In the early 20th century, Bormes-les-Mimosas was a focal point for regional car and motorcycle competitions. Starting in 1907, the Toulon Automobile Club organized a spectacular event over a 2-kilometer course between Le Pin de Bormes and Place Gambetta. Drivers competed on a simply stoned road with a demanding layout, attracting a large and enthusiastic crowd. These exceptional events continued until 1928, leaving a lasting mark on the local sporting and cultural history.
This historical anchoring is also reflected in the town's artistic heritage. The Museum of History and Art of Bormes (MHAB) houses the painting by Emmanuel Charles Bénézit, titled "La course de côte à Bormes en 1924" (The Hill Climb in Bormes in 1924), a valuable pictorial record of this epic period.
As the centenary of the end of these legendary events approaches, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in Place Saint-François. The ceremony was attended by numerous personalities, including François Arizzi, mayor of Bormes-les-Mimosas, local elected officials, Christian Simon, senator for the Var, Pascaline Amigues, first deputy mayor of Le Lavandou (representing Bertrand Carletti, mayor of Le Lavandou), Jean-Louis Blanc, president of the French Federation of Vintage Vehicles (FFVE), Nicolas Duban, vice-president of the Automobile Club de France (ACF), and Jean-Pascal Curnillo, president of the association Les Anciennes du Littoral 83.
The square transformed into an open-air museum, with many enthusiasts and owners of vintage cars gathering to immortalize the event. A highlight of the ceremony was the notable arrival of Georgenthum and Solange Giraud driving a legendary Bugatti Type 35, a racing car that participated in local hill climbs, offering an unforgettable historical nod to the event.
The ceremony concluded with the distribution of prizes and a toast to friendship, thus perpetuating the memory of the automobile pioneers.
