29 replies to this topic

[f1steveuk]

As I grew up in Eastbourne, I was constantly bombarded with features in our local paper featuring "entertainer, Max le Grand". So much so, I started to dislike the man, without ever meeting him. Then he left Eastbourne, why, I do not know, and only then did I find out he was known as quite a motorsport photographer, something I learnt from Lionel Rapson (son of the Rapson tyre Lionel Rapson of Brooklands).

I have seen some of his work, but would be interested to know what others think.

[Doug Nye]

Max was son of the lady who ran the cafe at Brands Hatch. He appears with Mike Cooper as a couple of inquisitive press photographers in assorted scenes of Frankenheimer's 'Grand Prix'. He's the taller pop-eyed one. He was a decent photographer and finessed his way into pursuing all manner of motor racing around the world. I remember several UK-based staffmen of the early 1960s who became intensely jealous of 'that bloke Le Grand', simply because he seemed to be having a better time than they were!

I might be confusing him with someone else, but I believe he was involved in some enormous 'do' in Brighton or somewhere similar a few years ago in which he gathered together - I think - a thousand pairs of identical twins for some halfway decent reason. It received considerable media coverage at the time. Or am I losing the plot here??????

DCN

[Graham Gauld]

Max is quite a character and as Doug says he used to appear everywhere. He was not a bad photographer and certainly got around a bit. For those who haven't a clue who we are talking about here is Max in action, this time as a commentator interviewing Lotus factory driver John Miles. Le Grand is the guy on the left.

[Ted Walker]

Pretty certain that he ended up living in Cheltenham.I think his archive ended up with Karl Ludvigson. I remember thinking "oh bugger I missed that one"

[Peter Darley]

Originally posted by Ted Walker
Pretty certain that he ended up living in Cheltenham.I think his archive ended up with Karl Ludvigson. I remember thinking "oh bugger I missed that one"

Confirm that he lives in Cheltenham. He came over to see me a few years ago when he was writing a book on the RAC Rally.

There is also a photo of him in my book "Jim Clark - Life at Team Lotus"

[simonlewisbooks]

Max used to come into my bookshop (which was only 30 miles from Cheltenham) from time to time and was involved in the Bexhill speed trials revival event in the late 90s. He wrote a book on the event which laid claim to being "the first motor race meeting held in Britain" in around the turn of the century. As far as I can recall,the original Bexhill event was actually a Brighton-style speed trial rather than a race meeting as such, but I guess it made for a good story to get the revival and the book off the ground!

Max said he learned photography from Klemantaski as part of an arrangement between the great man and his dad. I think Max's dad might have been some kind of circuit manager at Brands, working for John Webb and the pay off for Klem was getting unlimited access to the track whenever he wanted it.

[ensign14]

What is his book like?

[simonlewisbooks]

Originally posted by ensign14
What is his book like?

Afraid I don't have one to hand but it was called BRANDS HATCH TO BEXHILL and was published around the turn of the decade/century/millennium . I imagine it was probably rather entertaining, Max being something of a flamboyant character as several people have said.

[Mallory Dan]

This is amazing! I was reading some '73 Aspurts last night (thanks Roger), and said Mr le Grand appears, writing the Purely Personal column. I'd never heard of him before as a Journo/Photographer at all, and next day he pops up here...Not a great article he wrote by the way.

[ensign14]

Originally posted by simonlewisbooks


Afraid I don't have one to hand but it was called BRANDS HATCH TO BEXHILL and was published around the turn of the decade/century/millennium . I imagine it was probably rather entertaining, Max being something of a flamboyant character as several people have said.

I got the impression it was less about motor racing than about famous people he had stood next to over the years. But I don't have it.

[hipperson]

He appears on Page 75 of Peter Darley's book.......the companion next to him flicking a 'V' is my good friend photographer Nick Loudon.
Incidentally the 'V' is aimed at Richard Attwood as well as Mr Darley.

[f1steveuk]

Much as I expected, I got the impression it was about being with more well known people. Strangely I was involved in organising the first four Bexhill 100s, and he wasn't there once!!!

But what of the quality of his pictures? He appears to have had quite good access, but I have to say the few pictures I have seen are, er, average. In a nice way of course!

[simonlewisbooks]

Originally posted by f1steveuk
Much as I expected, I got the impression it was about being with more well known people. Strangely I was involved in organising the first four Bexhill 100s, and he wasn't there once!!!

But what of the quality of his pictures? He appears to have had quite good access, but I have to say the few pictures I have seen are, er, average. In a nice way of course!

His work appears in various contemporary books and in fairness to any photographer relies very much on the quality of the paper and printing used in that particular publication to be seen to best advantage. A classic example being the PORSCHE STORY by the great Julius Weitman which in it's original late 1960s/early 70s printing, on art paper, does much more justice to the author's work than the cheaper production values of the 1980s edition - where one is genuinely left wondering what all the fuss was about...it all looks so bland by comparison.

[Peter Darley]

The book I was refering to was "RAC Rally", published by Crowood Press in 2001.

[Bloggsworth]

Max used to turn up at Lydden with Bob Curl when Len Marchant was running his Brabham F.Ford.

He also used to do a sort of derring do type programme on Southern Television, having a go at any sport mad enought to let him take part, I think he also used to do a motor-sport programme on the radio in that neck of the woods.

He is still in Cheltenham, but only just, as he is in the process of moving.

[Ted Walker]

A silly question but is Max still alive ?????????

[simonlewisbooks]

he is in the process of moving.

If he isn't alive Ted then he's obviously a restless spirit......

[Ted Walker]

Sorry Simon a senior moment again.

[jarama]

Originally posted by Peter Darley
The book I was refering to was "RAC Rally", published by Crowood Press in 2001.

Book with a lot of mistakes, by the way.


Carles.

[karlcars]

Yes, we do have Max's photo archive, which I was very interested in because his photos are highly artistic and superbly composed.

Max's work features strongly in my Haynes books about Emerson Fittipaldi, Jackie Stewart and Bruce McLaren. Any of these works will show the high quality of his photography.

He did get around. We have some lovely shots of activity in and around the shooting of the movie "Grand Prix" at Monte Carlo.

[f1steveuk]

Thank you Karl, that puts me in my place. I'd better post the pictures that I have, maybe they're not Max's!

[Giraffe]

I stumbled across this cine-snatch of JYS in the paddock at the Oulton Park Gold Cup in 1969 & who should be standing next to him but Max. He got to places the wind didn't blow in those far-off days; I wonder how he is doing now?


By giraffe138 at 2011-01-24

[Graham Gauld]

I stumbled across this cine-snatch of JYS in the paddock at the Oulton Park Gold Cup in 1969 & who should be standing next to him but Max. He got to places the wind didn't blow in those far-off days; I wonder how he is doing now?


By giraffe138 at 2011-01-24

Just an update. I received an e mail from Max Le Grand today to say " ....tell all those cheeky buggers I am still alive and well"

He is just back from the Antartic and Uruguay but tells me he has been invited to the Silverstone Classic Press Day that is coming up soon so perhaps someone can catch a photo of him there.

[Giraffe]

I doubt if JYS will be there to enable me to recreate that encounter, Graham!

[f1steveuk]

Nice to know the "old bugger" is stil around!

[Peter Darley]

[quote name='Graham Gauld' date='Apr 7 2011, 16:27' post='4942544']
Just an update. I received an e mail from Max Le Grand today to say " ....tell all those cheeky buggers I am still alive and well"

]

I can confirm he is alive and kicking - he dropped in for a cup of tea a couple of days ago!

[Bloggsworth]

If I had had the chutzpah to inveigle my way into the places Max did, however meagre my talent, whatever the flimsiness of my pretext,I would have led a much more interesting life...

Edited by Bloggsworth, 08 April 2011 - 08:27.

[Giraffe]

If I had had the chutzpah to inveigle my way into the places Max did, however meagre my talent, whatever the flimsieness of my pretext,I would have led a much more interesting life...

Indeed, the thinking man's Harry Marks.

[Tony Matthews]

If I had had the chutzpah to inveigle my way into the places Max did, however meagre my talent, whatever the flimsieness of my pretext,I would have led a much more interesting life...

Flimsieness. A nice word, but it brings to mind a different sort of photography...

[Bloggsworth]

Flimsieness. A nice word, but it brings to mind a different sort of photography...

Ah! The ephemeral flimsiness of the female form*













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