By giraffe138
(Photo courtesy of Kevin (Hodge) Hodgkinson's new book "In the Mind's Eye" & featured on the Chevron Racing website).
Talking to Helen Bashford-Malkie at Donington last weekend, I learned that Chevron are currently undertaking the restoration of Frenchman Rene Ligonnet's F3 Chevron B15 in preparation for the Monaco Classic next year.
From what Helen tells me, he sounds like a real character, Formula 3 & Le Mans racer, ex- Foreign Legion and professional bullfighter! Possibly as many as three ex-wives and a 6 year old daughter whilst in his mid-70's, allegedly........ A story that seems to sum the chap up related to me by Helen, is that he once put the car off-track during a rather hectic race, and tumbled it down a hillside, eventually coming to rest wedged on it's side against a tree. The story goes that his rescuers found Rene still in the cockpit but clutching a flower that he had picked, apparently espousing "Life is Sweet"!!!.....
I have asked Helen if I can photograph the restoration as it progresses upto Monaco where Rene intends to bring his life story full-circle. I have completed my due diligence with a search, but there is relatively little about Rene on TNF; Steve Wilkinson posted a pic of him some time ago in a F3 Brabham during 1968, and there are a few credits here and there, but that's about it. Can anyone add anything to the story of this colourful character?
Edited by Giraffe, 13 May 2009 - 08:56.