Christian Dauvergne

André Lagache was born on January 21, 1885 in Pantin. His career as a racing driver began when he was already 36 years old and lasted only 6 years from 1921 to 1926, exclusively within the company Chenard & Walcker.

In 1921 he was 3rd at the Georges Boillot Cup. In 1922, he finished the difficult course of the first Circuit des Routes Pavées. There is no winner in this regularity event since all the competitors arrived after the deadline. At the Georges Boillot Cup in 1922, he finished 2nd.

He participates and wins the first 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923 associated with René Léonard on the Chenard & Walcker Sport n°9.

He put his title on the line in 1924 and even achieved the lap record in 9’ 19’'. While he was in the lead, he was forced to give up when the car caught fire on the 26th lap. In Spa, he finished 2nd.

He took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a third time in 1925. He improves the lap record by 9'' yet he abandons once again after 90 laps. But he still wins with his acolyte Léonard the 24 Hours of Spa that same year.

In 1925 and 1926 he won the Georges Boillot Cup.

Engineer by training, he created in the early 1920s with the Glaszmann brothers (Frizt and Raymond) a large trailer factory "Lagache and Glaszmann." Frizt, André and Raymond join forces to found the FAR tractors with mechanics Chenard & Walcker to pull these heavy trailers.

André Lagache died accidentally crushed during the test of one of these tractors on August 2, 1938.

This figurine is representative of the 1920s – 1930s; drivers had to protect themselves from climatic conditions during races, especially since racing cars were often open. The first edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans took place in rain and slush.

Georges Durand was born on April 30, 1864, in Fresnay-sur-Sarthe. He is known for being the creator of the mythical race of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, originally called in the first years the Grand Prix of endurance of 24 hours - Rudge-Whitworth Cup.

In October 1905, he teamed up with Gustave Singher, Georges Carel and René Pellier, industrialists from Sarthe, to lay the foundations of an automotive initiative committee for the candidature of La Sarthe for the organization of the first Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France (ACF). The sports commission of the French club entrusts the organization of the Grand Prix to the Sarthe circuit. Georges Durand and the committee won. On 24 January 1906, the official statutes of the Automobile-Club de la Sarthe, the future Automobile Club de l'Ouest (A.C.O.), were deposited, and the first Grand Prix of the A.C.F. was held on 25 and 26 June 1906. Georges Durand is appointed general secretary of the Club and will remain so until the limit of his forces in 1938.

At the 1922 motor show, Georges Durand, mandated by the A.C.O.’s steering committee, made an appointment with Charles Faroux, a polytechnic journalist and the boss of the newspaper L'Auto, and Émile Coquille, CEO of the British wheel manufacturer Rudge-Whitworth, to examine a new formula for motor racing, based on endurance rather than speed, in order to show the public the quality of the machines and also to obtain essential improvements. It is quickly mentioned an 8-hour race half night and the bid changes to a 24-hour race. Durand quickly takes care of obtaining the necessary authorizations and a racing regulation is born.

The first 24-hour Endurance Grand Prix – Rudge-Whitworth Cup took place on 26 and 27 May 1923 at the Circuit de la Sarthe. The 24 Hours of Le Mans were born