The Tractor Towing Mystery (UPDATE IV: Renault Tractor and Mathis or Sénéchal racing team?)
From this small picture it may seem an ordinary heavy tractor on its way to the plowing fields. No way! Look at what he’s towing! A whole batch of racing cars not on their way to the meadow, but to the starting grid. The whole scene seems very French to us. Not only because of the cars that have what looks like French license plates, also because of the automobiles in the background. And the bonnet of the tractor could have been taken from an early 1920s Renault. Unfortunately that’s all we can tell about this intriguing photograph. Do you have an idea about which racing team this is? And perhaps which race they are being towed to. Maybe you can even name the drivers… If so, mail us! (photo courtesy Austin Harris/LAT photo)
Update IV by Nicolas Boissier: "...picture shows the Mathis (engine 60X100 4 cyl 1130cc). The voiturette team at Tours 1923 in the main street of Semblançay on the first of July. The team was formed by Meyer (n°6),Boecchi (n°9) and Lahms (n°1) which was towed by the Renault tractor. Lahms was the winner followed by Boecchi (owner of best run with 89,141 km/h)."
Update III by Bruno ESTIBALS: “The tractor is a Renault: In 1918, Renault, fort of its acquired experience with the tank FT during the First World war, and feeling profoundly the lack of agricultural workforce (he is an owner of a farm to Hercqueville), creates the first "agricultural" tank. From this first experience, he dedicates a whole workshop (D14 to Billancourt) to the construction of tractors.”
Update II comes from Thomas Rudolf: “…the three cyclecars are Sénéchal, the first cyclecar left is a Mathis, the big limousine near the third cyclecar is a Rochet Schneider.”
Update I by Stuart Penketh: “The Tractor is a Renault 1920 type HI. Could the towed cars be Peugeot quadrillettes of 1922?”
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Editor's Choice:
Front Wheel Drive vintage racing is a rare-rare delight: 1928 Alvis TT Replica. Private sale, Australia.
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Solid weekend planning: Model A Pick-Up. Private sale, UK.
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