Sarkozy, Royal, and the Cooper S

The results from the first round of France's presidential election are in. Sarkozy garnered a surprising (even to his campaign) 31.8% of the vote. Royal the Socialist (talk about your oxymorons) came in second. In honor of the French system of picking winners, I take you in the Wayback Machine to the 1966 Monte Carlo Rallye.

Royal and Sarkozy: Not Disqualified Because They Are Not British

Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself

1964 Winner

1965 Winner

For two years straight ('64 and '65), the Mini Cooper S won the Rallye. In 1966, it won the trifecta, placing first (Makinen), second (Aaltonen), and third (Hopkirk). The red faced French wanted blood.

1966 - 1st place

1966 - 2nd place

1966 - 3rd place

After the race, the judges took hours scrutinizing the winners. Et voila! Apparently, all three cars had headlights and spotlights with single filaments. This was in clear violation of the rules, which required dual filament bulbs. And thus, with these irrelevant violations, the titles were stripped. The fourth place Ford Lotus Cortina was disqualified for the same reason. Coincidentally and consequently, the fifth place Citroen DS became, by default, the 1966 champion.

It is Tamerlane's opinion that this chicken shit move was the last nail in the coffin for France as a respectable nation and as a just society. Its precipitous decline started with the Vichy regime, was followed by the defeat at Dien Bien Phu, and ended with the 1966 Monte Carlo travesty. France has never recovered.

CKY

P.S. Aaltonen won the 1967 Rallye in...a Mini Cooper S.