The Road to Le Mans - Day 3

All roads lead to Le Mans

Day 3, June 1, 2023

After overnight in Chartres it was on to Le Mans and Teloché. We had an early start and decided to head straight for the garage at Rue du 8 Mai in Teloché. After cruising down the A11 Elliot’s navigation wound us through a number of roads and soon The Road to Le Mans convoy was on the Ligne droite des Hunaudières aka The Mulsanne Straight of the Circuit de la Sarthe.

*The VIC Services b.v.truck passes by the Auberge des Hunaudieres restaurant on the Mulsanne straight.*

In 1951 the garage at Rue du 8 Mai was owned by Georges “Jojo” Després. He rented space to Porsche and the company would continue to use the garage as its Le Mans base until the early 80s.

Preparing to drive SL 063 to Rue du 8 Mai in Teloché

*Cameron drives SL 063 down Rue du 8 Mai in Teloché to Garage Auto Primo Michelin.*

Driving SL 063 to Rue du 8 Mai in Teloché

The current owner spoke little to no English and we don’t speak French, so it wasn’t until we shared the Hero Card and Cameron presented him with a print of SL 063 in the garage in 1951 that the reason for our visit was understood.

*Cameron and Garage Auto Primo Michelin owner with 1951 photograph of SL 063*

After that we were given free run of the place. We photographed the car inside the garage and on the street. We were very grateful for the hospitality of the garage owner. He was very generous with his time and allowing us to complete The Road to Le Mans saga.

*Porsche SL 063 returns to 21 Rue du 8 Mai, Teloché for the first time in 72 years.*

The time spent at Rue du 8 Mai in Teloché was remarkable. So much Porsche racing history happened there, and SL 063 was the start of it.

*Final team photo for the Road to Le Mans team with SL 063 at 21 Rue du 8 Mai, Teloché. This marked the completion of the road trip.*

The time spent at Rue du 8 Mai in Teloché was remarkable. So much Porsche racing history happened there, and SL 063 was the start of it.

*Cameron pilots SL 063 down Rue du 8 Mai. This is the road that the Porsche team would have tak en when they left the garage and drove to the Le Mans circuit in 1951.*

Sadly, it was all over too soon. Elliot and I went to the Le Mans train station to catch the train to Charles de Gaulle airport for a flight to Italy and a week in Florence and Maranello. Cameron and Tony headed back to Zuffenhausen and VIC Services b.v. would deliver SL 063 to the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) Automobile Museum de la Sarthe.

SL 063 departs Rue du 8 Mai in Teloché

Cameron, Elliot and I would meet at the Circuit de la Sarthe in a week for the Le Mans 24 Hour race (that will be another post). SL 063 would be included in the museum’s 100th anniversary exhibition. Cameron also completed demonstration laps during the pre-race celebrations.

*Poster celebrating SL 063 and the Road to Le Mans - Designed by Jodi Elli*

The Road to Le Mans – Day 1

The Road to Le Mans – Day 2

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