Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, France had a race track, called Circuit du Lac, which hosted Formula 2, Formula Junior, and Motorcycle Grand Prix races between 1949 and 1960.
Introduction
The Circuit du Lac d'Aix-les-Bains (the lake race track) was in and nearby the Lac du Bourget next to the French commune of Aix-les-Bains. Its length, 2,400 m (1.5 mi), was typical of city race tracks.[1][2] A slightly different track was reported to be in use in 1953.[3] It was the sole race track in Savoie - the nearest others were Geneva's Circuit des Nations, Lausanne's Circuit du Léman, and at Lyon. Many drivers and spectators attended from neighboring Switzerland and Italy, and even from the UK.
The race had to be stopped after the collapse, on the race track, of a bridgeway built for the media and the organizing committee. This led to the crash of the ELVA of Chris Threlfall in the remains of the structure, killing him on the spot as well as 4 other spectators. The race was cancelled without results being published.[11]
This will be the last event on this race track....
Motorcycle
In 1950: winner in 125cc : Jacques Vaque with MV Agusta, in 350cc : Georges Monneret with AJS, in 500cc : Nello Pagani, (Italy) with Gilera and in sidecar : Hans Haldemann / Josef Albisser, (Switzerland) with Norton.
In 1951: winner in 350cc : Werner Gerber (Switzerland) on AJS, in 500cc : Werner Gerber (Switzerland) on Gilera and in sidecar : Eric Oliver / Lorenzo Dobelli, (UK/Italy) on Norton.
MV Agusta 350
In 1952 : winner in 350cc : Werner Gerber (Switzerland) on AJS, in 500cc : Werner Gerber (Switzerland) on AJS and in sidecar : Jacques Drion / Bob Onslow, (UK) on Norton.
In 1953 : winner in 175cc : Gaston Gaury on Morini, in 350cc : Pierre Monneret on AJS, in 500cc : Giuseppe Colnago, (Italy) on Gilera and in sidecar : Eric Oliver / Stan Dibben, (UK) on Norton.
In 1954 : winner in 175cc : René Bétemps on MV Agusta, in 350cc : Luigi Taveri, (Switzerland) on Norton, in 500cc : Werner Gerber, (Switzerland) on Norton, and in sidecar : Hans Haldemann / Luigi Taveri, (Switzerland) on Norton.
In 1955 : the accident in Le Mans will cause many event cancellations.
In 1956 : new safety rules prevent old tracks being used without major safety modifications.
In 1960 : the race is canceled because of a Formula Junior accident which happened four days earlier.
