Tour de France car: the empire of the senses with the beauty of the asphalt

The Comminges stage, this Friday morning for the Tour de France car, returns to Comminges for its “traditional” Col des Ares Special.

From early in the morning, car enthusiasts of a certain age (we’re talking about cars, not enthusiasts!) rushed to take over the pass. Among these car enthusiasts, the vintage car clubs Amicale des Bielles Commingeoise de Saint-Gaudens and Amicale des Automobiles antiques du Mont Royal de Montréjeau were invited to a unique exhibition of vintage cars.

At the bottom of the Col, in Antichan de Frontignes, mayor Bernard Dumail and his team of volunteers are on deck: USCA, Ecurie Automobile Commingeoise who is dear to President Ribet and ASA des Capitoluls are working to ensure the party is a success. While waiting for the stars on the tarmac, the busy craft and gourmet market with local breeders and producers is already welcoming its visitors, as the cars arrive.

Here, there are no old cars, but magnificent old cars: there are hardly less than 300 of them on display in front of a delighted audience. Renault, Alpine, Ferrari, Porsche, Matra, Jaguar, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo… A parade of myths!

Some well-known figures from the motoring world take part in the parade – former world rally champion Ari Vatanen; Wheeler Dealers mechanic Aurélien Letheux and his friend Gerry Blyenberg and many others: all will be approached by enthusiasts for a series of photo sessions before enjoying the preparations for the timed event.

On the starting field, the officials are busy, the spectators are waiting. They get their eyes full, their ears full, their nostrils full. The realm of the senses. They came for it, they are served. They just have to wait for the 33rd edition, hoping that it stops in Comminges again.

Today is D-Day in Saint-Gaudens

In the same spirit, but without time, Comminges remains in the beautiful mechanics this Saturday with the Belles (we are still talking about cars): in Saint-Gaudens on D-Day. A landing of old or very old cars, sports cars and artists, big and small engines, luxury and everyday, rural or urban… They will all be there – more than 800 old vehicles and their drivers. Starting with Commingeois André Baron, author of four Tours de France Auto… who also in 1977 was the official driver for La Dépêche du Midi in the Journalist Cup with our colleague Jean Desplas as co-driver.

Memories are shared.