Pierre "Levegh" was a pseudonym. His real last name was Bouillon or Boullion. The former spelling is listed in The Fast Ones, but I've often wondered if that was a typo. If it is, does anyone have a clue if Jean-Christophe Boullion is in any way related?
If Peter Miller's spelling is correct, this is a non-issue, but I've wondered about this for quite awhile and thought that maybe someone here knows the answer. I could see why Jean-Christophe would not want to publicize the connection. Don? Dennis? Ray? Anyone?
By the way Levegh was an acronym for Pierre's uncle's last name, Veghle, who was an "early racing driver" from Alsace. Anyone know anything about him?
Pierre Eugene Alfred Bouillin aka 'Levegh' (merged)
Started by
Fast One
, Jan 19 2000 09:09
62 replies to this topic
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#2
Marcel Schot
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Posted 19 January 2000 - 17:43
According to Forix Levegh's full name is Pierre Eugene Alfred Bouillon, which indeed would cancel any relationship to Jean-Christophe.
From Leiff Snelmann's incredible site (http://www.kolumbus....ellman/main.htm
"Pierre Levegh" is mostly known for his post-war Le Mans racing. In 1952 he raced single-handedly for 23 hours only to miss a gearchange while half asleep, destroying the engine while leading the race by a huge margin. In 1955 his Mercedes 300SLR crashed into the grandstand creating the worst disaster in the history of motor racing with over 80 dead.
The name Veghle doesn't ring a bell anywhere (not even on Altavista
)
From Leiff Snelmann's incredible site (http://www.kolumbus....ellman/main.htm
"Pierre Levegh" is mostly known for his post-war Le Mans racing. In 1952 he raced single-handedly for 23 hours only to miss a gearchange while half asleep, destroying the engine while leading the race by a huge margin. In 1955 his Mercedes 300SLR crashed into the grandstand creating the worst disaster in the history of motor racing with over 80 dead.
The name Veghle doesn't ring a bell anywhere (not even on Altavista
)
#3
Stephen Herbert
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Posted 20 January 2000 - 00:32
At the turn of the century there was a racing driver called 'Alfred Levegh'. He drove a Mors.
He finished 2nd on the 1898 Paris-Boulogne race, won the 1899 Paris-Ostend and also won the 1900 Paris-Toulouse-Paris.
I wonder if this is the driver named 'Veghle', I have seen the name of Levegh's uncle as 'Veghle' or 'Levegh' in different references.
Anybody know any more?
He finished 2nd on the 1898 Paris-Boulogne race, won the 1899 Paris-Ostend and also won the 1900 Paris-Toulouse-Paris.
I wonder if this is the driver named 'Veghle', I have seen the name of Levegh's uncle as 'Veghle' or 'Levegh' in different references.
Anybody know any more?
#4
Fast One
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Posted 20 January 2000 - 09:35
Thanks, Marcel and Stephen. I'm glad to have this resolved, as I've been curious for quite some time.
#5
Ray Bell
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Posted 21 January 2000 - 06:15
Was there not a Motor Sport article about him in the past year or two?
I'm sure that's where I read that he found a vibration period in the engine, and that he felt he could drive around it, but the co-driver didn't have his confidence.
Levegh, if I recall correctly, prepared the car, and was therefore very familiar with it.
Then he missed a gear . . . Just when he had the might of Neubauer's mob beaten.
I'm sure that's where I read that he found a vibration period in the engine, and that he felt he could drive around it, but the co-driver didn't have his confidence.
Levegh, if I recall correctly, prepared the car, and was therefore very familiar with it.
Then he missed a gear . . . Just when he had the might of Neubauer's mob beaten.
#6
Fast One
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Posted 24 January 2000 - 07:01
I finally got, and am reading, Mon Ami Mate. Chris Nixon has this on our man Pierre:
"In Death Race, Mark Kahn repeated the accepted - but erroneous - British knowledge of Pierre Levegh: that he was born Pierre Bouillon and later adopted the pseudonym Levegh for his racing career by creating an anagram from his uncle's surname, which was Veghle. There are three errors here: the first is that his surname was not Bouillon, but Bouillin; the second is that his uncle's name was Velghe, not Veghle and the third is that it was Alfred himself who created the anagram Levegh, some forty years before Pierre took it over.
As Alfred Levegh, Pierre's uncle became one of the great town-to town racing drivers of the 1890's and was a contemporary of gabriel, Jenatzy and de Knyff. In 1899 he finished second in the Pais-Ostend in a dead heat with Girardot, was second in the Paris-Boulogne and won the Paris Bayonne, always driving a Mors. In 1900 he won the first hill climb at La Turbie and then the Paris-Toulouse race. So good was he that the eminent motoring historian St John C. Nixon regarded him as one of the immortals of the period. Sadly, after that last victory, he caught a cold from which he never fully recovered and he died in 1904.
His nephew, Pierre Bouillin, was born in Paris in December the following year and took up motor racing at the age of thirty-two after establishing himself as a considerable all-round athlete. A contemporary French profile described him as 'a remarkable skater and an ice-hockey player of international stature. A versatile sportsman, Levegh has played golf and tennis and is a skilled yachtsman.'
His motor racing career began in 1937, when he drove a Bugatti into eighth place in a three-hour sports car race in Marseilles. In 1938 he drove a Talbot in the Antwerp GP, but failed to finish. His next race was that year's Le Mans 24-hours where he appeared for the first time as Pierre Levegh, the name he was to use from then on."
He goes on with a summary of Levegh's career. I intersting that I came across this now. So we know that earlier "Levegh" WAS Alfred, and my misprint musings involving Jean-Christophe Boullion never had a chance.
Edited because this was possibly the worst typing I've ever done!
[This message has been edited by Fast One (edited 01-24-2000).]
"In Death Race, Mark Kahn repeated the accepted - but erroneous - British knowledge of Pierre Levegh: that he was born Pierre Bouillon and later adopted the pseudonym Levegh for his racing career by creating an anagram from his uncle's surname, which was Veghle. There are three errors here: the first is that his surname was not Bouillon, but Bouillin; the second is that his uncle's name was Velghe, not Veghle and the third is that it was Alfred himself who created the anagram Levegh, some forty years before Pierre took it over.
As Alfred Levegh, Pierre's uncle became one of the great town-to town racing drivers of the 1890's and was a contemporary of gabriel, Jenatzy and de Knyff. In 1899 he finished second in the Pais-Ostend in a dead heat with Girardot, was second in the Paris-Boulogne and won the Paris Bayonne, always driving a Mors. In 1900 he won the first hill climb at La Turbie and then the Paris-Toulouse race. So good was he that the eminent motoring historian St John C. Nixon regarded him as one of the immortals of the period. Sadly, after that last victory, he caught a cold from which he never fully recovered and he died in 1904.
His nephew, Pierre Bouillin, was born in Paris in December the following year and took up motor racing at the age of thirty-two after establishing himself as a considerable all-round athlete. A contemporary French profile described him as 'a remarkable skater and an ice-hockey player of international stature. A versatile sportsman, Levegh has played golf and tennis and is a skilled yachtsman.'
His motor racing career began in 1937, when he drove a Bugatti into eighth place in a three-hour sports car race in Marseilles. In 1938 he drove a Talbot in the Antwerp GP, but failed to finish. His next race was that year's Le Mans 24-hours where he appeared for the first time as Pierre Levegh, the name he was to use from then on."
He goes on with a summary of Levegh's career. I intersting that I came across this now. So we know that earlier "Levegh" WAS Alfred, and my misprint musings involving Jean-Christophe Boullion never had a chance.
Edited because this was possibly the worst typing I've ever done!
[This message has been edited by Fast One (edited 01-24-2000).]
#7
Dennis David
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Posted 24 January 2000 - 11:25
That's great info Fasty. Here is a question for everyone what other drivers raced under assumed names? Why? and what was their real names?
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Regards,
Dennis David
Yahoo = dennis_a_david
Life is racing, the rest is waiting
Grand Prix History
www.ddavid.com/formula1/
------------------
Regards,
Dennis David
Yahoo = dennis_a_david
Life is racing, the rest is waiting
Grand Prix History
www.ddavid.com/formula1/
#8
Ray Bell
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Posted 24 January 2000 - 18:09
This one might surprise you:
Kent Price (from Mass or Penn or somesuch, I think) raced in Australia under the name of Ken Milburn during the early sixties because there was prizemoney on races here.
It would have spoiled his amateur status on return to America.
But when he did go back, he took a Matich SR3 and probably ran in CanAm anyway.
You are, of course, thinking of the many Italians who came up with fancy names, aren't you?
Kent Price (from Mass or Penn or somesuch, I think) raced in Australia under the name of Ken Milburn during the early sixties because there was prizemoney on races here.
It would have spoiled his amateur status on return to America.
But when he did go back, he took a Matich SR3 and probably ran in CanAm anyway.
You are, of course, thinking of the many Italians who came up with fancy names, aren't you?
#9
Ian McKean
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Posted 25 January 2000 - 04:44
I have found an interesting tribute to Levegh in Charles Jarrott's "Ten Years of Motors and Motor Racing 1896-1906". I have scanned it for you all!
I start with his introduction because I like the sentiments and his style of writing;
"RACING MOTORISTS I HAVE MET
MUCH of the joy attending any sport or pastime, and much of the pleasure in its pursuit, depends in a great measure on the votaries of that particular sport or pastime who, with you, are its followers. Whether it be with the gun, on the golf links, with the hounds, or on the car, the companionship of good sportsmen will give an added zest to your enjoyment, especially if you are all imbued with the one idea, namely, The Sport. In no other sport of which I have been a follower is this more strongly emphasized than in the sport of motor-racing, and as my mind goes back over the many happy incidents of the past I feel that I should be leaving a sorry blank were I not to pay a tribute to those good fellows, good sportsmen, and good comrades, some of my erstwhile rivals in the great continental road races.
The pleasure in doing this is unkindly marred by the knowledge that the old days are gone, the old faces have disappeared, and the great sport is no more; but as we live again in the remembrance of the past, just so do the names of De Knyff, Charron, Giradot, Zborowski, Farman, Berteaux, Lorraine Barrow, De Caters, and many, many more, breathe fresh visions of the long roads of France, the struggle of the race, and the scene of battle, happy meetings in little villages and strange cities, and charming courtesies such as no Englishman competing abroad would have, dreamed of. Therefore the personalities of these men, who they were, what they did, and what made them princes of the sport, are of interest, and you must know more of them.
...
LEVEGH
Of the many brilliant drivers which France has produced, none ever shone more brightly than Levegh. To style him by his right name I should properly call him Velghe, but Levegh was the name he raced under. The name of Levegh and Mors were indicative of a formidable combination in any race, and the splendid performances achieved by him, particularly in the Paris-Toulouse-Paris race, stamped him as a Speed King. The first time I met him was in a paper-chase in which I took part in France in 1898. Driving a Mors car, he was endeavouring to make up speed at the finish in the Forest of St. Germain. He had a lady passenger with him, and as he whizzed by we were amazed to see Levegh and his passenger sitting on the floor in order to save windage, and thus increase their speed to some fractional extent, and Levegh was steering the car holding on to the steering-bar above his head. What he did when he wished to stop, I do not know—presumably he resumed his proper seat first.
Some time after this I met him again, and he had a great story to tell me of a marvellous racing-car which he was having built. As far as I could understand it, the special idea was in the body of the car. It was to have a top like an inverted boat very strongly built and with just a hole in it for the driver to see out of. If, owing to the terrific speed — a motor of at least 12 h.p. was going to be used — the car turned over at a corner, the driver merely tucked in his head, the car rolled over and over, and the driver, being safely inside, escaped unhurt. Duncan, who was with me at the time that this extraordinary idea was propounded, was thrilled, and told me afterwards that Levegh with such a car would beat everybody. The whole idea must have been visionary, as I never saw the car and I am afraid that Levegh’s dream was never realized. Bordeaux-Biarritz in 1899 was his first success, but he with his Mors car pressed De Knyff severely at one stage of the Tour de France race of the same year. His great success, however, was in the Paris-Toulouse-Paris race in 1900 when, after a magnificent duel with the Panhard cars, he lowered their colours, and won the race, covering the 1348 kilometres in just over twenty hours.
As I have before mentioned, he was brilliant as a driver, but at the same time he had not the excitable character which is usually associated with the French nationality. Levegh was cool to the degree of coldness. He never appeared to hurry over anything, and never allowed anything to perturb him; and yet when driving he was a veritable whirlwind. His knowledge of his car was perfect, and much of his success was due to the high state of perfection in which he kept it. He is of the little band who have laid down their lives for the sport. Inherent consumptive tendency was aggravated by the exposure and hardship involved in motor-car racing, and at the height of his fame he retired from the sport and journeyed to a strange land to die.
Practically his last great race was when he defended France in the Gordon-Bennett race of 1901."
I would add for those whose mother tongue is not English that consumption was the old name for tuberculosis. I wonder where he went to die.
Regarding Dennis' question about drivers using assumed names, I can only think of Williams. I think he worked for Bugatti as a test driver and so far as I know he only ever raced Bugattis. He won in Monte Carlo around about 1930 in a Type 35 (give or take a couple of years) and eventually died in the second world war. Very little is known about him. I don't even know if he was English. A good subject for a biography!
Bira almost counts but "Bira" was more of an abbreviation (for Prince Birabongse) than an assumed name. And Jean Claud Andruet's co-driver used the name "Biche". My French is not brilliant but I think this is translated as "Doe" not "Bitch". Assumed names seem to have been used mostly by Continental drivers.
There must be many more!
Ian
I start with his introduction because I like the sentiments and his style of writing;
"RACING MOTORISTS I HAVE MET
MUCH of the joy attending any sport or pastime, and much of the pleasure in its pursuit, depends in a great measure on the votaries of that particular sport or pastime who, with you, are its followers. Whether it be with the gun, on the golf links, with the hounds, or on the car, the companionship of good sportsmen will give an added zest to your enjoyment, especially if you are all imbued with the one idea, namely, The Sport. In no other sport of which I have been a follower is this more strongly emphasized than in the sport of motor-racing, and as my mind goes back over the many happy incidents of the past I feel that I should be leaving a sorry blank were I not to pay a tribute to those good fellows, good sportsmen, and good comrades, some of my erstwhile rivals in the great continental road races.
The pleasure in doing this is unkindly marred by the knowledge that the old days are gone, the old faces have disappeared, and the great sport is no more; but as we live again in the remembrance of the past, just so do the names of De Knyff, Charron, Giradot, Zborowski, Farman, Berteaux, Lorraine Barrow, De Caters, and many, many more, breathe fresh visions of the long roads of France, the struggle of the race, and the scene of battle, happy meetings in little villages and strange cities, and charming courtesies such as no Englishman competing abroad would have, dreamed of. Therefore the personalities of these men, who they were, what they did, and what made them princes of the sport, are of interest, and you must know more of them.
...
LEVEGH
Of the many brilliant drivers which France has produced, none ever shone more brightly than Levegh. To style him by his right name I should properly call him Velghe, but Levegh was the name he raced under. The name of Levegh and Mors were indicative of a formidable combination in any race, and the splendid performances achieved by him, particularly in the Paris-Toulouse-Paris race, stamped him as a Speed King. The first time I met him was in a paper-chase in which I took part in France in 1898. Driving a Mors car, he was endeavouring to make up speed at the finish in the Forest of St. Germain. He had a lady passenger with him, and as he whizzed by we were amazed to see Levegh and his passenger sitting on the floor in order to save windage, and thus increase their speed to some fractional extent, and Levegh was steering the car holding on to the steering-bar above his head. What he did when he wished to stop, I do not know—presumably he resumed his proper seat first.
Some time after this I met him again, and he had a great story to tell me of a marvellous racing-car which he was having built. As far as I could understand it, the special idea was in the body of the car. It was to have a top like an inverted boat very strongly built and with just a hole in it for the driver to see out of. If, owing to the terrific speed — a motor of at least 12 h.p. was going to be used — the car turned over at a corner, the driver merely tucked in his head, the car rolled over and over, and the driver, being safely inside, escaped unhurt. Duncan, who was with me at the time that this extraordinary idea was propounded, was thrilled, and told me afterwards that Levegh with such a car would beat everybody. The whole idea must have been visionary, as I never saw the car and I am afraid that Levegh’s dream was never realized. Bordeaux-Biarritz in 1899 was his first success, but he with his Mors car pressed De Knyff severely at one stage of the Tour de France race of the same year. His great success, however, was in the Paris-Toulouse-Paris race in 1900 when, after a magnificent duel with the Panhard cars, he lowered their colours, and won the race, covering the 1348 kilometres in just over twenty hours.
As I have before mentioned, he was brilliant as a driver, but at the same time he had not the excitable character which is usually associated with the French nationality. Levegh was cool to the degree of coldness. He never appeared to hurry over anything, and never allowed anything to perturb him; and yet when driving he was a veritable whirlwind. His knowledge of his car was perfect, and much of his success was due to the high state of perfection in which he kept it. He is of the little band who have laid down their lives for the sport. Inherent consumptive tendency was aggravated by the exposure and hardship involved in motor-car racing, and at the height of his fame he retired from the sport and journeyed to a strange land to die.
Practically his last great race was when he defended France in the Gordon-Bennett race of 1901."
I would add for those whose mother tongue is not English that consumption was the old name for tuberculosis. I wonder where he went to die.
Regarding Dennis' question about drivers using assumed names, I can only think of Williams. I think he worked for Bugatti as a test driver and so far as I know he only ever raced Bugattis. He won in Monte Carlo around about 1930 in a Type 35 (give or take a couple of years) and eventually died in the second world war. Very little is known about him. I don't even know if he was English. A good subject for a biography!
Bira almost counts but "Bira" was more of an abbreviation (for Prince Birabongse) than an assumed name. And Jean Claud Andruet's co-driver used the name "Biche". My French is not brilliant but I think this is translated as "Doe" not "Bitch". Assumed names seem to have been used mostly by Continental drivers.
There must be many more!
Ian
#10
Ray Bell
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Posted 25 January 2000 - 05:17
Williams' name was in fact Williams.
#11
Ian McKean
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Posted 25 January 2000 - 17:28
Thanks, Ray.
Do you know anything else about him? Such as was a Frenchman of British extraction? Am I correct in thinking he died fighting in the French Resistance? Has there been a biography?
Ian
Do you know anything else about him? Such as was a Frenchman of British extraction? Am I correct in thinking he died fighting in the French Resistance? Has there been a biography?
Ian
#12
Ray Bell
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Posted 26 January 2000 - 12:37
There was a story about him in Motor Sport some time in the last eighteen months or so. Surely somebody files theirs and can tell you which issue... Mine are all over the place. Might have been shacked up with a Frog shiela..
#13
Ray Bell
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Posted 26 January 2000 - 13:00
Here's a few pseudonyms...
Geki
Pam
Tiger
K Braun
Sabipa (1929 San Sebastian Touring Car race)
J Taylor (winner Surbiton MC 150 miles race, 1928)
Dix Neuf (3rd, Bol d'Or, 1953, Panhard)
Janier (from 1914 sports car race at Anjou (F))
.. of course, Whitney Straight was not a pseudonym - but should have been.
Not many successful drivers run under pseudonyms, do they? That's from about sixty years of race results (Monkhouse & King Farlow) - excluding B Bira and Levegh, who each figured more than all the above put together.
But wasn't Senna's name rearranged?
And there must be others.
Geki
Pam
Tiger
K Braun
Sabipa (1929 San Sebastian Touring Car race)
J Taylor (winner Surbiton MC 150 miles race, 1928)
Dix Neuf (3rd, Bol d'Or, 1953, Panhard)
Janier (from 1914 sports car race at Anjou (F))
.. of course, Whitney Straight was not a pseudonym - but should have been.
Not many successful drivers run under pseudonyms, do they? That's from about sixty years of race results (Monkhouse & King Farlow) - excluding B Bira and Levegh, who each figured more than all the above put together.
But wasn't Senna's name rearranged?
And there must be others.
#14
Stephen Herbert
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Posted 26 January 2000 - 13:53
On the subject of 'Williams', his real name was William Grover-Williams who appears to have been British but was born in France in 1903.
He won the first Monaco GP in 1929 and also won the French GP that year. His only other GP victories were in the sports car handicap French GP of 1928 and the 1931 Belgian GP sharing the driving with Caberto Conelli.
During WW2 he worked for the Resistance and was arrested and shot in 1943.
When Ayrton Senna first came to Europe to race he was called 'Ayrton da Silva' but changed this when he started racing in Formula 3 in 1983. His full name is Ayrton Senna da Silva.
Here are some more drivers using pseudonyms:
Amphicar (winner of the 1976 Targa Florio)
Beurlys (French sports car racer of the early 1960s, now races in Historic event under his real name of Jean Blaton)
Pierre Chauvet, Fritz Glatz, Frederico Careca (all used by Umberto Calvo, 1980s European F2 driver)
Gimax (F1 driver in 1978, real name Carlo Franchi)
Mike Sparken (1950s Sports Car driver, real name Michel Poberejsky)
John Winter (German sports car driver, real name Louis Krages)
There were many drivers who raced under assumed names in 1970s sports car races:
Bardini
Bramen
Dino
Gero
Gianfranco
Mici
Pal Joe
Pooky
Robin Hood
Rocca
Torre
Victor
He won the first Monaco GP in 1929 and also won the French GP that year. His only other GP victories were in the sports car handicap French GP of 1928 and the 1931 Belgian GP sharing the driving with Caberto Conelli.
During WW2 he worked for the Resistance and was arrested and shot in 1943.
When Ayrton Senna first came to Europe to race he was called 'Ayrton da Silva' but changed this when he started racing in Formula 3 in 1983. His full name is Ayrton Senna da Silva.
Here are some more drivers using pseudonyms:
Amphicar (winner of the 1976 Targa Florio)
Beurlys (French sports car racer of the early 1960s, now races in Historic event under his real name of Jean Blaton)
Pierre Chauvet, Fritz Glatz, Frederico Careca (all used by Umberto Calvo, 1980s European F2 driver)
Gimax (F1 driver in 1978, real name Carlo Franchi)
Mike Sparken (1950s Sports Car driver, real name Michel Poberejsky)
John Winter (German sports car driver, real name Louis Krages)
There were many drivers who raced under assumed names in 1970s sports car races:
Bardini
Bramen
Dino
Gero
Gianfranco
Mici
Pal Joe
Pooky
Robin Hood
Rocca
Torre
Victor
#15
Mellon
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Posted 26 January 2000 - 23:59
A more recent one. It's not really a pseudonym but anyway: JJ Lehto a.k.a. Jyrki Järvilehto
#16
Don Capps
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Posted 27 January 2000 - 01:22
This is absolutely great stuff. Thanks!
------------------
Yr fthfl & hmbl srvnt,
Don Capps
Semper Gumbi: If this was easy, we’d have the solution already…
------------------
Yr fthfl & hmbl srvnt,
Don Capps
Semper Gumbi: If this was easy, we’d have the solution already…
#17
Eric McLoughlin
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Posted 01 February 2000 - 06:36
Some info' on "Williams"
His real name was William Charles Frederick Grover, born on 16 January 1903 in Paris. His father was British (English or Scottish - nobody's sure). The family moved to Monaco prior to World War One and this was where William was brought up. French was his first language but he held British nationality. He raced throughout the 1920's, his most famous victory being the inaugral Monaco GP in 1929. He probably knew the circuit better than anyone, being a native. To be fair, that weekend most of the top drivers were in Sicily taking part in the Targa Florio.
He retired from racing in the late 1930's. He served in the British Army as a driver (naturally) up 'til the fall of France and then fled to England He was recruited into the OSS and parachuted back into France to join the Resistance Movement. He was captured by the Germans in 1943 and was held in captivity until March 1945 when he was executed (as was Robert Benoist - an even better known pre war driver). A more complete story of his life can be found in the May 1997 edition of "Motor Sport".
His real name was William Charles Frederick Grover, born on 16 January 1903 in Paris. His father was British (English or Scottish - nobody's sure). The family moved to Monaco prior to World War One and this was where William was brought up. French was his first language but he held British nationality. He raced throughout the 1920's, his most famous victory being the inaugral Monaco GP in 1929. He probably knew the circuit better than anyone, being a native. To be fair, that weekend most of the top drivers were in Sicily taking part in the Targa Florio.
He retired from racing in the late 1930's. He served in the British Army as a driver (naturally) up 'til the fall of France and then fled to England He was recruited into the OSS and parachuted back into France to join the Resistance Movement. He was captured by the Germans in 1943 and was held in captivity until March 1945 when he was executed (as was Robert Benoist - an even better known pre war driver). A more complete story of his life can be found in the May 1997 edition of "Motor Sport".
#18
Pascal
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Posted 01 February 2000 - 08:52
Stephen, you were right to mention Ayrton Senna's example, but he was not the first Brazilian to get rid of part of his name when coming to Europe. Nelson Piquet's full name is Nelson Piquet Sottomayor...
#19
Leo
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Posted 01 February 2000 - 21:46
To add two more pseudonyms:
Wolfgang von Trips raced under the name off 'Axel Linther' in the early part of his career (German touringcars).
Gunter Bechem entered the German GP twice during the 50's. Once under his own name and once using the assumed name 'Bernd Nacke'.
Both drivers used pseudonyms to hide their racing career from their families.
Wolfgang von Trips raced under the name off 'Axel Linther' in the early part of his career (German touringcars).
Gunter Bechem entered the German GP twice during the 50's. Once under his own name and once using the assumed name 'Bernd Nacke'.
Both drivers used pseudonyms to hide their racing career from their families.
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#20
AUSTRIA
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Posted 01 February 2000 - 22:16
'Raph'
Count Raphael Bethenod de las Casas
... drove an Alfa Romeo (sportscar) in 1946 for 'Ecurie Blanche & Noir
... drove a Maserati for 'Ecurie Naphtra Course' in 1946 / 1947 (won Prix des 24 heures in Le Mans on July 28)
... drove a Talbot-Lago and a Delahaye for 'Ecurie Mundia-Course' in 1948 / 1949
[This message has been edited by AUSTRIA (edited 02-01-2000).]
Count Raphael Bethenod de las Casas
... drove an Alfa Romeo (sportscar) in 1946 for 'Ecurie Blanche & Noir
... drove a Maserati for 'Ecurie Naphtra Course' in 1946 / 1947 (won Prix des 24 heures in Le Mans on July 28)
... drove a Talbot-Lago and a Delahaye for 'Ecurie Mundia-Course' in 1948 / 1949
[This message has been edited by AUSTRIA (edited 02-01-2000).]
#21
Vasco
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- 61 posts
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Posted 10 November 2000 - 22:38
I have a book where a driver called "Levegh" winning Paris-Toulouse-Paris in 1900.
I've also heard that Pierre Levegh, who died in the infamous Le Mans 1955 tragedy, was actually called Pierre Velghe and "Levegh" was a nickname.
Are these two heroes of the past somehow related?
Can anyone give me some biographic about Pierre Levegh?
Thanks.
I've also heard that Pierre Levegh, who died in the infamous Le Mans 1955 tragedy, was actually called Pierre Velghe and "Levegh" was a nickname.
Are these two heroes of the past somehow related?
Can anyone give me some biographic about Pierre Levegh?
Thanks.
#22
Leif Snellman
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Posted 10 November 2000 - 23:07
Pierre "Levegh" Bouillon was the nephew of the original "Levegh". The real name of the uncle was Alfred Velghe and he was a brother of Bouillon's mother.
#23
Vasco
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- 61 posts
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Posted 11 November 2000 - 14:04
Hi Leif
Do you have any biographical information about them?
Results, stories, etc...
Is it true that the year before his death drove nearly 24h on his own?
Do you have any biographical information about them?
Results, stories, etc...
Is it true that the year before his death drove nearly 24h on his own?
#24
Marcor
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Posted 11 November 2000 - 14:34
It was not in 1954 but in 1952 that Pierre "Levegh" made his exploit at Le Mans. I could say a lot more about "Levegh" as a Talbot driver (F1 and sportscars, pre and post-war).
#25
Felix Muelas
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Posted 11 November 2000 - 20:22
Vasco,
Although we MUST encourage Marc to tell us about Levegh, there is a couple of answers that you might find extremelly interesting to read at http://www.atlasf1.c...hp?threadid=988
Un abrazo,
;)
Felix
Although we MUST encourage Marc to tell us about Levegh, there is a couple of answers that you might find extremelly interesting to read at http://www.atlasf1.c...hp?threadid=988
Un abrazo,
;)
Felix
#26
Psychoman
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Posted 11 November 2000 - 23:57
The infamous Levegh, I remember reading in a book, gained notoriety in the '48 Le Mans race by driving 23 1/2 hours of the 24 Hours by himself in a Talbot, then went into the pitlane and vomited 
That led to a rule saying you could only drive 14 hours in a race 
That led to a rule saying you could only drive 14 hours in a race
#27
tombe
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- 118 posts
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Posted 12 November 2000 - 12:42
In his book "Mon Ami Mate" Chris Nixon says Levegh's real
surname was Bouillin, not Bouillon. Right or wrong ?
Tom
surname was Bouillin, not Bouillon. Right or wrong ?
Tom
#28
fines
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Posted 12 November 2000 - 20:17
I stumbled across this and have a correction to add: "Pierre Chauvet's" real name is Friedrich Glatz, "Fritz" being a short form for Friedrich. He raced as "James Bald" in German TC in 1980, as "Umberto Calvo" in F3 in 1981, as "Pierre Chauvet" in F2 and as "Federico Careca" in Sports Cars and later F3000. The last names all translate to "bald" in German, English, Italian, French and Spanish.
A few other pseudonyms:
"Bill Mackey" (William Gretsinger)
"Bud Rose" (Harry Eisele)
Duke Dinsmore (Dinsmoor)
Dutch Bauman (Baumann)
Eddie Rickenbacker (Rickenbacher)
A few other pseudonyms:
"Bill Mackey" (William Gretsinger)
"Bud Rose" (Harry Eisele)
Duke Dinsmore (Dinsmoor)
Dutch Bauman (Baumann)
Eddie Rickenbacker (Rickenbacher)
#29
david_martin
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Posted 12 November 2000 - 20:42
I know that Rikky von Opel, heir to the Opel car fortune and member of one of Lichtenstein's most aristocratic lineages starting his racing career as Antonio Bronco (in British Formula Ford). Like Nelson Piquet I believe he did not want the family to find out. Most famous for bank rolling his and Mo Nunn's entry into F1 in 1973 - the Ensign legend was born.
#30
Felix Muelas
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Posted 12 November 2000 - 20:58
Tom
I don´t know!
The only thing that I know is that Chris Nixon very emphatically said in the book :
"...Mark Kahn repeated the accepted - but erroneous - British knowledge of Pierre Levegh: that he was born Pierre Bouillon... There are ...errors here: the first is that his surname was not Bouillon, but Bouillin."
Having recently been following on a well-known magazine some of the polemics involving Mr Nixon and some other investigators about details concerning his "indiscussable" Aston Martin "opinions/facts", I have to reckon that I am less and less tempted to believe his declarations without a second opinion. That doesn´t mean he is wrong, of course, only that I am becoming older...and more cautious.;)
Felix Muelas
I don´t know!
The only thing that I know is that Chris Nixon very emphatically said in the book :
"...Mark Kahn repeated the accepted - but erroneous - British knowledge of Pierre Levegh: that he was born Pierre Bouillon... There are ...errors here: the first is that his surname was not Bouillon, but Bouillin."
Having recently been following on a well-known magazine some of the polemics involving Mr Nixon and some other investigators about details concerning his "indiscussable" Aston Martin "opinions/facts", I have to reckon that I am less and less tempted to believe his declarations without a second opinion. That doesn´t mean he is wrong, of course, only that I am becoming older...and more cautious.;)
Felix Muelas
#31
Racer.Demon
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Posted 12 November 2000 - 22:58
And German sportscar racer "John Winter" couldn't keep hiding behind his pseudonym when he, Klaus Ludwig and Paolo Barilla won Le Mans in 1985 and their picture was all over the German newspapers!
The funny thing is, I still don't know his real name.
The funny thing is, I still don't know his real name.
#33
Indy500
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- 44 posts
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Posted 13 November 2000 - 07:10
I think Beurlys was a Belgian driver...
What about :
Eldé ... real name Leon Dernier
Alain Dex... real name ?(Belgian production car driver)
Didi... real name ?(Belgian rally driver)
Remordu... real name ? (Belgian driver)
What about :
Eldé ... real name Leon Dernier
Alain Dex... real name ?(Belgian production car driver)
Didi... real name ?(Belgian rally driver)
Remordu... real name ? (Belgian driver)
#34
Yves
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- 183 posts
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Posted 13 November 2000 - 11:44
I want to adjust the history about the tragedy of LeMans.
I was 9 years old at that time but already interested in motorsport. Living at that time at Chartres, which is 120 kms from Lemans, I remember very well about the impact in the region but also all over France of this tragedy.
At that time, everything has been said in the newspapers and lot of rumors : Because Pierre "Levegh" was not well known (not as much as Fangio and Hawthorn), it has been said that he was a bad driver. It has also been said very often that the Mercedes were not compliant to the FIA rules, that the engine was oversized and it was the reason of the tragedy. Most commonly, the responsibility of the accident was made over the Mercedes Team.
I'm sure that every of you know the truth about this accident but I want to refresh the memory.
1- Pierre Levegh was not a bad driver, more a gentleman driver as it was common at that time. He has joined the Mercedes team this year invited by Neubauer who remember about his performance in 1952, leading the two 300SL during 22h30 hours driving alone. I remember having read that he drove alone because is co-driver was too druncked to take the steering wheel but I don't certifie this is the truth.
2- Pierre "Levegh" has already completed Lemans 2 times on his Talbot Lago, 4th and 8th in 1951 and 53 (to be checked) and has at a few occasion driven also with a Talbot in F1 GP.
3- All I remmeber is out of a very detailed report that has been published at the time in the "Auto Journal" which published this report to correct all the rumors and other lies that were very common in the french newspapers at that time. This accident take place only 10 years after the end of the war and this was reminder to fresh events in popular memories. Unfortunately, I lost this collection of Auto Journal of that time : too bad
That year, it was the gigantic battle between the Jaguar (Type D) and the Mercedes. At the time of the first pit stop, one of the Jaguar, I think it was the one of the futur winner but I don't remeber if it was Hawthorn at the wheel caught his stand signal to stop very late and from the left line brakes at maximum to stop. Crossing the right lane, he achieve a very typical of what we call "queue de poisson" to the Austin Healey of Lance Macklin who was at a inferior speed on the right lane. The Jaguar was the only car to use disk brakes (to be confirmed ?) and brakes a lot better as the "just modified" Austin Healey and Macklin cannot do anything else than escaping the Jaguar by going to the left lane in a rush.
But on this left lane, the Levegh's 300SLR was very close to the top speed at this place and he has just the time to leave the arm before crashing against the Austin Healy. You all know the profile of the Austin : it has acted like a tremplin and the Mercedes has gone in the air before landing on the separation were the car loose its engine which. goes in the spectators area. Fangio who was following very closely Levegh, has escaped from the accident, Levegh's last hand sign being probably the reason.
I remember having a school friend at that time who was in the place. He was safe but the 10 years or so little boy was very chocked. My father in law was also very close from the accident place (he told me this a lot of time later : I was myself 9 years old) but at the opposite, he always said that he saw nothing of the accident itself, just of the panic that as occured after (many people died in fact due to the panic)
Just as a conclusion : Last year, this tragedy was almost forgoten in France and it was VERY lucky for Mercedes. But when I saw their cars flying in the air during the pactice, I immediatly remember 1955 and I'm very very upset about the fact that the Mercedes team didn't take the decision to retire before the race : It seems that Mister Peter Haug has never heard about Lemans 1955
Despite the fact that Mercedes was NOT RESPONSIBLE at all of the tragedy, they took a very big risk not retiring
I'm sorry if I make any error but this is direct out of my memory.
I don't remember at all about Levegh's real name but I think it could me more Bouillon as Bouillin : this last name doesn't sound as a normal french name but possible ????. Anyway, many sites say Bouillon.
Y.
I was 9 years old at that time but already interested in motorsport. Living at that time at Chartres, which is 120 kms from Lemans, I remember very well about the impact in the region but also all over France of this tragedy.
At that time, everything has been said in the newspapers and lot of rumors : Because Pierre "Levegh" was not well known (not as much as Fangio and Hawthorn), it has been said that he was a bad driver. It has also been said very often that the Mercedes were not compliant to the FIA rules, that the engine was oversized and it was the reason of the tragedy. Most commonly, the responsibility of the accident was made over the Mercedes Team.
I'm sure that every of you know the truth about this accident but I want to refresh the memory.
1- Pierre Levegh was not a bad driver, more a gentleman driver as it was common at that time. He has joined the Mercedes team this year invited by Neubauer who remember about his performance in 1952, leading the two 300SL during 22h30 hours driving alone. I remember having read that he drove alone because is co-driver was too druncked to take the steering wheel but I don't certifie this is the truth.
2- Pierre "Levegh" has already completed Lemans 2 times on his Talbot Lago, 4th and 8th in 1951 and 53 (to be checked) and has at a few occasion driven also with a Talbot in F1 GP.
3- All I remmeber is out of a very detailed report that has been published at the time in the "Auto Journal" which published this report to correct all the rumors and other lies that were very common in the french newspapers at that time. This accident take place only 10 years after the end of the war and this was reminder to fresh events in popular memories. Unfortunately, I lost this collection of Auto Journal of that time : too bad
That year, it was the gigantic battle between the Jaguar (Type D) and the Mercedes. At the time of the first pit stop, one of the Jaguar, I think it was the one of the futur winner but I don't remeber if it was Hawthorn at the wheel caught his stand signal to stop very late and from the left line brakes at maximum to stop. Crossing the right lane, he achieve a very typical of what we call "queue de poisson" to the Austin Healey of Lance Macklin who was at a inferior speed on the right lane. The Jaguar was the only car to use disk brakes (to be confirmed ?) and brakes a lot better as the "just modified" Austin Healey and Macklin cannot do anything else than escaping the Jaguar by going to the left lane in a rush.
But on this left lane, the Levegh's 300SLR was very close to the top speed at this place and he has just the time to leave the arm before crashing against the Austin Healy. You all know the profile of the Austin : it has acted like a tremplin and the Mercedes has gone in the air before landing on the separation were the car loose its engine which. goes in the spectators area. Fangio who was following very closely Levegh, has escaped from the accident, Levegh's last hand sign being probably the reason.
I remember having a school friend at that time who was in the place. He was safe but the 10 years or so little boy was very chocked. My father in law was also very close from the accident place (he told me this a lot of time later : I was myself 9 years old) but at the opposite, he always said that he saw nothing of the accident itself, just of the panic that as occured after (many people died in fact due to the panic)
Just as a conclusion : Last year, this tragedy was almost forgoten in France and it was VERY lucky for Mercedes. But when I saw their cars flying in the air during the pactice, I immediatly remember 1955 and I'm very very upset about the fact that the Mercedes team didn't take the decision to retire before the race : It seems that Mister Peter Haug has never heard about Lemans 1955
Despite the fact that Mercedes was NOT RESPONSIBLE at all of the tragedy, they took a very big risk not retiring
I'm sorry if I make any error but this is direct out of my memory.
I don't remember at all about Levegh's real name but I think it could me more Bouillon as Bouillin : this last name doesn't sound as a normal french name but possible ????. Anyway, many sites say Bouillon.
Y.
#35
Marcor
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- 1,198 posts
- Joined: July 00
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Posted 13 November 2000 - 15:06
"Alain Dex" is Freddy Semoulin, brother of Alain Semoulin,Touring car Belgian champion in the 70's.
"Blary" is or was the brother of "Beurlys".
"Sabipa" was the nickname of Charavel. He was born in the South of France in 1890 and began his racing career in 1920. As an official Works Bugatti driver, he won the Italian GP in 1926. In fact, "Sabipa" is a little bit like "Pétoulet" and Maurice Trintignant. "Sabipa" came in fact from a dialectal expression (from Provence) "Sabe pa" which means like "Je ne sais pas (in French) or "I don't know" (in English)...
"George Philippe" was the pseudo of Baron Philippe de Rotschild, fourth in the first Monaco GP in 1929 and winner of the first GP de Bourgogne the same year.
"Blary" is or was the brother of "Beurlys".
"Sabipa" was the nickname of Charavel. He was born in the South of France in 1890 and began his racing career in 1920. As an official Works Bugatti driver, he won the Italian GP in 1926. In fact, "Sabipa" is a little bit like "Pétoulet" and Maurice Trintignant. "Sabipa" came in fact from a dialectal expression (from Provence) "Sabe pa" which means like "Je ne sais pas (in French) or "I don't know" (in English)...
"George Philippe" was the pseudo of Baron Philippe de Rotschild, fourth in the first Monaco GP in 1929 and winner of the first GP de Bourgogne the same year.
#36
Flicker
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- 194 posts
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Posted 13 November 2000 - 16:50
It seems to me that Jackie Stewart started with nick smth like 'A.N.Other'..?
And to follow original theme with Levegh
And to follow original theme with Levegh
#37
jarama
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- 1,129 posts
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Posted 13 November 2000 - 22:29
Yves,
Certainly, the jaguar that made this abrupt pit stop was Hawthorn's, and subsequently he was blamed for the accident, if I'm not wrong.
Certainly, the jaguar that made this abrupt pit stop was Hawthorn's, and subsequently he was blamed for the accident, if I'm not wrong.
#38
Ray Bell
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- 82,042 posts
- Joined: December 99
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Posted 23 November 2000 - 22:52
Thanks for the reminders, Yves... nice to see you contributing despite your language difficulty, it is much appreciated.
This issue is covered in Neubauer's book, too. As you have documented it.
There is a thread somewhere here about an author who spent just one season following the European racing season, and he had the car fly over top of him... I am sorry, I don't know how to find it other than to use the search facility with key words Levegh and crowd. It describes his view of this horror most graphically.
You will be rewarded when you find it.... again, welcome to a Frenchman... and the same age as me...
This issue is covered in Neubauer's book, too. As you have documented it.
There is a thread somewhere here about an author who spent just one season following the European racing season, and he had the car fly over top of him... I am sorry, I don't know how to find it other than to use the search facility with key words Levegh and crowd. It describes his view of this horror most graphically.
You will be rewarded when you find it.... again, welcome to a Frenchman... and the same age as me...
#39
Hugo Boecker
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- 702 posts
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Posted 08 November 2004 - 10:46
On Whitmonday 31 May 1955 according to German Magazin Auto Motor&Sport No.12/55 from 11.June 55 DB did tests at Hockenheim .
Extendig tests till late night and specially for LeMans Mercedes Benz did on Whitmonday at Hockenheim. The 300SLRs were driven by Frenchman Levegh and Simon and the American John Fitch. Fastest man was Levegh while Simon was very good in the night test. BMW Motorcycle-racer Walter Zeller was invented too, but refused for private reasons. It is supposed that Zeller will resign at the end of the year. Driver pairings for LeMans are supposed to be Kling/Fitch and Levegh/Simon.
There were no times given in the report. But a man driving the SLR for the first time at an unknown circuit and doing fastest time against accepted racers couldn't be too slow!
Extendig tests till late night and specially for LeMans Mercedes Benz did on Whitmonday at Hockenheim. The 300SLRs were driven by Frenchman Levegh and Simon and the American John Fitch. Fastest man was Levegh while Simon was very good in the night test. BMW Motorcycle-racer Walter Zeller was invented too, but refused for private reasons. It is supposed that Zeller will resign at the end of the year. Driver pairings for LeMans are supposed to be Kling/Fitch and Levegh/Simon.
There were no times given in the report. But a man driving the SLR for the first time at an unknown circuit and doing fastest time against accepted racers couldn't be too slow!
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#40
ensign14
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Posted 08 November 2004 - 12:15
No - and after the first few frantic hours of racing he was less than a lap behind Fangio...
#41
SEdward
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- 840 posts
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Posted 08 November 2004 - 12:39
Hugo,
See chapters 21 to 25 of Chris Nixon's excellent "Mon Ami Mate". Even though he did not match the pace of leading Grand Prix drivers like Fangio, Hawthorn and Castellotti, Levegh was anything but slow in the opening hours of the 1955 Le Mans event.
Edward.
See chapters 21 to 25 of Chris Nixon's excellent "Mon Ami Mate". Even though he did not match the pace of leading Grand Prix drivers like Fangio, Hawthorn and Castellotti, Levegh was anything but slow in the opening hours of the 1955 Le Mans event.
Edward.
#42
Wolf
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- 7,883 posts
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Posted 09 November 2004 - 23:58
I hardly think that those insinuations (not by Hugo, but in aftermath of the accident) can stand to scrutiny, considering that the man almost singlehandedly won Le Mans race in '52...
#43
Bob Simbel
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- 16 posts
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New Member
Posted 11 November 2005 - 14:02
there is also other pseudonyms:
"Lucienbonnet Jean" (Bonnet Jean)
"Kay Johnny" (Kapustinski John)
"Luptow Frank" (Lueptow Frank)
"Mundy Frank" (Menendez Francisco)
"Rodee Chuck" (Rodeghier Charles)
"Salay Mike" (Szalai Mike)
Best Regards!
"Lucienbonnet Jean" (Bonnet Jean)
"Kay Johnny" (Kapustinski John)
"Luptow Frank" (Lueptow Frank)
"Mundy Frank" (Menendez Francisco)
"Rodee Chuck" (Rodeghier Charles)
"Salay Mike" (Szalai Mike)
Best Regards!
#44
Mike Riedner
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- 49 posts
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Posted 12 November 2005 - 10:44
@ Recer-Demon: The real name of "John Winter" was Louis Krages. He came from a wealthy family in Bremen.
#45
Terry Walker
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Posted 12 November 2005 - 14:07
On a smaller scale, here in Western Australia there was in the 1960s a very well known racing driver "David Rockford", whose real name, revealed years later, proved to be David Drew. He raced, among many other cars, the last ever Alta racing car, the F2 with the mag wheels (here in Australia running a Holden engine). The reason was essentially to do with his father's position in the community. Later, when this was no longer an issue, he raced as David Drew.
Funny, I had a long chat with David a couple of months ago and forgot to ask him the provenance of "Rockford". Nothing to do with The Rockford Files , since David was using it in the days when James Garner was still Maverick.
Another driver locally was "Willy Eckaslake", a pseudonym used because his wife disapproved (or something).
No doubt quite a few drivers used pseudomyns for equally personal reasons.
Funny, I had a long chat with David a couple of months ago and forgot to ask him the provenance of "Rockford". Nothing to do with The Rockford Files , since David was using it in the days when James Garner was still Maverick.
Another driver locally was "Willy Eckaslake", a pseudonym used because his wife disapproved (or something).
No doubt quite a few drivers used pseudomyns for equally personal reasons.
#46
Roger Stoddard
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- 14 posts
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Posted 12 November 2005 - 18:53
Middle initials, eh? ..... Until I caught up with this thread I had no idea that Pierre Levegh's real name was "PEA Soup"! So was he really Dutch or is that lost in the foggy mists of time?
"Willy Eckerslike" in the UK was Nigel Moores, wasn't he? Who certainly had family reasons for disguising his identity.
"Willy Eckerslike" in the UK was Nigel Moores, wasn't he? Who certainly had family reasons for disguising his identity.
#47
ensign14
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Posted 06 May 2007 - 21:57
Pierre Levegh, 1905-1955.
#48
Paul Rochdale
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#49
Lotus23
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Posted 07 May 2007 - 00:02
Indy drivers, brothers Jim Rathmann and Dick Rathmann, swapped names.
ISTR it had to do with one of them being underage...
ISTR it had to do with one of them being underage...
#50
klemcoll
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- 189 posts
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Posted 07 May 2007 - 03:31
There is a very long list of "noms de course" in Janos Wimpffen's "Time and Two Seats." Beurlys was the pseudonym for Jean Blaton.
