Sometimes sad news hits harder than usual. This is such a time. Jean was a real historian and enthusiast. Whether it was the cars of  local man, Marius Dal Bo, in Annecy ,at one end of the spectrum,  or his unsurpassed knowledge of Ferrari history, and his time at Maranello at the other. Grand Prix enthusiasts remember Jean as the Renault F1 team manager...few will recall his places on the grid himself in a F3 Pygmee !!  or as one of the "real" drivers in the converted JRRDS Lotus 20s masquerading as BRMs et al in the film "Grand Prix". 

We shared a passion. We loved "les archives", and Formula Junior was "his era".  Jean and I both served on the FIA Heritage Certificate committee, and pedantically insisted on properly authenticated dossiers from applicants; we researched together the Dalbot Formula Junior cars; but it was in the run up to Monaco Historique biannually that we always came together, vetting the Formula Junior entries. That fax would arrive [ Jean did not do Email ! ]  "Duncan, is this a good car?" --- any duplication of chassis numbers, and BOTH were out : no explanation accepted ! An abiding memory is sitting with Jean late into Friday evening last year as the great and the good in F1 cars were hauled before the French Stewards meeting, one by one as they were bizzarly  made to explain why their cars were running with electronic ignition, instead of being able to join their wives  at the Palace!  When it came to FJs turn, his later intervention saved the day for one of our  ( to be nameless ! )drivers who went awol for the Drivers meeting, and was about to be excluded from the race meeting there and then. 

It was just five days ago that, out of the blue,  I received this note, accompanied by a copy of the long sought programme for 1960 Aix-les-Bains Formula Junior, the meeting where the footbridge collapsed and Chris Threlfall was killed.

"Dear Duncan, After 40 years ( ! ) research I have LAST week found some informations to build an entry list and practice time list for AIX LES BAINS 1960. I am very happy to provide it to you, very quickly, because my cancer is going very quickly in the wrong way. I am not very sure to survive, but please keep it for you. It has always been a pleasure to work with you. Friendly regards, Jean "

I faxed back immediately " .....so often (the cancer) stays away a long time - do not give up ! I hope that I can still help you with F3.1000 histories for 2010 GP Historique ! ......."

But it was not to be .. We shall dearly miss that rather bent figure, and his lovely cars, in the Historic paddock ..............

DCPR