37 replies to this topic

[cabianca]

Bernard Cahier died this morning in France. Born in 1927 in Marseilles, Cahier attended UCLA in Los Angeles, where he met many of the players in the Southern California racing scene. He worked as a salesman at Roger Barlow's International Motors when Phil Hill worked there. After he returned to Europe his news articles and race reports in Road & Track influenced a generation of American sports car fans.

In the days before motor homes, when reporters were on a more equal level with the drivers, Cahier was one of the best know people in the paddock. I was at the hairpin in Sebring in 1957 and Bernard was nearby. Stirling Moss slowed and Cahier handed him a bottle of Coke. The next time around, Moss threw out the empty bottle and Bernard retrieved it and put it in a safe spot. Those were the days.

Cahier handled European PR for Goodyear when they entered road racing and his party each year during the Monte Carlo GP weekend was the social highlight of the season. For a time, he was President of the International Racing Press Association. Cahier recently wrote a two-volume book containing many of his classic photographic images of the period.

His son Paul-Henri is one of today's leading Grand Prix photographers.

[raceannouncer2003]

I am very sorry to hear this. I didn't know he had gone to USC. He was always front and center with reports in Road & Track and Sports Car Graphic.

At the Monaco Historique, I am showing Paul-Henri the photo of his dad at Monaco in a book of photos from Europe 1962 (Bernard in the light colored sports jacket) (who is the photographer fellow looking on in the background?) I showed Bernard and he said "Ah, with Innes!" He signed it for me, plus my program. He and Paul-Henri had a display of photos near the Casino.



Second photo by Ted Langton-Adams, copyright Eric Faulks.

I recently bought a "classic" bottle of Coke from my son's video store and have it in my fridge in memory of racing days gone by. I have visions of taking it to the Pebble Beach Tour and handing it off to SCM or Lady Susan as they go by on a slow corner!

Vince H.

[kayemod]

I have a Henri Cahier original B/W print with hand written caption on the reverse, on my office wall, among a few Geoffrey Goddards. It depicts Denny Hulme in the McLaren workshops leaning on an M8B, which was the place I last met Denny. A lovely character study, and I'll treasure that photo all the more now. Henri was truly one of the greats where photography was concerned.

[cabianca]

I was mistaken, Bernard actually went to UCLA, USC's crosstown rival.

[David M. Kane]

Thanks BIG diifference, ask anyone from either school! A true giant has left us!

[HDonaldCapps]

Like Vince I got to see and have a quick few words with Cahier in Monte Carlo. I remember seeing him quite frequently around the circuits while I was in Europe. Always seemed to have time for a quick word or two. He will be dearly missed, a great gent and a delightful man. And what a talented man with both the camera and the written word. My thoughts are with his family, especially Paul-Henri -- who is another very talented Cahier.

[Bill Becketts]

How times change...

It would appear that the snapper "Involved" with Kimi this weekend was none other than Paul Henri Cahier


Where did it all go wrong.....? For all it's worth, I believe that, like technology, you can't "dis-invent" the influence of corporate money and the influence of the lowest common denominator

[Jones Foyer]

Oh wow. Sad news.

He had a wonderful career. A great talent and his well known name is a testament to his hard work.

[Arturo Pereira]

Very sorry to hear this. My thoughts to Paul-Henri and to his family. Quite a sad loss

[fines]

My condolences to Paul-Henri and the rest of the family!

RIP, Bernard.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Very sad news, indeed. With the passing of Cahier and Frere, we have lost two unique charcters who can never be replaced.

Good bye, Bernard.....




Jack

[AyePirate]

Thank you Bernard

[RA Historian]

Like so many of us, I got my introduction to international racing through the words of Bernard Cahier in Road & Track. He brought the races alive, and I still like his old reports better than modern ones; he injected so much personality in his reports, of the drivers and himself!

I had the opportunity to meet M. Cahier at the Phoenix CART race in either 1992 or 1993. I took the opportunity to thank him for his influence on me as a young boy. Bernard very graciously said that it was a pleasure, and that he was happy that his words were so entertaining. For me it was a thrill to meet a legend. I shall miss him.
Tom

[Bruno]

RIP

[PonysiteEd]

Sorry to hear that.
He also had a heart for enthusiasts browsing for me for hours his archives in search of anything of Alan Mann Racing, which I finally bought from him.
Maybe a bit unknown, but he was as well advisor for the "Grand Prix" movie for John Frankenheimer and often on site during the Le Mans movie filming with Steve McQueen.
Pictured here with Alan Mann and his drivers at the Tour de France 1964.

[René de Boer]

It was sad to hear the news early this morning when I was on my way to Zandvoort for the DTM race.

Ironically, it was here at Zandvoort that I was able to spend a wonderful weekend with Bernard in 2005 during the DTM meeting when I was press officer at Opel and had invited him as one of our guests. He brought an impressive portfolio of beautiful black and white photographs he had shot at Zandvoort over the years and we had a nice dinner with a few Dutch journalists on Sunday evening with many happy memories and wonderful anecdotes.

I understand that the funeral will be in Evian on Tuesday and I plan to go there. I will post some more details when I receive them.

[AAA-Eagle]

Very sad news again... He was a legendary person and one of the best GP photographers ever...

RIP, Bernard

[Nanni Dietrich]

Very sad news.


I've seen him at the Targa Florio 1967 when he finished 7th overall in a Porsche 911S, with Jean-Klaude Killy (triple ski Olympic gold medallist at Grenoble).

[D-Type]

Sad news indeed.

We are losing the generation of enthusiasts/journalists/writers/photographers that created the racing world as we know it.

I'm sure Jenks, Jabby Crombac, Paul Frere, Louis Klemantaski, Geoffrey Goddart, Henry Manney et al will make space by the fire for him.

[DOHC]

RIP and thanks for the wonderful pictures.

[AAA-Eagle]

Originally posted by Nanni Dietrich
I've seen him at the Targa Florio 1967 when he finished 7th overall in a Porsche 911S, with Jean-Klaude Killy (triple ski Olympic gold medallist at Grenoble).

[vashlin]

Another legend gone.

As an aspiring photographer, he was my idol from the beginnings of interest in motor sport.

I am so very sorry to hear this news.

Sincere condolances to his family and friends.



Lin

[RStock]

Originally posted by cabianca
I was at the hairpin in Sebring in 1957 and Bernard was nearby. Stirling Moss slowed and Cahier handed him a bottle of Coke. The next time around, Moss threw out the empty bottle and Bernard retrieved it and put it in a safe spot. Those were the days.

Hmmm ... I've often wondered about this photo . It's Harry Schell at the 59 Portugal GP
, according to the site . Is this Bernard Cahier handing him a drink also ? Looks like him , but I'm not familiar enough with him to know .












RIP Bernard .












In the near future , Kimi should do someting very nice for Paul-Henri .

[John Blunsden]

Originally posted by AAA-Eagle

Yes, I too was a witness to Bernard Cahier sharing a Porsche 911S with Killy in the 1967 Targa Florio, having driven down there with Rainer Schlegelmilch in a Lancia Zagato to cover the race for Motor Racing amongst other outlets. During his spells at the wheel Bernard would accelerate hard past the pits with a huge cigar clenched between his teeth, and clearly he was enjoying every minute of it.

I'm very sad to hear of Bernard's passing. He was a good friend, a one-time colleague and, as we all know, a brilliant photographer, one of the best-connected writers in both the sport and the industry, and a thoroughly nice person.

At different stages during the Sixties we were the European Editor of that much lamented West Coast magazine Sports Car Graphic and for several years we shared out the stories from this side of the pond. Bernard also did a great service to his fellow pressmen, in particular working tirelessly, often against stern opposition, to develop the influence of IRPA, the International Racing Press Association, which he created in an effort collectively to ease the task of journalists and photographers in obtaining proper credentials to enable them to carry out their duties efficiently and professionally.

He was also a great asset to Goodyear during the many years when he looked after their PR needs at race circuits, and the caravan which he used as his 'headquartes' became a mecca and social centre for many press people at major events.

A true professional in every respect, and my sincerest condolences go to his delightful wife Joan, who brought so much of her Californian charm to race circuits and motor shows over many years, and of course to their son Paul-Henri and his family, who has inherited so many of his father's photographic skills and will surely enjoy an equally long and memorable career behind the lens . . . hopefully without any further untoward encounters with Ferrari-driving world champions!

John B

[barrykm]

R.I.P.

[raceannouncer2003]

From Paul-Henri Cahier:

"Dear all,

It is unfortunately not possible to answer everyone individually, but we wish to thank you all for your messages of sincere sympathy, which have been a source of great consolation for us!

Bernard's funeral will take place on Tuesday, 15th of July, at 11 o'clock, in the church of Neuvecelle, just above Evian.

Warm regards from the Cahier family,

Paul-Henri

For any further information, please contact me."

Vince H.

[john winfield]

He was a very talented man and I'm sure the Cahier family are very proud of him. Condolences to them all.

By chance I was looking through a September 2003 Motor Sport and, at the back, is one of Bernard's gems, taken at the Moroccan GP in 1958. An animated Phil Hill in the foreground, Mike Hawthorn staring at the ground and, behind Phil's expressive hands, a quizzical Olivier Gendebien, his face illuminated by the north African sun. Superb.

[bournenville]

Thank you for inmortalizing, for all of us to enjoy, such great moments in Motorsport.
My condolences to Cahier family.

[coco]

Originally posted by cabianca
Bernard Cahier died this morning in France. Born in 1927 in Marseilles, Cahier attended UCLA in Los Angeles, where he met many of the players in the Southern California racing scene. He worked as a salesman at Roger Barlow's International Motors when Phil Hill worked there. After he returned to Europe his news articles and race reports in Road & Track influenced a generation of American sports car fans.

In the days before motor homes, when reporters were on a more equal level with the drivers, Cahier was one of the best know people in the paddock. I was at the hairpin in Sebring in 1957 and Bernard was nearby. Stirling Moss slowed and Cahier handed him a bottle of Coke. The next time around, Moss threw out the empty bottle and Bernard retrieved it and put it in a safe spot. Those were the days.

Cahier handled European PR for Goodyear when they entered road racing and his party each year during the Monte Carlo GP weekend was the social highlight of the season. For a time, he was President of the International Racing Press Association. Cahier recently wrote a two-volume book containing many of his classic photographic images of the period.

His son Paul-Henri is one of today's leading Grand Prix photographers.

I am shocked!!!
I was invited by him 2 years ago to dig into his incredible archive and he helped me a lot with my book! I spend a wonderful evening at his place in Evian, France for a very french barbeque with lots of his friends and his lovely wife Joan! Tragically Joan suffered some weeks later a stroke and Bernard was busy to help her where he could. It was a tragidy and he was almost at his end when I called him in February this year for the last time!

One of the greatest motorsport photographers of all time left us now forever. A man who was close friend to S. Moss, J. Behra, H. Schell, P. Collins, J.-M. Fangio and many others of those drivers who became a legend on their own. Bernard was always "close to the subject". In our days of ultra long tele-lenses and high security standarts this is not possible anymore! A charming character with a great sense of humor he truly was and he could tell stories of the great days in an unbeatable way!

I`ll miss you Bernard!

Ciao!
Walter

[Doug Nye]

Very sad news. This is my first chance to pay my respects since the Goodwood weekend. Bernard was quite a showman yet always had the time to show kindnesses large and small. He was very good to me particularly during my early career, and did much for many other colleagues who - unlike me - were the regulars around the race circuits. From this irregular - thanks Bernard, and sincere condolences to the family.

DCN

[Pedro 917]

My sincere condolences to his family and friends, he'll always be a true source of inspiration.


Bernard Cahier, Ring 1973, picture E. Peter

[raceannouncer2003]

And today, from Paul Henri-Cahier:

"Bernard Cahier was larger than life.
He was so close to the heroes he photographed that he became
a hero himself, and in the end, a legend.
He was that close because he was a profoundly humane person,
and his deep sense of empathy was what allowed him to catch
that magic photographic instant so well.
Let us remember the legend, and the treasures he left us with.
A selection of photos of my father are now on the website, for
everyone's viewing pleasure:
http://www.f1-photo.com

Yours, with sorrow,

Paul-Henri Cahier
The Cahier Archive"

Once on the website, click on the photo of Bernard Cahier to see the selection of photos of him.

Vince H.

[René de Boer]

I attended the church service and the funeral in Evian yesterday. There were quite a few people from the motor racing fraterenity, including one ex-Formula 1 driver and one former F1 team manager, but to be honest, I had expected a little more people from within our sport. I would think that Bernard had deserved that.

But it was still a social affair to celebrate Bernard's rich and well-lived live, and I am sure he would have enjoyed such a gathering himself, too! Especially having lunch in the beautiful garden of his house in Evian, with his wife Joan, his son Paul-Henri and daughter Michelle and his grand-children and the many others who were there was a memorable affair, as was having a tour through his office and his archives with Paul-Henri. Rest in peace, Bernard!

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by REDARMYSOJA



Hmmm ... I've often wondered about this photo . It's Harry Schell at the 59 Portugal GP
, according to the site . Is this Bernard Cahier handing him a drink also ? Looks like him , but I'm not familiar enough with him to know .

The uncropped version of this picture is among the memorial selection on the website. I thought there was something missing from it: in the full version, Jo Bonnier is looking on.

[F1Snapper]

Very sad indeed, RIP Bernard. My condolences to PHC and his family.
To honour him we have put a selection together:
http://www.schlegelm...t_special=16000
The motorsport has lost a real gentleman.

[Fred Gallagher]

There was a half page obituary by Alan Henry in today's Guardian with a superb photograph of Mike Hawthorn. The text is here: http://arts.guardian...2291131,00.html

Fred

[ReWind]

I don't want to take anything away from Bernard Cahier.

But let me say that it seems strange to me that the recent passing of fellow photographer Rodolfo Mailander at the age of 85 did not trigger any reaction on this forum. I get the impression that everybody has a soft spot for Bernard Cahier (and deservedly so!) but nobody seems to have known Rodolfo Mailander.

[RStock]

Originally posted by Vitesse2

The uncropped version of this picture is among the memorial selection on the website. I thought there was something missing from it: in the full version, Jo Bonnier is looking on.

Yes , I had noticed that . A great photo , in my opinion . I wonder who took it ? I had never seen the uncropped version until now .