescence did not allow me to attend the event.

As soon as he sees me, his first sentence is “But you are a fool to have made such a journey with your health conditions”. I reassured him on my physical condition and a very friendly conversation, as usually, started. At around midday, Jacky settled down in Ferrari 312 PB, car similar to those who had allowed him to gain eight victories from 1972 till 1973 in the endurance races.
In an infernal noise, which reminded me my youth, Jacky started and went to the track. He made some laps of the circuit at a brisk pace and at every passage, it was the happiness. Each felt thirty years younger. Jacky returned in the pits after his performance and the car was pushed back in the garage, near the Ferrari 512S, the Ford GT40 and the Ferrari 312B2.
Everyone asked him for autographs and wanted to photograph him. As usually, he showed himself available and accepted, always very smiling, the numerous public demands. During all this time, I was on his side and we exchanged some words from time to time.
At fourteen o’clock, Jacky took place in the Ferrari 312B2, the same one with which he had won his last Grand Prix of Formula 1 in 1972 on the same circuit of the Nurburgring, circuit completely modified since this time. Some minutes later, he left the garage and stopped in the pitlane to wait his turn to be allowed to run on the track. Paroxysm of availability for his public, hemet and gloves on, he continued to dedicate various objects for his fans: caps, books, photos etc… Some minutes later, he drove onto the track to make some laps of the circuit.

Always in good verve, he had not lost his precision of driving and he offered us moments of happiness at every passage in front of stands. We regretted not seeing appearing behind him Reggazoni, Peterson, Stewart, Cevert, Hulme quite as in 1972 during this last memorable victory. His return in the pits sounded the time of the lunch break.

After the lunch, we meet Jacky Ickx who rests near the Modena Motorsport mobile home and he invites us, Popol and I, to join him and the conversation was carry again. A little later, we went, all three of us, into the pitlane. There, Jacky presents me to the son of the famous comic drawer Jean Graton and has his wife and it is in this very pleasant atmosphere that the afternoon ends. At about seventeen o’clock, I left Jacky and his friends and we toke the road of return. What a magnificent day, rich in various emotions.
Thank you Jacky and thanks to Popol who has allowed me to live it.