Charles Montier

Charles Pierre Elie Montier[2] (28 June 1879 – June 1952) was a French racing driver and automotive engineer whose race entries included the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Charles Montier
Charles Montier in 1925
NationalityFrench[1]
Born(1879-06-28)28 June 1879[1]
Naples[1]
DiedJune 1952(1952-06-00) (aged 72–73)[1]
Paris[1]
Related toFerdinand Montier
Previous series
1923–1925
1929–1935
1931		24 Hours of Le Mans
Grand Prix
AIACR European Championship
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1923 ● 1924 ● 1925
TeamsÉtablissements Charles Montier et Cie
Best finish14th

Montier, with his father Elie and friend Gillet, built a steam car – the Montier & Gillet – which was exhibited in Paris in 1897. Montier went into the business of selling and servicing cars, becoming one of the two agents of the Ford Motor Company in France. After gaining experience as a racer and hillclimber, Montier entered the 1923 24 Hours of Le Mans, alongside Albert Ouriou, in a Ford Model T-derived, but heavily modified, "Montier Special". Montier and Ouriou finished the race in 14th place of 33 starters; they also entered but did not place in the 1924 and 1925 events.

Montier and his son Ferdinand raced Montier Specials in the Coupe de la Commission Sportive event, a support race to the 1927 French Grand Prix before turning their attention to Grand Prix racing proper. Charles entered the Belgian Grand Prix on three occasions, his 1931 entry earning him 20th place in the first European Championship. Montier's last recorded Grand Prix entry, and finish, was the 1935 Lorraine Grand Prix; he was 56 years old at the time.

Early years

Aged 15, Montier – with his father Elie and friend Gillet – built his first car, the Montier & Gillet, a steam-powered wagonette steered by a tiller.[3][4] The sole example was exhibited in Paris in 1897.[3]

Montier entered the automotive industry, working for Darracq among others,[3] later going into business as Charles Montier et Cie,[5] selling and modifying Fords[6][7] first in Tours in 1911 and then Paris,[3] as one of the two Ford agents in France.[8]

24 Hours of Le Mans
Pictured (right), the Montier Special number 19 of Charles Montier and Albert Ouriou at the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans (1923)

An experienced racer and hillclimber,[3][8][9] Montier entered the Grand Prix d' Endurance de 24 Heures, also known as the 1923 24 Hours of Le Mans, alongside Albert Ouriou.[10] This was the first running of Le Mans, which was to become one of the most prestigious motor races in the world.[11]

The Ford Model T was a mass-produced, mass-market vehicle – in the words of Henry Ford, "a motor car for the great multitude... so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one";[12] 1.8 million were sold in 1923 alone.[13] Montier added two rear seats to the Model T – hanging over the back of the rear axle[14] – to comply with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's regulations;[15] he also modified the cylinder head, camshaft, brakes, and gearbox to make his Montier Special.[16] The "dainty" Montier-Ford has since been called "perhaps the best Model T-based speedster ever created from the pedestrian farmer's fliver".[17]

Thirty-three cars started the race;[18] Montier and Ouriou finished in 14th place.[18][16][19][14]:76–7

A 1924 Montier Ford

Montier returned to Le Mans in 1924 with his modified Ford special, now fitted with 4-wheel brakes.[8] Again Montier drove it himself with his brother-in-law Albert Ouriou.[14]:110 The Montier Special was last away as it proved difficult to start.[20]:15 The car retired on lap 40 with engine problems.[14][21]

The duo's third and final attempt at Le Mans, in 1925, was also unsuccessful as they were unclassified due to only completing 54 of the 117 laps required.[14][19][22]

Grand Prix

Alongside the Le Man entries, Charles continued hillclimbing;[23][24] and he and his son Ferdinand raced Montier Specials in the Coupe de la Commission Sportive event, a support race to the 1927 French Grand Prix.[25][26]

The Montiers turned their attention to racing Ford Model A-based Montier Specials in Grand Prix[6] and endurance races[27] at numerous events between 1929 and 1935.[2][28][29] The cars had lowered chassis and many engine modifications.[30]

Ferdinand Montier (left) and Charles Montier (right) in Montier Specials at the Coupe de la Commission Sportive on the weekend of the 1927 French Grand Prix

Both men entered – and both failed to finish – the 1929 Dieppe Grand Prix.[2][28] Montier Senior finished 6th in the 1930 Belgian Grand Prix[31][30] (a Grandes Épreuves event but not a championship event as no championship was awarded in the 1930 Grand Prix season[32][note 1]), but was not classified in the 1930 French Grand Prix[34][35] and retired from the 1930 San Sebastián Grand Prix.[36][37]

Championship races in the 1931 Grand Prix season were endurance races of 10 hours duration with 2 drivers assigned to each car.[33] Montier entered the 1931 Belgian Grand Prix championship event with co-driver "Ducolombier", finishing 8th, 30 laps down.[38][39][40][note 2][note 3] Montier also ran in two non-championship rounds that year: the 1931 Casablanca Grand Prix, which he did not finish,[42] and the 1931 Dieppe Grand Prix where he finished 10th.[43]

Montier entered only one Grand Prix as a driver in the 1932 season, the 1932 Picardy Grand Prix where he finished 9th.[44] A Montier Special with Ferdinand at the wheel turned up at the 1932 La Baule Grand Prix, however; the car on this occasion sported two engines "mounted in tandem for a total of 4072cc capacity"[45] instead of the Ford Model A-derived 3.3L straight 4 used hitherto.[41][44]

No Grand Prix entries as a driver are recorded for Charles Montier in 1933,[2] but Ferdinand entered the 1933 Dieppe Grand Prix in a Ford V8-powered Montier Special.[46]

Montier entered the Belgian Grand Prix for the third and last time in 1934, at the age of 55. This race was a Grandes Épreuves because there was again no championship awarded in that year.[47] Seven cars qualified, but only five completed the race; Montier came home 5th[48] in his Ford V8-powered Special.[47] The race was won by René Dreyfus in his Bugatti Type 59 – the last Grandes Épreuves victory for the famous marque.[47] Montier also entered the 1934 U.M.F. Grand Prix.[49]

The rainy 1935 Grand Prix at the Orléans Circuit was stopped on lap 7 due to an accident involving Marcel Buffy's Bugatti Type 51; Buffy's car crashed into the crowd, hitting 12 spectators and fatally wounding one of them.[50] Montier, one lap down, was classified 3rd.[50] It is unclear from contemporary reports, but researcher Leif Snellman believes Montier may have been driving the twin-engine car but it may have been the V8.[50]

Charles Montier's final grand prix was the 1935 Lorraine Grand Prix.[51] This may have been in the V8-powered car.[51] Montier placed 10th of the 16 entrants and 12 finishers.[51]

Racing record

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year Team Co-Driver Chassis Engine Tyre Laps Pos.
1923 Établissements Charles Montier et Cie Albert Ouriou Montier Special (Ford Model T) Montier 2008cc S4 M 97 14th
1924 Établissements Charles Montier et Cie Albert Ouriou Montier Special (Ford Model T) Montier 1996cc S4 E 40 DNF
1925 Établissements Charles Montier et Cie Albert Ouriou Montier Special (Ford Model T) Montier 2.9L S4 E 54 DSQ
Source:[14][19]

Complete European Championship results
Year Entrant Co-Driver Chassis Engine 1 2 3 EDC Pts
1931 Charles Montier "Ducolombier" Montier-Ford Ford 3.3L S4[41] ITA FRA BEL
8th[38][39][note 2]		 20th[33] 21[33]

Bibliography
  • Chris Martin: Montier's French Racing Fords, 2013 (VeloceToday Select Number Three)
  • RM Clarke: Le Mans. The Bentley & Alfa Years 1923-1939. Brooklands Books, Cobham 1999, ISBN 1-85520-465-7

Notes
  1. The Grandes Épreuves were "the most important events of the year, comparable in importance to the grand prix races of present times".[33]
  2. Researcher Hans Etzrodt has Montier placed 7th.[33][41]
  3. Contrary to other sources, Motor Sport's database lists the race as non-Championship. This is likely erroneous as the same magazine's report of August 1931 referred to the event as "the final race for the 1931 Championship of Europe".[39]
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References
  1. "Charles Montier | Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motor Sport.
  2. Snellman, Leif. "The Golden Era Of GP Racing 1934-40 - Drivers (M)". Charles Montier.
  3. Ware, Michael E. (2014). "Review of Montier's French Racing Fords". speedreaders.info.
  4. Burgess Wise, David. The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles.
  5. Georgano, G.N. (1968). The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars. Ebury Press. p. 435.
  6. Martin, Chris (10 December 2013). "Montier's French Racing Fords (summary)". VeloceToday.
  7. Clausager, Anders (1982). Le Mans. London: Arthur Barker Ltd. p. 28. ISBN 0-213-16846-4.
  8. "Montier Ford". Museum of American Speed.
  9. Etzrodt, Hans. "Hill Climb Winners 1915–1923".
  10. Fraichard, Georges (1954). The Le Mans Story. The Bodley Head. p. 17.
  11. Hargreaves, Eilidh (14 June 2019). "An insider's guide to the Le Mans 24hours: how to experience the ultimate endurance race in style". The Daily Telegraph.
  12. Ford, Henry; Crowther, Samuel (1922). My Life and Work. Garden City, New York: Garden City Publishing Company, Inc. p. 73. ISBN 9781406500189.
  13. Krebs, Michelle (16 June 2003). "Model A is a smashing but short-lived success". Automotive News.
  14. Spurring, Quentin (2015). Le Mans 1923–29. Yeovil: Haynes Publishing. ISBN 978-1-91050-508-3.
  15. Laban, Brian (2001). Le Mans 24 Hours. London: Virgin Books. p. 30. ISBN 1-85227-971-0.
  16. Coucher, Robert (October 2008). "Ford Model T at Le Mans". Octane. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008.
  17. Dressing, Charles. "Charles Dressing's History of Le Mans: 1927". Radio Le Mans.
  18. "1923 Le Mans 24 Hours | Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motor Sport.
  19. "Driver Database: Charles Montier". DriverDB.com.
  20. Clarke, R.M., ed. (1998). Le Mans: The Bentley & Alfa Years 1923-1939. Cobham: Brooklands Books. ISBN 1-85520-465-7.
  21. "1924 Le Mans 24 Hours | Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motor Sport.
  22. "1925 Le Mans 24 Hours | Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motor Sport.
  23. Etzrodt, Hans. "Hill Climb Winners 1924–1926".
  24. Etzrodt, Hans. "Hill Climb Winners 1927–1930".
  25. Etzrodt, Hans. "1927 Grand Prix Season". Coupe de la Commission Sportive.
  26. "Racing News: The Race for the Coupe de la Commission Sportive". Motor Sport. August 1927. p. 13. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  27. "Circuit des Routes Pavées". Motor Sport. October 1930. p. 11. the two famous Montier-Fords driven by Montier father and son
  28. Snellman, Leif. "The Golden Era Of GP Racing 1934–40 –Drivers (M)". Ferdinand Montier.
  29. "Ferdinand Montier | Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motor Sport.
  30. Etzrodt, Hans. "Grand Prix Season – 1930 European (Belgian) Grand Prix (Grand Prix d'Europe)".
  31. "1930 Belgian Grand Prix | Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motor Sport.
  32. Etzrodt, Hans. "The 1930 World Championship".
  33. Etzrodt, Hans. "The 1931 European Automobile Championship".
  34. Etzrodt, Hans. "1930 Grand Prix Season – 1930 French Grand Prix (Grand Prix de L'Automobile Club de France)".
  35. "1930 French Grand Prix | Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motor Sport. [Lists Montier as retiring from the race rather than Not Classified]
  36. "1930 Spanish Grand Prix | Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motor Sport.
  37. Etzrodt, Hans. "1930 Grand Prix Season - 1930 Masaryk Circuit / Masarykuv Okruh (Czech Grand Prix), 1930 San Sebastian Grand Prix (Gran Premio de San Sebastian)". VIII° Gran Premio De San Sebastian.
  38. "1931 Belgian Grand Prix". NASCAR Digital Media.
  39. "The Belgian Grand Prix". Motor Sport. August 1931.
  40. "1931 Belgian Grand Prix | Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motor Sport.
  41. Etzrodt, Hans. "1931 Grand Prix Season – 1931 Belgian Grand Prix (Grand Prix de Belgique)". III Grand Prix de Belgique.
  42. Snellman, Leif. "1931 Grand Prix Season – 1931 Targa Florio, 1931 Picardie Grand Prix (Grand Prix de Picardie), 1931 Casablanca Grand Prix (Grand Prix de Casablanca / Grand Prix du Maroc)". I Grand Prix de Casablanca/Grand Prix du Maroc.
  43. Snellman, Leif. "1931 Grand Prix Season – 1931 Dieppe Grand Prix (Grand Prix de Dieppe), 1931 Coppa Ciano". III Grand Prix de Dieppe.
  44. Snellman, Leif. "1932 Grand Prix Season – 1932 Picardie Grand Prix, 1932 Lwow Grand Prix, 1932 Lorraine Grand Prix". VIII Grand Prix de Picardie.
  45. Snellman, Leif. "1932 Grand Prix Season – 1932 Comminges Grand Prix (Grand Prix de Comminges), 1932 La Baule Grand Prix (Grand Prix de la Baule)". VIII Grand Prix de La Baule.
  46. Snellman, Leif. "1933 Grand Prix Season – 1933 Mannin Beg, 1933 Mannin Moar, 1933 Dieppe Grand Prix (Grand Prix de Dieppe), 1933 Coppa Ciano, 1933 Swedish Grand Prix (Sveriges Sommar Grand Prix), 1933 Nice Grand Prix (Grand Prix de Nice)". V Grand Prix de Dieppe.
  47. Snellman, Leif. "1934 Grand Prix Season – 1934 Coppa Chiano, 1934 Belgian Grand Prix (Grand Prix de Belgique), 1934 Coppa Acerbo, 1934 Nizza Grand Prix (Grand Prix de Nice)". V Grand Prix de Belgique.
  48. "1934 Belgian Grand Prix | Motor Sport Magazine Database". Motor Sport.
  49. "1934 Grand Prix Season – 1934 Prix de Berne, 1934 Swiss Grand Prix (Grosser Preiz der Schweiz), 1934 Comminges Grand Prix, 1934 circuito di Biella, 1934 Italian Grand Prix (Gran Premio d'Italia), 1934 grand Prix de l'U.M.F., 1934 Spanish Grand Prix (Gran Prermio de España)". I Grand Prix de l'U.M.F.
  50. Snellman, Leif. "1935 Grand Prix Season – Part 3: 1935 Avus-Rennen (Avus Grand Prix), 1935 Picardie Grand Prix, 1935 Circuit d'Orleans, 1935 Mannin Moar, 1935 Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix, Grande Premio da cidade de Rio de Janeiro". Circuit d'Orleans.
  51. Snellman, Leif. "1935 Grand Prix Season - Part 5: 1935 French Grand Prix (Grand Prix de France), 1935 Penya Rhin (Barcelona), 1935 Lorraine Grand Prix, 1935 Marne Grand Prix". Les Trois Heures de Nancy (III Meeting de Lorraine).
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