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Jean Sage RIP

Started by Doug Nye , Oct 08 2009 16:46

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28 replies to this topic

#1 Doug Nye

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 16:46

Sad news that Jean Sage, Renault's former sporting director, Ferrari afficionado and long-term owner/collector of fine cars, has died at the age of 68 in Annecy, France. He was - most of the time - a very affable and helpful chap - a real motor sports enthusiast and very approachable.

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 11 October 2009 - 19:41.

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#2 Tim Murray

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 16:51

Sad indeed - yet another name from the good old days. RIP Jean.

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#3 Macca

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 16:55

Very sad to hear - I remember him at the Revival several times obviously enjoying his cars.

Paul M

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#4 David M. Kane

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 17:03

Godspeed Jean.

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#5 john ruston

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 17:05

He was a friend and so helpful.
The many stories he told about his time at Renault ,Bernie,Ron and the rest.
Good bloke.

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#6 LOLE

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 18:08

Jean was at the Ennstall Classic on July 18th, together with Hans Herrmann, Kurt Ahrens, Maria-Théresa de Filippis and Nanni Galli.
Although he was too weak, he insisted to participate and brought his mechanic with him to drive his car...
RIP Jean, thanks for the nice memories!

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#7 Simon Thomas

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 20:25

This is just so sad. Jean has been tremendous help with my biography of Bobbie Baird in relation to chassis numbers and other details relating to Chinetti and Jean Lucas.
Should have finished it for him before now.
Simon

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#8 wolf sun

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 20:28

Oh, very sad...from what I've read about him he must have been a good bloke. RIP Jean.

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#9 Haine Kane

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 20:48

Sad news

Copyright : Haine Kane

RIP

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#10 Muzza

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 22:59

Sad news

Copyright : Haine Kane

RIP

Oh, terrible news. I met him once in Lausanne in the late 1990s, and he was a true gentleman. He was astonished to see that a "young Brazilian" (I'm not sure how much I was of either) knew a bit about his exploits.

My condolences to Mr. Sage's family and friends.

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#11 Cynic2

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 02:40

Jean Sage was my mentor, and a true friend. He created the Ferrari Historic Challenge series, originally for Jacques Swaters and then for Ferrari. He was always helpful in providing advice and guidance to me when I organized the North American series, and would visit here each January, where the Davies would provide a car for him to race. He enjoyed himself -- except for the year when I accidentally skipped over him in the prize-giving, and then he threw a truly "French" snit. I was horrified, as it was my error; Jean let me stew for a while, then with a wink, he forgave me.

He had a wonderful background, having been team manager for the Renault F1 team, and was the team manager for Ferrari France when he brought two Ferrari F40LMs to the U.S. to contest the IMSA GTO championship in 1989, with Jean Alesi, Jean Pierre Jabouille , and Olivier Grouillard as drivers.

Jean owned many interesting cars, and enjoyed racing them in historic events; again, a real enthusiast.

I last saw Jean last year at Monterey, and I knew he'd been ill. Sadly, until seeing this thread tonight, I didn't know he had died.

My condolences to his family and friends.

David Seibert
,

Edited by Cynic2, 09 October 2009 - 02:42.

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#12 Ted Walker

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 07:16

Very sad news indeed.He sent me a postcard just after Christmas saying he was very ill but hoped to see me at Goodwood.He spent many,happy hours on my stand looking at photos,telling stories and it would always end up with him meeting about six or so of his friends and having a huge multi-lingual conversations with Jean doing the translations. he was a"proper Frenchman"

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#13 David Force

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 10:19

Another great figure has passed on. Jean was in many ways the archetypal Frenchman to us poor English and could be intimidating at times but when you got to know him he was such a splendid man. His tales could entertain for hours, often with great humour. For a man of such experience and knowledge to be taken so soon is a tragedy for his family but also for those of us in the wider motor sporting community who will no longer benefit from his presence.

Au revoir Jean

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#14 Bruno

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 12:38

R I P
condoléances à ses proches et sa famille

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#15 klemcoll

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 14:40

Jean Sage was a long time friend and a true Ferrari expert, always willing to help others with his vast knowledge. He was a man of strong opinions, but always with great good fellowship. We shall all miss him greatly.

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#16 Ren� de Boer

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 17:21

Sad to hear! Last time we met was at Bernard Cahier's funeral in July last year, and several times at various locations before that. Best memory probably was the flight to Daytona Rennsport Reunion in November 2007. I had the pleasure of being seated next to him and we talked motor racing and countless other things for eight hours or so.

He refused to use mobile phones or e-mail, so correspondence with him was always in long-hand, with nicely written answers on his personal letterhead.

Godspeed, Jean!

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#17 alfredaustria

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Posted 10 October 2009 - 15:14

Very sad. I was lucky to meet Jean Sage at Gröbming, where he visited the Ennstal-Classic 2009. I got a photo with Jean Sage and me, which I want to join with you. Copyright Alfred Raidl.

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#18 FLB

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Posted 10 October 2009 - 15:25

Wasn't he seriously injured when struck by a car (Johansson?) in the Monaco pitlane one year?

Condoleances to his friends and family.

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#19 hhh

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Posted 10 October 2009 - 22:49

A great car enthousiast and extremely knowledgeable, not easy to win an argument from him.......
We shall miss him. RIP

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#20 Craven Morehead

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Posted 11 October 2009 - 19:20

Rest in peace Jean Sage. Thanks for everything.

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#21 Alan Cox

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Posted 11 October 2009 - 22:16

Jean Sage with his Ferrari Monza during the 1990 Mille Miglia retrospective
Posted Image

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#22 Bruno

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Posted 12 October 2009 - 08:57

without a helmet, with the glasses! superb

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#23 eldougo

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Posted 12 October 2009 - 10:39

That is very sad news about Jean passing . Being a tall man you had no problem finding him the pits, he gave the impression that he was not happy however once you got to talk to him he changed and you could have a good conversation ......RIP Monsieur Sage.

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#24 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 13 October 2009 - 00:20

The following is from Myles Winbigler about Charlie Cravens, who, in the 60s, owned and raced Ferrari 860 Monza 0604M, which Jean later had:

"...I believe the Charlie was Jean's guest at a race at Spa; at that time he found that the welded external patch on the engine (which he did when he reconstructed the engine after a blow up at the Seafair races at Pacific Raceway). He has told me that he was amazed at the details Jean knew about the 3 Monzas e.g. he could look at a period race photo and 1) identify the chassis 2) identify the time period based upon the bulges/ducts/modifications made between and during races..."

Myles said he will pass on the sad news to Charlie.

Vince H.