- Title: FRANCE: TOUR DE FRANCE AUTOMOBILE CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY.
- Date: 20th April 1999
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (APRIL 20, 1999) REUTERS TELEVISION (JEAN-PIERRE BAUMONT) STARTING AREA AT TROCADORERO WITH EIFFEL TOWER IN BACKROUND AND CARS ON THE SQUARE BIG WHITE AIR BALLOON WITH BALLON WRITTEN "1899 - 1999" DRIVERS AND CARS GETTING READY OWNERS PREPARING CARS ENGINES REVVING FORMULA ONE VETERAN HENRI PESCAROLO (BEARDED) DRIVERS PLAYING WITH THEIR CARS SPECTATOR
- Embargoed: 5th May 1999 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAEOEVRMTOZH246I9A5HECM7KZD
- Story Text: Another Tour de France, involving some of the world's most beautiful cars, has got to a flying start in Paris, celebrating the centenary of the oldest race of its kind.
Under a rainy Parisian sky, 235 drivers of the world's most unique cars took off on Wednesday (April 20, 1999) for the five-day race which will finish in the south of France.
Organizer claim the "Tour de de France Automobile" which its celebrating 100 years is the oldest car race still going on.
The luxury car race, which is open mainly to cars built between 1951-1973 began under a cloudy sky in front of Paris's Eiffel Tower.
Among many unknown competitors, there were some serious professsinals, like French Formula one veteran Henri Pescarolo.
American driver Dick Delima was just happy to be one of 235 competitors from 28 different countries in such a glamorous occasion.
"It's a combination, its a passion for beautiful old cars and that they're being used and not just in display like the concours de l'elegance, and we get to drive them really fast,"
he said about the race.
Pink Floyd's drummer Nick Mason was another famous name in the line-up."I think the circuit start should be particularly good, I think the circuit driving is the most exciting, " said the legendary drummer.
The five-day event, which is run on a different route every year, will finish on Saturday (April 22), in Cannes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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