Williams Grover-Williams at the Portier in the 1929 Monaco Grand Prix (LAT)

Since the early days of motor racing people had run races that passed through built-up areas at some point, but nobody had ever designed a course that comprised only of city streets. Especially in a busy, cramped little place like Monaco.

In pursuit of his dream, Noghes spent days walking around the town. A suitable course, comprising a run along the harbour front and a twisty section through the hills behind, emerged in his mind. He spent a couple of years refining the idea, before revealing his plans to local racing hero Louis Chiron. The latter could hardly believe his ears: “Wonderful, marvellous, stupendous!” was apparently his first reaction.

It didn’t take long to convince the royal family that a motor race would be good for business, especially in the Casino, and after getting the nod, nothing was going to stop Noghes and the ACM. The first race was set for April 14th, 1929, and the idea proved an instant hit with competitors and public alike.

The press was quick to recognise that there might be some spectacular action: “This affair should be the nearest approach to a Roman chariot race that has been seen in recent years,” said Autocar. “Presumably the officials consider that the number of runners will be substantially reduced at the end of the first round…”

Not surprisingly Bugattis dominated the entry, their drivers including French heroes Rene Dreyfus and Philippe Etancelin. Alfa Romeos and Maseratis came from neighbouring Italy, while German aces Rudolf Caracciola and Hans Stuck turned up in a Mercedes SSK and Austro Daimler respectively. The white Merc was undoubtedly the most powerful car in the field, but was hardly as nimble as some of the opposition.

Despite much publicity in Autocar during the preceding months, only one car carried British racing green, and it was the works Bugatti of former chauffeur William Grover-Williams, who preferred to race as ‘Williams’, a choice which created a certain mystique around him. Missing from the entry was Chiron, who was busy at Indianapolis.

The grid was decided by ballot. Etancelin found himself on pole, while Caracciola was back in 15th. His compatriot Stuck became the first victim of Monaco’s unyielding scenery, and didn’t make the start after crashing in practice.

Marcel Lehoux beat Etancelin away, but they were soon passed by ‘Williams’. Lehoux then established a great Monaco tradition – the first lap accident. After crashing at the chicane he nipped back to the pits and some spare wheels back to his dinged car…

’Williams’ pulled away from the rest of the French cars. Within a few laps, Caracciola had worked his way up to second place, and was soon pushing the Englishman hard. He took the lead on lap 30, but ‘Williams’ fought back and repassed him five laps later.

The German regained the lead when the Bugatti pitted, but Caracciola’s own stop dragged out to four and half minutes, thanks to his decision to change both rear wheels. That was it as far as the lead battle was concerned; ‘Williams’ reeled off the last of the 100 laps to cross the line in just a little under hour hours.

The race had been a great success, and any logistical problems were forgotten. The tramlines which caused drivers a few headaches were gone within three years! Monaco 1929 was the greatest day in the short racing career of the enigmatic ‘Williams’; later he would make his mark as a hero of the resistance. Today a wonderful life size stature of him driving the Bugatti stands on the grass inside Ste Devote corner.

It was interesting to see this week that a political row has broken out in France over plans to build an F1 circuit at Flins-Les-Mureaux, to the west of Paris. Intended to be the home of the French GP from 2011, the project is backed by prime minister and sometime historic racer Francois Fillon, but he faces opposition from his both his own environment minister and the secretary of state for ecology, who claim that the site is above a water table that serves the capital.

It was the usual NIMBY attitude that we see so often these days. If Noghes had never had his dream and someone came up with the idea of a race round Monaco now, it wouldn’t happen. So I guess we owe the guy our thanks...

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