The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (English: Automobile Club of the West), sometimes abbreviated to ACO, is the largest automotive group in France. It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts, and is most famous for being the organising entity behind the annual Le Mans 24 Hours race. The ACO also lobbies on behalf of French drivers on such issues as road building and maintenance, the availability of driving schools and road safety classes, and the incorporation of technical innovations into new vehicles. It also runs a roadside assistance service for its members.[6]
After World War I, the ACO turned its attention to designing a shorter circuit on public roads to the south of the city. The organisation's chief secretary Georges Durand, together with magazine editor Charles Faroux of La Vie Automobile and tyre manufacturer Emile Coquille, came up with the idea for a 24-hour race. The first Le Mans 24 Hours was held on 26 May 1923.[9] The very first entry was lodged with the ACO by John Duff on a Bentley.[10][11]
World War Two and aftermathedit
The Le Mans circuit was occupied by the Royal Air Force in 1940 and then by the Germans at the end of that year. Le Mans was liberated in August, 1944, but it was almost five years before the 24 Hours took place again.
Following the war, the grounds of the ACO and the circuit were in ruins, bombed by the Allies and further destroyed by the Germans. The ACO set about the task of reconstruction, aided by Government Minister and SarthedéputéeChristian Pineau who provided the first millions. In addition the ACO launched a loan.[12] In 1946 the British Racing Drivers' Club opened a "Le Mans Fund" for the benefit of the ACO, raising a grand total of £358 and 11 shillings, to assist with the rehabilitation of the facilities at the Le Mans circuit.[13]
Rebuilding of the circuit started on February 7, 1949, and the first post-war event at Le Mans was held on 25–26 June of that year.[14] Pineau, standing beside Charles Faroux, gave the starting signal.[15] Two new spectator stands were named for racing drivers and resistance fighters Robert Benoist[16] and Jean-Pierre Wimille.[17]
During the ACO's 24 Hours of Le Mans event in 1955, an accident occurred which killed 84 people, regarded as the worst accident in motorsport history. It led to many actions by the ACO to subsequently change buildings and the procedures used at the circuit, as well as to redesign the pit lane and front stretch where the accident occurred. It also led to a change of ACO rules for the type of cars permitted in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the following years, as well as applying a fuel-consumption formula.[18]
The 1967 French Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on the Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans, on July 2, 1967. Motor Sport called it "The Grand Prix of the Car Parks." It was an innovation not repeated.[20]
The ACO is responsible as a ruling body for race series, specifically sportscar series. The ACO has run or backed the following races or race series:
^Motor Year Book 1957, Temple Press, Pages 166-171.
^ abcdefgh"Pierre Fillon Eighth president of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest - automobilsport.com". www.automobilsport.com. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
^Motor Sport, July 1967, Pages 722, 724-725. See also cover photograph.
External linksedit
Official website
December 18, 2023
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The Automobile Club de l Ouest English Automobile Club of the West sometimes abbreviated to ACO is the largest automotive group in France It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts and is most famous for being the organising entity behind the annual Le Mans 24 Hours race The ACO also lobbies on behalf of French drivers on such issues as road building and maintenance the availability of driving schools and road safety classes and the incorporation of technical innovations into new vehicles It also runs a roadside assistance service for its members 6 Automobile Club de l OuestMission H24 a hydrogen racing car AbbreviationACOFormation1906 1 HeadquartersCircuit de la SartheLocationLe Mans FranceRegion servedInternationalPresidentPierre Fillon 2 Associate PresidentPatrick GruauMarie Alvarez GarzonDominique FoussierGilles Huttepain 3 SecretaryFrancois Bourdin 4 Staff400 5 Websitelemans org Contents 1 History 1 1 World War Two and aftermath 1 2 1955 Le Mans disaster 2 Presidents 3 Racing 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe ACO s history begins with the Automobile Club de la Sarthe the ancestor of today s ACO which was founded in the town of Le Mans In 1906 that group included Amedee Bollee and Paul Jamin winner of the 1897 Paris Dieppe race in a Leon Bollee tricar 7 With the help of the larger Automobile Club de France they organised a race on local public roads on a 65 mile triangular course connecting Le Mans with Saint Calais and La Ferte Bernard The 12 lap race titled the Grand Prix de l ACF was held over two days and won by Ferenc Szisz driving a Renault 8 This race the first Grand Prix would eventually become the French Grand Prix After World War I the ACO turned its attention to designing a shorter circuit on public roads to the south of the city The organisation s chief secretary Georges Durand together with magazine editor Charles Faroux of La Vie Automobile and tyre manufacturer Emile Coquille came up with the idea for a 24 hour race The first Le Mans 24 Hours was held on 26 May 1923 9 The very first entry was lodged with the ACO by John Duff on a Bentley 10 11 World War Two and aftermath edit The Le Mans circuit was occupied by the Royal Air Force in 1940 and then by the Germans at the end of that year Le Mans was liberated in August 1944 but it was almost five years before the 24 Hours took place again Following the war the grounds of the ACO and the circuit were in ruins bombed by the Allies and further destroyed by the Germans The ACO set about the task of reconstruction aided by Government Minister and Sarthe deputee Christian Pineau who provided the first millions In addition the ACO launched a loan 12 In 1946 the British Racing Drivers Club opened a Le Mans Fund for the benefit of the ACO raising a grand total of 358 and 11 shillings to assist with the rehabilitation of the facilities at the Le Mans circuit 13 Rebuilding of the circuit started on February 7 1949 and the first post war event at Le Mans was held on 25 26 June of that year 14 Pineau standing beside Charles Faroux gave the starting signal 15 Two new spectator stands were named for racing drivers and resistance fighters Robert Benoist 16 and Jean Pierre Wimille 17 1955 Le Mans disaster edit Main article 1955 Le Mans disaster During the ACO s 24 Hours of Le Mans event in 1955 an accident occurred which killed 84 people regarded as the worst accident in motorsport history It led to many actions by the ACO to subsequently change buildings and the procedures used at the circuit as well as to redesign the pit lane and front stretch where the accident occurred It also led to a change of ACO rules for the type of cars permitted in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the following years as well as applying a fuel consumption formula 18 Presidents editAdolphe Singher 1906 1910 19 Gustave Singher 1910 1947 19 Paul Jamin fr 1947 1951 19 Jean Marie Lelievre fr 1951 1973 19 Raymond Gouloumes 1973 1992 19 Michel Cosson 1992 2003 19 Jean Claude Plassart fr 2003 2012 19 Pierre Fillon fr 2012 19 Racing editThe 1967 French Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on the Bugatti Circuit Le Mans on July 2 1967 Motor Sport called it The Grand Prix of the Car Parks It was an innovation not repeated 20 The ACO is responsible as a ruling body for race series specifically sportscar series The ACO has run or backed the following races or race series Current 24 Hours of Le Mans 24 Hours of Le Mans Moto Le Mans Classic French motorcycle Grand Prix FIA World Endurance Championship Asian Le Mans Series European Le Mans Series Le Mans CupFormer 1000 km of Le Mans American Le Mans Series European Le Mans Series Japan Le Mans Challenge Intercontinental Le Mans Cup Formula Le Mans Le Mans Autumn Cup World Sportscar Championship FRD LMP3 Series UK LMP3 Cup ChampionshipSee also editFederation Francaise du Sport Automobile Federation Internationale de l AutomobileReferences edit Who We Are ACO Automobile Club de l Ouest lemans org Retrieved 2023 09 10 Executive Committee lemans org Retrieved 2023 09 10 Executive Committee lemans org Retrieved 2023 09 10 Executive Committee lemans org Retrieved 2023 09 10 Automobile Club de l Ouest LinkedIn fr linkedin com in French Retrieved 2023 09 10 Who We Are ACO Automobile Club de l Ouest lemans org Retrieved 2023 09 10 Official Program 24 Heures du Mans 13 14 June 2009 Page 97 Joe Saward The World Atlas of Motor Racing Page 35 Hamlyn 1989 C Clutton amp J Stanford The Vintage Motor Car Page 201 B T Batsford Ltd London 1961 Georges Fraichard The Le Mans Story Page 121 The Sportsman s Book Club 1956 History ACO Automobile Club de l Ouest lemans org Retrieved 2023 09 10 Georges Fraichard The Le Mans Story Page 58 The Sportsman s Book Club 1956 Motor Sport June 1946 Page 121 See also Motor Sport July 1946 Page 147 Motor Sport September 1946 Page 201 Motor Sport July 1949 Pages 270 271 274 276 Georges Fraichard The Le Mans Story Page 73 The Sportsman s Book Club 1956 Motor Sport August 1945 Page 156 Motor Sport October 1945 Page 216 Motor Sport March 1949 Page 69 Motor Year Book 1957 Temple Press Pages 166 171 a b c d e f g h Pierre Fillon Eighth president of the Automobile Club de l Ouest automobilsport com www automobilsport com Retrieved 2023 09 10 Motor Sport July 1967 Pages 722 724 725 See also cover photograph External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Automobile Club de l 27Ouest amp oldid 1174735757, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
