If you read some different posts concerning BEX 289, Alain Larive the french owner from the early eighties told us the car was owned in the seventies by a Swiss named Michel Bricod.
We had to find this man.
A Swiss fan found for me Michel Bricod in a local phone book saying it could be the right person, so I tried to call.
When I asked him if he used to have an Ace Bristol, the man said...YES !
Michel Bricod was 22 when he purchased BEX 289 in 1969. He had before a MGA and as a famous british driver from the fifties who recently gave up competition, his main motivations were cars and crumpets !
What was the symbol of power to be successful in those challenges...The AC Cobra. Michel told me a couple of true 427 could be seen in Switzerland by the late sixties, so he had to drive in an AC.
Mister Stauffer from Garage Saint Christophe in Lausanne sold him BEX 289. Of course he told Bricod the car had a race history at Le Mans but it was not realy to increase the value, anyway Stauffer did not forget to tell the young man if he could find some sand in the rev counter it was because the car went off the road in the sand bank at Mulsanne during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Which was true ! Except it was in Arnage and if you remember, Georges Gachnang hurt his head and had to give the wheel to the reserve driver Gretener.
Anyway Michel bought BEX 289 for an amount hard to believe today but it was quite an effort for the 22 years man.
Michel Bricod was disappointed with his Le Mans Ace. I think it was quite successful for girlies but very uncomfortable for the driver, hard, hot...A long cantilever at the front due to the modified body made impossible to drive every day without damaging the car.
In fact, the car was not made for a street utilisation (it makes me think to BEX 1205 today...)
For some reasons Michel Bricod had to leave Switzerland for Brazil a year later in 1970, the car was then stored in Geneva at Garage de l'Aviation near airport. When he came back two years later in 1972, BEX 289 was still there surrounded by high vegetation.
You must remember Georges Gachnang said he remembers seeing his AC in a Geneva workshop in 1972 or 73.
In conclusion...Michel Bricod is not the man behind what we call the "Drogo" modification but he was so pleased to talk with me about the good time when he had an Ace Bristol.
We have now to find later in between 1972 and 1976.
