Name: 1960 Four Days of Dunkerque Race Used Car Plaque, Race Winner Joseph Planckaert
SKU: COL-0445
Availability: InStock

1960 Four Days of Dunkerque Race Used Car Plaque, Race Winner Joseph Planckaert

$275.00

1960 Four Days of Dunkerque, Race Winner Joseph Planckaert

Joseph Planckaert, three-time winner of the Four Days of Dunkerque (1957, 1960, and 1963), is among the best Belgian cyclists of the 1950s and 1960s. 1962 was his best season; as the Belgian Champion, he won Paris-Nice, the Tour of Luxembourg, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and placed second at the Tour de France. Over his career, he finished in the top 20 at the Tour six times and wore the yellow jersey for seven consecutive days.

The Four Days of Dunkirk—Grand Prix des Hauts-de-France is a stage race held in the Hauts-de-France region. Taking place in May, it covers approximately 1,100 km and winds through the roads of Hauts-de-France making a nice transition from the Spring Classics to the summer Stage Races.

Starting in Dunkirk, the riders traditionally pass through the mountains of Flanders, the Boulonnais mountains, the Artois hills, and Cap Blanc-Nez, depending on the edition. The relatively flat terrain favors sprinters..

Thw race was founded in 1955 by a team of cycling enthusiasts led by René Quillot. Despite its name, the race now spans six stages over six days. The Dunkirk Grand Prix – Trophée Primerose was initially held over four days from 1955 to 1962. In 1963, it expanded to five days and later to six days. The number of stages has fluxuated from four stages in the earlist editions up to a peak of eight stages over six days in 1969.

In today’s racing, the race organizer cars, team vehicles, and other participants of the official race caravan have disposable stickers affixed to the windshields. Slipping a bit into the way back machine, I noticed that there was a time when the cars had plaques attached to the front of the following cars.

As with most things ephemeral, most plaques were promptly tossed in the trash once the race was finished. The ones that survived have become quite collectible.

Made of Metal – hand painted on a thick metal plate.

Size: 20 x 9 3/4 inches (51 x 25 cm)

This is a one-of-a-kind item; please look carefully at the photos to determine the condition.

Only 1 left in stock

Description

Four Days of Dunkerque

The Quatre Jours de Dunkerque-Grand Prix des Hauts de France is a multi-stage cycling race held annually in the Hauts-de-France region of France. Despite its name, which translates to “Four Days of Dunkirk,” the race currently spans six days and six stages.

History

Established in 1955 by a group of enthusiasts led by René Quillot, the race was initially called the Grand Prix de Dunkerque-Trophée Primerose. It was originally contested over four days from 1955 to 1962. The duration increased to five days in 1963 and to six days during various periods, including 1969-1973, 1982-2001, 2007-2009, and since 2017. The number of stages has varied, reaching up to eight stages over six days in 1969. The race is typically held in May. The 2020 and 2021 editions were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision that faced criticism within the cycling community, especially as neighboring Belgium continued to host races during the same period.

Race Characteristics

The Quatre Jours de Dunkerque is part of the UCI ProSeries and adheres to the regulations for stage races set by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The race distinguishes itself among French stage races by its relative length, featuring six stages over six days, whereas similar events often last three to four days. The course typically includes five flat stages and one hilly stage, known as the “stage of the mounts,” which traditionally takes place in the Monts de Flandre with a final circuit on Mont Cassel. The race covers approximately 1,000 kilometers, traversing various terrains such as the Monts de Flandre, Monts du Boulonnais, Collines de l’Artois, and Cap Blanc-Nez. The relatively flat terrain favors sprinters and classics specialists. Time gaps are generally small, making time bonuses crucial. However, certain editions have been more challenging, particularly when the “stage of the mounts” occurred in the Boulonnais region, resulting in larger time differences. Positioned in the calendar between the northern classics in April and the stage races in May and June, the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque serves as a transition for riders.

Notable Winners

The race has seen multiple riders achieve notable success:

Number of Victories	Rider	Nationality	Years
4	Freddy Maertens	Belgium	1973, 1975, 1976, 1978
3	Jef Planckaert	Belgium	1957, 1960, 1963
2	Jacques Anquetil	France	1958, 1959
	Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke	Belgium	1980, 1985
	Charly Mottet	France	1989, 1991
	Johan Museeuw	Belgium	1995, 1997
	Sylvain Chavanel	France	2002, 2004
	Arnaud Démare	France	2013, 2014

Note: The information above is based on the French Wikipedia page for the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque.

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This is a one-of-a-kind item, so please review the photos carefully to determine the condition.

Additional information

Weight	2 lbs

1960 Four Days of Dunkerque Race Used Car Plaque, Race Winner Joseph Planckaert

Description