41 replies to this topic

[Phil Rainford]

Sad news indeed

"After a career of thirty years in motorsport, Francois Migault died today at age 67 as a result of cancer" AUTOhebdo.fr


PAR

Edited by Phil Rainford, 29 January 2012 - 17:35.

[Giraffe]

Already mentioned in the "Gone, but not forgotten" thread. Barry Boor's old driver at Connew, very sad.

Edited by Giraffe, 29 January 2012 - 17:46.

[David M. Kane]

Sad news indeed

"After a career of thirty years in motorsport, Francois Migault died today at age 67 as a result of cancer" AUTOhebdo.fr


PAR

God speed Francois RIP. I believe he was a track star before racing as a sprinter.

[Greatest]

So sad to hear. Francois was my Facebook friend and I wrote with him quite a lot. It was a surprise for me to hear about his death. I send my best wishes to Francois and to those closest to him. What a big loss...

[Stefan Schmidt]

Sad to hear RIP FM

[Thundersports]

RIP

[Doug Nye]

Dismayed to read this sad news. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

DCN

[MCS]

Am I dreaming, or did somebody suggest he might have been better than most of us probably gave him credit for, initially? I am fairly certain he was.

Irrespective, I can remember being very angry when Beltoise, Pescarolo and Migault were announced as the team drivers at BRM at the start of the 1974 season. That said, absolutely no disrespect to Francois.

RIP former BRM and, of couse, former Connew F1 driver (from a once Connew F1 Supporters' Club member).

Edited by MCS, 30 January 2012 - 09:59.

[AaPee89]

So sad to hear. Francois was my Facebook friend and I wrote with him quite a lot. It was a surprise for me to hear about his death. I send my best wishes to Francois and to those closest to him. What a big loss...

Me too. I added him 2 years ago and he was so gentle with me. He sent me, weeks later, an beautiful photo of him with the Connew in the 1972 Austrian Grand Prix signed and a handwritten letter telling me a little about his stay during the 1974 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Like many here I am shock and speechless... =(

RIP!

[macoran]

as a Connew fan I feel sad
my sympathies to his family
and the guys of the Connew team

[arttidesco]

Condolences to Francois family and friends and not least the members of the Connew Team.

RIP Francois.

[ghinzani]

Such a shame, one of those fellows without whom Motor Racing just could not exist. A fine racing career though, reached the heights many dream of but few reach. I too had a FB friend request accepted by this fine man, and can only echo what others have said about him. Rest in Peace François.

[JacnGille]

Sad news.

[ktrhe]

Sad News indeed
Condolences to Francois family and friends

R.I.P. François

[barrykm]

R.I.P. Francois

[Gabrci]

I'm really surprised and sad - he was my friend on Facebook too and although I only spoke to him a couple of times (me in English and he in French), he came across as a really nice person. He once sent me a handwritten letter (in French, of course) asking me to print and send him two photos that I sent him online, which of course I happily did. I had no idea he was ill, so I really didn't expect this. RIP, Francois.

[rdmotorsport]

I'm really surprised and sad - he was my friend on Facebook too and although I only spoke to him a couple of times (me in English and he in French), he came across as a really nice person. He once sent me a handwritten letter (in French, of course) asking me to print and send him two photos that I sent him online, which of course I happily did. I had no idea he was ill, so I really didn't expect this. RIP, Francois.

I remember him from Bourne, occasionally spoke through Facebook, very sad , a very unassuming and charming man.

Rodney Dodson

[BorderReiver]

Very sad to hear this news. For what little that it is worth my Dad, who was close to alot of European racing in the late 60s and early 70s always rated Migault and one of the sport's "Might have been greats but for cosmic imbalance". From what I'm heard from him, and read of him on this forum, it seems the world's lost a superb racing driver and a very nice man.

RIP

[Stephen W]

I met him at Thruxton whilst he was doing F2 races. A really nice guy who will be sadly missed.

[Gary Davies]

A sad passing, and too young. My thoughts too, to Barry Boor, for whom this moment must put a lump in the throat.

[AAA-Eagle]

Another very sad news! My condolences to the family and friends of François.

R.I.P.

[Haine Kane]

François MIGAULT :

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Adieu, mon ami.

[Barry Boor]

It has taken me a while to absorb this tragic news and to collect my thoughts.

Francois was a friend, not just another racing car driver that I had heard and read about. When we were nearing completion of the car, he stayed in Romford in my flat for a while as he was getting stuck into the job of assisting us with preparing the truck that he had brought over from France to carry the car while we were busy trying to complete the car itself.

There are so many moments that stick in the memory; I don't propose to repeat the adventure with the B.M.W and its aborted trip to Northampton, that story has been told before on this forum. But there are other moments... I recall Francois' delight when Roger Doran mended the, er, torch-shaped, er, marital aid that he had, for some reason, brought to England with him on his first visit to Chadwell Heath. Then there was his consternation upon finding out that he couldn't get mustard in an English fish and chip shop, followed by his joy upon discovering tomato ketchup.

I remember the slightly embarrassed expression on his face as Peter and Roger pushed him into handing me a plastic ball and chain during the photograph session after my wedding in June 1972. It seems that things like that didn't happen in France - well, not then, anyway.

There was the day that he ran over a hare on our way back to the Chateau Belle Fille from the Le Mans circuit, whereupon his screeched to a halt and ran back to get it. RSPCA? No, into the kitchen for dinner.

Francois' English was not great at that time, although way better than our French, so we were a little perplexed when he came into the pits at Le Mans to announce that he was sorry but there had been 'a leetle crash'. Fortunately, upon examination, all we found was a little SCRATCH on the under nose ally flap that we fitted to help air into the radiator. Apparently he had run over a kerb; still, crash, scratch, there's not much difference.

Upon meeting him as he walked back down pit road in Austria after successfully halting the rear wheel steering Connew half way through the Grand Prix, I was expecting him to be angry at the breakage but no, his face beamed with pleasure having driven very nicely in what, sadly, was his only race in the car.

We met several times through the years and I am so pleased that I managed to get a copy of Rod Waller's super Connew cartoon to Frankie just 6 months or so ago. He was delighted with it.

Francois was yet another driver who, given the breaks, could have been very, very successful. Although of course I am biased, I have no hesitation in bracketing him with Beltoise, Pescarolo and even Cevert as truly top class French drivers of that era. To me, he was probably better than any of them or at least, could have been.

I feel very low - I really have lost a friend.

Adieu, Francois.

Edited by Barry Boor, 31 January 2012 - 12:53.

[Phil Rainford]

Barry .....thanks for those memories of Francois


PAR

[Giraffe]

Barry .....thanks for those memories of Francois


PAR

Indeed, thanks for that Barry. I was anticipating your post, and it was well worth the wait.

[Option1]

A beautiful set of memories Barry. Moments to treasure. Thank you.

Neil

[Tim Murray]

Couldn't agree more with the last three posts. Thank you Barry, and farewell François.

[cpbell]

RIP.

[John Ginger]

RIP Francois, my condolences to family and friends, and thank-you for your memories Barry

[barrykm]

Thanks Barry, condolences to you and you Connew mates as well

[LittleChris]

Thank you for sharing the memories Barry. It's good to know that you kept in contact with him for the best part of 30 years after the Connew adventure. My condolences on the loss of your friend.

[BRM MICK2]

A sad day RIP




Forza Francois

[Stefan Schmidt]

Thanks Barry -

[Barry Boor]

Occasional TNF poster David Hayhoe has pointed out the fact that in the all-time alphabetical list of Grand Prix drivers, Roberto Mieres is followed by, well, I'm sure you can guess.

They died three days apart in alphabetical order.

[Richard Jenkins]

Not just that Barry, but what was remarkable about both their sad deaths is that they were born just one day apart (albeit 20 years, 3rd December (RM), 4th December (FM). Because of that, I must admit at first, someone, somewhere got mixed up and Migault was still with us. Sadly this wasn't to be.

Although, Barry, I don't think I've ever seen David Hayhoe on here - his partner in crime, David Holland is occasionally on here, however.

[D-Type]

Richie, I've just checked the members' list: David Hayhoe has made two postings- one in 2002 and the other in 2005

[Mig007]

That's sad.... RIP François

[Gary Davies]

Thanks Barry. Great memories.

[Phil Rainford]

For those on Facebook.....it was recommended that I be a friend of Francois's today


PAR

Edited by Phil Rainford, 04 February 2012 - 00:02.

[Barry Boor]

Well, I did say occasional!

[David M. Kane]

Well, I did say occasional!

Thanks Barry I'll go to Facebook.