Page 34 - Nash-Healey A Grand Alliance by John Nikas

Going the Distance
When the clock struck four o’clock in the afternoon, the drivers arrayed opposite their cars in their numbered circles sprinted across the pit lane and departed toward the first turn at speed. Moss in his C-type and Reg Parnell in an Aston Martin DB3S started well from far back in the line, but Sydney Allard was the quickest off the mark in one of the two new J2Rs, fitted with far more modern aerodynamic coachwork than had adorned the Anglo-American hybrids in previous outings at Le Mans. He was soon overtaken by Villoresi’s Ferrari 375 MM, who, in turn, surrendered his lead to Moss, who would run flat out down the Mulsanne Straight, using his brakes to full advantage to negotiate the subsequent kink and corner, then ratcheting down his speed around the rest of the circuit, encouraging the Italian to overstress his engine in an attempt to keep pace.
(ABOVE) NOJ 391 and NOJ 392 in the pits. (Simon Bilbie Collection) (RIGHT) X14 and X15 pictured during the final hour before the start. (The
Donald Healey Collection at the Audrain Automobile Museum)
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