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Story of La Licorne racing
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In 1900 (since 25 to 25 July), during the "small cars" Paris-Toulouse-Paris race, J. Corre founder of the trademark races for the first time on a Fouillaron powered by a De Dion mono-cylinder. He didn't finish this race won by Louis Renault.
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In 1901, for Paris-Bordeaux, Corre drives his own De Dion powered car. A Mors driven by Fournier arrives first and Marcel Renault wins in Corre's category (average speed: 55 km/h) (Corre doesn't cross the finish line). During Paris-Berlin, only one of the two small car entered for the race finishes the race at the 36th position at the average speed of 38 km/h.
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In 1902, 2 Corre "mall car" (looking like Renault's cars) race at the Circuit du Nord, J. Corre finishes at the last place after a lot of technical problems. Race after race the results begin to be better and Corre wins for the first time on the Ardennes circuit running 512 km at the average speed of 53.5 km.
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(Corre powered by De Dion using alcohol)
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| In 1903, 7 cars are enter for Paris-Madrid in different categories (230 registered). Corre finishes at the 13th place (among 40 small cars on starting line) and Aaron at the 17th place. D?Hespel finishes at the 16th place in "light cars" category and Person at the 23rd place.
On 22 and 23 June 3 Corre finish at the 5 , 10 and 11th place on Ardennes Circuit.
Touring cars have more and more success due to race victories.
In 1906 Corre builds a 10.6 litres fourcylinders de 10,6 litres of 60 HP for the count of Hespel . But this car is ridiculous in comparison with the 120 to 130 HP of Lorraine, Darracq, Brasier and cars like Mercedes. That induces the renunciation.
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One year later the same car is completely rebuilt because of the departure of J.Corre. The cooling radiator is now fixed at the front of the chassis and the cars are renamed Corre La Licorne. Collomb drives this car (and will drive a lot of other Licorne during is 20 years career) and finishes at the 2nd place on Dieppe circuit after 55% racers renunciations.
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In September 1908 at the "small cars cup" Collomb drives a Corre La Licorne and finishes at a very good 5th place juste after three Sizaire & Naudin and a Peugeot lion . In October Collomb finishes at the 5th at the Gaillon's race in "touring" category. the same year, Lestienne wins the Château Thierry's race.
Years 1909 to 1913 are not successful, and Fournier a very well known driver and his mechanic die due to a road out going.
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1914 will show the birth of a new engine that will be successful after the war.At the end of august 1920 Collomb takes part to the Mans's race with some Bugatti. He has to abandon following a clutch breakdown. The first Bugatti finishes at the average speed of 92 km/h.
Collomb has his revenge against Bugatti during the next race. On 1921 July 3rd, it's another victory at Boulogne.
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In September 1922, Collomb finishes at the 5th place at the "small cars" race in spite of major mechanical problems (on a very good looking car with breaks on front wheels and two carburettors making a bump on the engine side: photo)
In 1923, La Licorne enters a 2001 cm3 four-doors saloon and a 1393 cm3 torpedo (Ballot powered not very fast but very enduring) for the "24 Heures du Mans". They run 1274 and 1364 km.
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In 1924, at the Mans, La Licorne enters three cars (type W 16 W 4, 10 HP sport, 4 gears box and a Solex carburettor, they leave after 3, 5 and 50 laps.
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In 1925, 3 Scap powered W16 Licorne enter for the Mans: Coullomb - Wallay's car leaves after 51 laps, Balert - Doutrebente finish at the 8th place running 1908 km at the average speed of 79,5 km/h. Lestienne Brothers are 9th(2nd of the 1500 cm3) running1889 km at the average speed of 78,7 Km.
Those three cars finish at the 1st, 2nd and 4th place during the "Paving Roads Circuit".
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In 1926 a 4 cylinders Licorne (W16 4) finishes at the 10th place at the average speed of 78,7 km/h driven by Errelcade & Galoisy. Meanwhile the both 6 cylinders (on the photo) designed by Némorin Causan have to leave. It's the last "24 heures of Le Mans" for La Licorne.
On 1927 march the 20th, Michel Doré finishes on the se 2nd position with a 1500 cm3 Licorne at the Argenteuil race just after the world recorder 6 cylinders 1100cm3 Amilcardriven by Martin. He wins the Château-Thierry race.
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The same year, during the "Commission" race, Doré finishes second with a 1500 cm3 six cylinders weighing 560 kg 40 metrers after the wonderful 2.5 l Peugeot. But he also gets the best race lap at the average speed of 111 km/h (That is to say a maximum speed of nearly 165 km/h. The Salmson and Bugatti finish far away.
One week later, Doré wins the 1500 cm3 category at the "Grand Prix de la Marne" (at the average speed of 112 km/h) beating the same capacity Bugatti and second at the overall place after Etancelin's Bugatti (at the average speed of 116 km/h).
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On 1928 June the 10th, Doré wins the Toul-Nancy race at the average speed of 156 km/h. He wins some others little races all along the year, but he also has to leave lots of race consequently to mechanical problems and accidents.
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In 1929 Licorne's supporters see last victories of their favourite trademark.
At Argenteuil, (upside photo), it finishes first, and at the first Monaco G.P. (down side photo), it fights against 1 SSK Mercedes, 8 Bugatti (within 7 superchargers), 2 Maserati, 1 Delage, and 3 Alfa Roméo. Doré finishes at the 8th position with almost no breaks since the half of the race
End
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