13 replies to this topic

[Jack-the-Lad]

Belgian industrialist and race driver Jean Blaton, who frequently raced under the nom de guerre Beurlys, has died, age 91. He raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans fourteen times and finished first in class and second overall in 1963 in Ferrari 250GTO 4293GT. Blaton was an early patron of his niece’s husband, Jacky Ickx.

Information courtesy of Steve Robertson and Marcel Massini.

Edited by Jack-the-Lad, 18 December 2020 - 03:49.

[john winfield]

Thanks JTL. I think it's Blaton rather than Blanton.

[cpbell]

Sad to hear - I always thought that comind second overall in a GTO sounded like an achievement.

[Rob Miller]

He also finished 3rd at Le Mans four times, in the days when there were only two drivers per car.

[cpbell]

Thanks JTL. I think it's Blaton rather than Blanton.

Seems that way.

[john winfield]

From the autonews website:

 

 

http://www.autonewsi...lys-346030.html

[Jack-the-Lad]

Thanks JTL. I think it's Blaton rather than Blanton.

You are correct, John. I have asked the moderator to change the thread title

Thank you.

Edited by Jack-the-Lad, 18 December 2020 - 00:05.

[raceannouncer2003]

Sorry to hear this.  He drove lots of cars in lots of races:

 

https://www.racingsp...Beurlys"-B.html

 

Vince H.

[Doug Nye]

'Beurlys' was very well liked and respected within the Belgian motor racing fraternity. Belgian Ferrari authority Alexis Callier recalled him to me this morning like this: "Very kind, welcoming, enthusiastic, always smiling, passionate, generous, a great racing driver, gifted for many things, just full of qualities, Jean was a really exceptional person, someone you could only like...".

 

​He came from a wealthy entrepreneurial background, the Blaton family fortune being derived from their business group, 'Batiments & Ponts' involved in building and maintaining highways, and sold eventually to the French firm 'Vinci'. 

 

​Not so well known within the international motor racing world was that 'Beurlys' was also a great jazz fan and was an accomplished jazz guitarist who played semi-professionally for quite a prominent Belgian band.  He was uncle - not father as generally believed since - to Catherine Blaton who became Jacky Ickx's first wife.  Her father was Jean's brother Ado. Another brother, Armand, raced under the pseudonym 'Blary' while a fourth brother Gérald apparently was a great railway train buff.  Alexis also reminds me that Jean Blaton raced at Reims in 1958 under the pseudonym 'Haldaux', and once at Francorchamps as 'Bombardini' - in those early days always trying to hide from his family the fact that he was racing.  

 

That was of course a very common reason put forward by Europeans when explaining their use of pseudonyms (while Italians in particular also seemed interested in camouflaging such expensive activities from scrutiny by the tax man).

 

It seems that 'Beurlys' as Jean Blaton's famous pseudonym did not particularly mean anything - he just thought it sounded "sympathetic".  In any case - 'Beurlys' man and racing driver will not be forgotten.  Sincere condolences to his family and friends, and fans.

 

DCN

[JohnAtkins]

In the mid 1980’s I owned an alloy bodied 6 carb Ferrari 275GTB which I occasionally raced the HSCC road sports championship. Needing capital for a business expansion I advertised it for sale but attracted only one interested party, a gentleman from Belgium named Armand Blaton, who wanted it for himself and his brother Jean, who he told me had raced one of similar specification at Le Mans in 1965. Hearing the nom de plume ‘Beurleys’ I knew it would go to a good home. I met Armand later in about 1996 at the Po circuit in France where we both entered in historic races. He said they still had the 275 and used it regularly. Of all the cars I’ve owned I still wish I had that one and not just because it’s worth about a hundred times more than the £20k I sold it for!

[68targa]

The brothers Blaton acquired a beautiful car .....

 

9 May 1982 - HSCC Brands John Atkins

[bradbury west]

John Atkins, welcome to TNF.

Roger Lund

[Scuderia CC]

From my book Ferrari au Mans :

 

[Perruqueporte]

'Beurlys' was very well liked and respected within the Belgian motor racing fraternity. Belgian Ferrari authority Alexis Callier recalled him to me this morning like this: "Very kind, welcoming, enthusiastic, always smiling, passionate, generous, a great racing driver, gifted for many things, just full of qualities, Jean was a really exceptional person, someone you could only like...".
 
​He came from a wealthy entrepreneurial background, the Blaton family fortune being derived from their business group, 'Batiments & Ponts' involved in building and maintaining highways, and sold eventually to the French firm 'Vinci'. 
 
​Not so well known within the international motor racing world was that 'Beurlys' was also a great jazz fan and was an accomplished jazz guitarist who played semi-professionally for quite a prominent Belgian band.  He was uncle - not father as generally believed since - to Catherine Blaton who became Jacky Ickx's first wife.  Her father was Jean's brother Ado. Another brother, Armand, raced under the pseudonym 'Blary' while a fourth brother Gérald apparently was a great railway train buff.  Alexis also reminds me that Jean Blaton raced at Reims in 1958 under the pseudonym 'Haldaux', and once at Francorchamps as 'Bombardini' - in those early days always trying to hide from his family the fact that he was racing.  
 
That was of course a very common reason put forward by Europeans when explaining their use of pseudonyms (while Italians in particular also seemed interested in camouflaging such expensive activities from scrutiny by the tax man).
 
It seems that 'Beurlys' as Jean Blaton's famous pseudonym did not particularly mean anything - he just thought it sounded "sympathetic".  In any case - 'Beurlys' man and racing driver will not be forgotten.  Sincere condolences to his family and friends, and fans.
 
DCN

Thanks for that, Doug. I just looked up Jean Blaton’s jazz credentials. He was evidently a very good musician. I see that he played with fellow Belgian, Baron Jean “Toots” Thielemans (in my view the finest of all jazz harmonica players) who was very particular about who he would play with). I shall try to find a recording that features Jean Blaton.

Christopher W.