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The story of an unlikely meeting between Ayrton Senna and two young Frenchmen, in a small hotel in Belgium.

• Ayrton Senna's autograph for a young Frenchman, the driver used the fan's ticket for the Formula 1 race at Spa-Francorchamps.
• In French.
• 9.5 cm x 9 cm.
• Belgium, August 1992.
• Perfect condition.
• Unique piece.

It comes with a 5-page fan letter in French, translated here:

Allow me to introduce myself: Stéphane B., born in October 1967, from Coulommiers. I am a cook at a college in Alencon, married for 15 years and father of two children, a 16-year-old daughter and a son who will soon be 12.

In early 1992, I met my cousin Eric, nicknamed Looping (watch the American series The All Risk Agency to understand), a somewhat crazy character and also passionate about motorsports (F1 of course). He also had a beautiful Suzuki 1100 GSxr motorcycle with white and orange-red paint in the Marlboro colors.

That day, I told him about my desire to share our weekend with him at Spa, a circuit to which he occasionally traveled to watch the F1 GP that takes place every year at the end of the year. I would like to point out that I was also the proud owner of a Yamaha 1200 XJB, a version that gave me goosebumps and adrenaline when I jumped on it to travel miles for fun. Ah, youth!

When the GP approached, Looping called me to see if my wish was still relevant and I answered in the affirmative. Good timing.

Without GPS at the time, I let my cousin take care of the steering of my Ford Fiesta 1.4 CLP Model 1989 with double barrel carburetor, a powerful carburetor pump.

I don't remember the route very well, we just passed through Ermenonville la mer de sable.

We arrived at the Franco-Belgian border and decided to buy our tickets there. A ticket office was set up as soon as we crossed into Belgium. This saved us from having to rush to the ticket office at the circuit.

The ticket price was a tough one: 600 francs and that was just for the day of the GP. Eric said that the price had gone up a lot compared to the last time he had gone. It was with our precious ticket in hand that we arrived at the circuit, not knowing what we were going to find. We were driving around the area and to our “great despair”, we found spectators who were reselling tickets for 600 francs but for the 2 days of the race… The reason for this “promotion” was that they had bought these tickets a month in advance and were waiting to go to bed and rest.

After visiting the area around the circuit, we thought about finding a hotel for the night. We had brought our duvets to sleep in the car on March 1st, but prices can be cheap in Belgian villages.

And we set off on an adventure, early in the afternoon, skipping several meals. But, of course, at such an event, rooms are booked in advance.

We entered a new village, Malmedy...

I don't remember the hotel-restaurant very well and we were already starting to leave when, suddenly, the boss, I think, offered us for a small amount (at least a reasonable price) to stay for the night in a room reserved for apprentices. Ok, it works, it's either that or a night of partying!!

An employee comes to pick us up, takes us to our room and in the conversation he realizes that, the night before, Ayrton Senna came to dinner at their house, at their restaurant.

This news didn't bother me, unlike my cousin who immediately asked him, without really believing it, to let us know if he came back.

With our weekend budget having been cut between the price of gas, the ticket and the room, we decided to have dinner out in the city. After a pizza and a beer, we headed back to the hotel. The next day would be busy and we needed to rest.

Suddenly someone knocks on the door. Hey, were we making too much noise? Well, no! It's just the employee from this afternoon who came to tell us that Senna was back at the restaurant.

Looping, wearing a sweatshirt in the colors of his motorcycle. We both went down “armed” with our GP tickets, determined to ask him for an autograph.

There was Ayrton Senna, a woman (quite beautiful) and a person who accompanied them.

The end of dinner was approaching. It was time to ask a waiter for a pen and a highlighter, essential materials for the precious autograph. In Eric's eyes, the champion arrived and we shamelessly asked him to sign our respective tickets and, for Looping, a large autograph in indelible marker on a sweatshirt that he promised never to wash again. A sacred relic!!

He said in English (emotion certainly) a "Good Luck" in the direction of Ayrton Senna, something that according to my cousin still resonates, don't say (superstition story?).

He leaves us followed by this woman and, of course, the third person.

Watching them leave through the window, we saw him leave in large company aboard a gray Honda NX.

Of course my cousin was over the moon. We returned to our room, managed to fall asleep despite some agitation and after a good night's sleep, we ate in the dining room, with breakfast included in our room rate.

Early departure (and in a good mood) for Spa and its legendary circuit of this lot that promised to be unique. Several races before the race. I admit that, once the GP has started, it is very impressive! The speed of the cars, the roar of the mechanics, that feeling of power that emerges, that's it! GP result: first victory for a certain Michael Schumacher and as for our champion, he scored 2 points in the process.

End of the crazy weekend and return to Alençon via Coulommiers to drop off my cousin. And on the way back, Balaban, I abused my exhaust. For the first time, several hundred kilometers controlling the acceleration just to spare our ears.

Except in the tunnels, I accelerate like a racer, of course...

Back at work on Monday morning, teary-eyed, not tired, but very proud and impatient to tell about my stay in Belgium and this meeting with Ayrton Senna.

My colleagues are not jealous, but envious. At that time, Senna was not a driver, but THE driver that everyone knew.

Now, when I tell this story, few people (especially young people) know about it. It is obvious that this stay in Belgium will remain in my memory as long as my neurons allow it.

On May 1, 1994, a new chapter in F1 was turned. Ayrton Senna was brutally murdered. With some emotion, I remember this man who seemed approachable, simple, even modest. I believe that his attitude managed to elevate him to the level of a god in Brazil, his homeland.

The ticket, this ticket, has been kept in an album for 28 years, among other tickets from amusement parks and also from car and motorcycle competitions.

I don't know why I'm selling this autograph, money is not my main motivation, but I think it would make someone very happy to give it to a true fan, who will know how to highlight and pay tribute to this great driver.

Everything I write is true. It was the story of an unlikely encounter with Ayrton Senna.

Ayrton Senna (1960 - 1994) was Formula 1 world champion three times, became a national hero and gave a country the chance to dream. It is impossible to talk about the great figures of Brazilian culture without mentioning the name of Ayrton Senna. The São Paulo native who began his career at a young age in kart racing, conquered the world with his maneuvers, but mainly with his values: overcoming obstacles, dedication and a taste for victory.

Authentic Ayrton Senna autographs, in perfect condition and well documented, are very rare. Only one or two appear on the market each year. An extensive letter, with many interesting details about Senna and this unlikely encounter, comes with this exceptional piece.