Ride in Peace: Normandy Beach Race 2025

For those of us who love prewar motorcycles and automobiles, the Normandy Beach Race is simply one of the neatest annual motoring events in the world — a time warp to another era. It takes place at the historic Sword Beach in Ouistreham, one of the five main landing areas for Allied forces during the D-Day invasion of occupied France.

Some of the most well-known units to land here included the British and Free French Commandos of the 1st Special Service Brigade under Brigadier Lord Lovat, as well as various battalions of the British 3rd Division (“The Iron Division.”)

The inspiration for the NBR came from three French enthusiasts — Thomas Hervé, Jean-Marc Lazzari, and Marc Félix — who’d traveled to the States to participate in The Race of Gentlemen (TROG), the annual beach race in Wildwood, New Jersey. They quickly imagined hosting a similar event on one of Normany’s historic beaches, and the NBR was born.

“The Normandy Beach Race offers an authentic and free show to revive the atmosphere of the mechanical rendezvous of the 40s/50s. An original and spectacular event, run for fun on 1/8 mile drag style mixing vintage vehicles, cars and motorcycles of American and European makes pre-1947.”

This year’s event took place from September 19-21, and we were fortunate to have our friend and photographer Roberto Garagarza (@roga______) in attendance to cover the event.

Unfortunately, the 2025 Normandy Beach Race was marked by unexpected tragedy when one of the beloved event founders, Marc Félix, passed away in a freak accident. We’d like to make today’s feature a tribute to Marc’s vision and passion. Below is the homage the Normandy Beach Race family published in the wake of Marc’s passing:

Visionaries write the most beautiful stories.
Marc cherished great tales and gifted us a legend.
The adventures of a man with exceptional talent.
He took us all to the ends of the earth with his contagious passion.
His story will resonate for ever in the times to come.
Though his greatest accomplishment will undoubtedly remain the one he wrote with his loved ones, as a devoted husband and an admirable father.
Our thoughts are with his wife, Ludmila, their children, and all his loved ones.
Marc, our friend, thank you.
Ride in peace.

Our heaviest condolences go out to Marc’s family and friends, as well as the greater NBR family. While these images may do nothing to assuage his loss, we hope Marc would smile at the joy and beauty of the event he created. If you have any words of condolence for Marc’s family and friends, please place them in the comments. Ride in Peace, Marc ❤️