24 replies to this topic

[33 route d'orleans]

I am in the search of information on Jean Lucienbonnet, well forgotten
pilot whose even date of birth is unknown. He was from Nice,
took part in some races of Formula junior and did not qualified to the 1959 Monaco Grand Prix. He died during a Formula junior race in Pergusa in 1962. If somebody has infos...
I thank you in
advance....

[Boniver]

1959 Monaco F1
DNG - Cooper 45 Climax 4 cyl F2 18 58- Prive Car (1)
1959 Goodwood F2
out - Cooper 45 Climax 4 cyl F2 23 58 - Cooper Car Co

(1) car from A.Guefli - France

1960 sport cars

Died : 19 aug 1962

[Felix Muelas]

Let me start by saying that I don´t have the answers, so I basically join the thread to agree with you in the interest about the driver.

Looks to me like his family name was Bonnet, and that Jean Lucien were his two names. At least that´s what can be deducted from a couple of places where his name is shown "Jean Luccienbonnet" (as if it was a nickname).

He died whilst taking part in the XI Gran Premio Pergusa in 19th August 1962, at the wheels of a F Junior Lotus 22.

My information about his career is very scarce (notes suggest that he raced in a Tour de France, some rallyes (with an Alfa-Romeo) and had some activity on closed tracks (GT & F Junior).

There´s a note that maybe Hans can confirm, being that he finished 6th in 1960´s Hillclimb to Mont-Ventoux 1960 driving a Porsche RSK 1.500.

The "impossible" (to read) Index to the F Junior Register Fact book (Sheldon) lists the driver as having competed in FJ races in 1960, 1961 and 1962, so maybe a further investigation of the results of those years would give us a more accurate record of his participations. Anyway, who knows more?

Felix

[Hans Etzrodt]

Originally posted by Felix Muelas
.....There´s a note that maybe Hans can confirm, being that he finished 6th in 1960´s Hillclimb to Mont-Ventoux 1960 driving a Porsche RSK 1.500.....

Sorry gentlemen!
It is true that I am working for several years now on my Mountain Climb Winners 1897-1949 list of about 900 events but they all took place before 1950.

I am however interested in the races up the famous French Mont-Ventoux. Does anybody know about the book, or where I can buy it?

[33 route d'orleans]

Thank you all of you, Boniver, Felix and Hans to have any interest on this well forgotten driver, but I yet had these biographical elements.
What I look for it's his birthday and a photo.

I know I ask a lot...

[Ray Bell]

Two things I glean from a quick scan through the generally useless and out of date Monkhouse book are:

His Lotus Ford FJr was at its best in slipstreaming battles. Or so it seems...

1962 Caserta: 1st Jean Lucienbonnet; 2nd Trevor Blokdyk (Cooper Ford); 3rd Colin Davis (De Sanctis Ford).
Race speed: 90.13mph.

1962 Vigorelli Trophy, Monza: 1st 'Geki' (Lotus Ford); 2. Jean Lucienbonnet (Lotus Ford); 3. H. Kuderli (Cooper BMC).
Race Speed: 86.8mph.

Second... he at least had a nice win shortly before he died.

[Roger Clark]

Was this the Lucienbonnet who finished 11th in the 1959 tour de corse, driving an austin 7 (Mini)?

[Roger Clark]

This is M Lucienbonnet leading Brabham and Salvadori at goodwood in 1959

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Roger Clark
This is M Lucienbonnet leading Brabham and Salvadori at goodwood in 1959

Is this the Lavant Cup of 1959, over 36 miles?

Seems logical... so the next question is:

Was Lucienbonnet being lapped?

Apparent driver attitude (body language) suggests it, and in the results Brabham headed Salvadori and Jack Russell.

I'm not being nasty here, just seeing if we can set the record straight.

[Roger Clark]

Originally posted by Ray Bell


Is this the Lavant Cup of 1959, over 36 miles?

Seems logical... so the next question is:

Was Lucienbonnet being lapped?

Apparent driver attitude (body language) suggests it, and in the results Brabham headed Salvadori and Jack Russell.

I'm not being nasty here, just seeing if we can set the record straight.

Yes...of course!

[David McKinney]

No question about it - Lucienbonnet is being lapped.
There’s no-one in sight behind Salvadori, so we can assume it’s not the first lap. I think if Lucienbonnet had led these F2 stars for more than that we would all have heard of him...
In fact his best time in preactice was 1’54.6. Brabham was fastest with 1’32.4, with Salvadori a second slower. On that basis Lucienbonnet would have been lapped for the first time around lap five...

[Ray Bell]

Hmmm... and I've worked that out with the irrelevant and superseded Monkhouse/King-Farlow book of 1963... which is also where I found the mention of the win and second place mentioned above.

[fines]

Actually, looking at the picture my first thought was: "Hmm, he probably wasn't THAT slow, when Black Jack followed him that close during the chicane while lapping."

[Roger Clark]

Salvadori made a slow start and didn't take second place until lap 5. He took the lead on lap 7, but Brabham took it again on lap 9 and held it until the end (15 laps). THe picture must therefore have been taken on lap 5, 6 (surely not) or 9-15.

[Ray Bell]

Clearly, Jack has misjudged Lucienbonnet's speed (or Jean has closed the door on him!) and is about to be held up, clearing the path for Roy to get past him on the run down the next straight... does that help determine the lap number?

Certainly, knowing Roy got past helps me understand the photo...

[Roger Clark]

There´s a note that maybe Hans can confirm, being that he finished 6th in 1960´s Hillclimb to Mont-Ventoux 1960 driving a Porsche RSK 1.500.

Autosport said that "Bonnet" was sixth in a Porsche.

Trintingnant won in a cooper F2 at 11min 31.8sec. At the first practice session the Cooper had not arrived, so Trintingnant went up in his Facel-Vega in 14min 31 sec.

Regarding the picture, I don't think there's any evidence that Salvadori passed Brabham on that lap. If he did, the picture must have been taken on lap six, which is possible given David's information about practice times. On the other hand, he would have been lapped again around lap 12.

[David McKinney]

No evidence maybe, Roger, but Ray's surmise makes sense. If Brabham was held up any more, there would be time for Salvadori to nip past before the line, so this could be lap 5.

[Ray Bell]

I guarantee old Roy's got a real handle on this situation, he's going to be steaming out of there a good 10mph up on Jack, maybe more... he has the room to move, Jack has nothing, and if he guesses the wrong side to pass it'll be worse...

[Roger Clark]

If Roy passed before te line this must be lap 7. If before Madgwick it is lap 6.

[Ray Bell]

I reckon he'd be in front within 200 yards of this pic...

[Richard Jenkins]

Found it with the help of Joao Paulo & David H:-

Jean Bonnet born 7 January 1923. He raced under the Lucien pseudonym in deference to his brother Lucien, but surely his family would put two & two together?!!?

Anyway, another 'mystery' solved in part.

[Barry Lake]

Richie

You know you never get off that lightly...

Do we know his place of birth? Nationalty?

[Richard Jenkins]

born in Nice, ergo he is (or rather was) French.

[Barry Lake]

Thanks Richie. But that took almost four hours. Were you asleep? In the middle of the day?

You commented that Jean Bonnet's racing name, including his brother's, would not have fooled his parents. That might not have been the aim. There was a midget speedcar driver here in Australia who changed his name to incorporate his deceased brother's name. It was a sentimental thing; something along the lines of their intending to go racing together but one died before he had the chance.

Perhaps there is an interesting story behind Bonnet's chosen name.

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by Barry Lake
Thanks Richie. But that took almost four hours. Were you asleep? In the middle of the day?

I made it 14 hours. W-O-R-K & with no internet connection until 6pm at home is my excuse, m'lud. I do have a social life outside all this you know! Not much of one but.......;)