47 replies to this topic

[Barry Boor]

Bernard Collomb drove a Cooper and a Lotus during the 1.5 litre F.1 period.

I never saw the Lotus but my old memory seems to tell me that the Cooper was silver with a wide light blue panel down the nose.

Is my old memory playing me false? Is there anyone out there old enough to remember; or even have photos?

And was the Lotus blue or what?

[Coogar]

I'm old enough !
However I suspect there may have been two Coopers before the Lotus. I can recall seeing him in the Aintree 200 in - I think - 1960 with what must have been an 'old' leaf sprung® 'tall' Cooper and latterly at Aintree (again) and Phoenix Park - probably Dunboyne too - in a then-current 'low line' .
I remember the programme entry was "B.Collomb - Nice" which excited us greatly as he was probably the farthest-travelled entrant at Phoenix Pk that year. Andre Pilette was there as well with a dark green Emeryson as were "K.Twisk" in a Cooper (opinion was divided as to whether he was Englishman Ken Twisk or Dutchman Klaas Twisk. Either way, he was present. I'm almost certain John Campbell Jones was another Cooper pilot that year, along with local man Dan McAlister. I have a Dunboyne photo somewhere which I will try to capture and post, if I can figure out how.........
Doubtless there's somebody out there who knows more about it all than I.
I think you're right about M.Collomb's colour scheme though.

[Barry Boor]

Coogar - if you can scan the photo and e-mail it to me, I can post it.

Thanks for your memories and the 'near' confirmation about Bernard's Cooper. I never knew he was from Nice.

[VDP]

Bernard Collomb had or still have a worshop specialized in Alpine Renault in the yar 1970 at Nice

Robert

[Ray Bell]

Now that rings a bell...

Did Jenks once write about dropping in there on one of his journeys?

[bill moffat]

There was a Collomb active in voiturette racing from very early in the 1900's through to the mid 20's. His results were modest in his La Licorne/Corre. Any relation ?

[Allen Brown]

Collomb had Cooper T53 [F1-9-61] for 1961 but wrecked it in an accident in practice for Brussels GP 1962. He then bought Yeoman-Credit's Cooper T53 ["VR"] for the rest of 1962.

See http://www.oldracing.../Cooper-T53.htm.

Allen

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by bill moffat
There was a Collomb active in voiturette racing from very early in the 1900's through to the mid 20's. His results were modest in his La Licorne/Corre. Any relation ?

I don't know for certain but as Bernard Collomb's real name is actually Nicois Bernard Collomb-Clerc, it may not be the same family, but I would like to know more myself.

[David McKinney]

Was Nicois really his name, or his geographic origin?

[Richard Jenkins]

Actually I'm not sure, but NBC-C was what I was given by a good source.... I'd never actually noticed that before, mind. Jimmy (Piget) might know, he's good at some of the French drivers details

[GIGLEUX]

Niçois is the name of Nice inhabitants!

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by GIGLEUX
Niçois is the name of Nice inhabitants!

That's why I asked the question

[gerard BARATHIEU]

According to ....Doug NYE !!! the LOTUS driven by B.COLLOMB in 1964/1965 was

LOTUS 24/949 .

But unfortunatly I have no pictures of it.

Did anyone has some?

[David McKinney]

Collomb raced one or more T45 Coopers 1959-61. F1R gives the number as F2-14-58 for late 1960, but if this is correct it cannot apply throughout the whole period, as F2-14-58 was raced by Westbury in early 1960.
Then, as Allen says, Collomb had "lowline" T53 #F1-9-61 in 1961 and early 1962, replacing that with F1-4-61VR for the rest of 1962.
He raced the Lotus 24 #949 1963-65, and a car with the same number (but at least a new frame, if not more), into 1966.

BTW Richard, your Mr Twisk was a Dutch-born Englishman called Klaas, but usually known as Jimmy

[Barry Boor]

He then bought Yeoman-Credit's Cooper T53 ["VR"]

Courtesy of Rob Ryder but from an unknown source, here is the proof of the above quote.


This begs another question, of course; did he later paint this car......?

[Coogar]

I think the older Cooper(s) was/were in silver/blue. Never saw the ex Yeoman Credit one during his stewardship, but that picture rings some sort of bell.
David, thanks for clearing up the Twisk question. He was the same people !
Barry....I've got to do some archive digging for that Dunboyne pic but I DO have it. Hopefully tomorrow if Christmas doesn't get in the way !

[Allen Brown]

Originally posted by David McKinney
... replacing that with F1-4-61VR for the rest of 1962 ...

David

As you may remember, I don't accept that F1-4-61 was the same car as "VR".

Allen

[McRonalds]

@Barry: the colour pictures was taken at the Solitude in 1962 - and I think it's from the Solitude-homepage (sorry, lost the URL at the moment, but I think most user here have seen it already). I found another one in my archive: I think it's from a German magazine from the sixties and shows Collomb's Cooper at the Nurburging 1961. It only a b/w picture and I'm not sure about the colour, but it could well be silver.

The second one is from Vol. 2 of the Moity-Monaco books - and I have seen it on the web serveral times before. To me it looks as if the car was painted in two colors with an additional stripe:

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Allen Brown
David

As you may remember, I don't accept that F1-4-61 was the same car as "VR".

Allen

I didn't say it was
The car I referrred to was F1-4-61VR, not F1-4-61, which was a different animal
But I'm pleased to see you're paying attention, and took the bait

[Barry Boor]

Thanks, McRonalds, that is the image of Bernard's Cooper that I have carried in my head for 40 years. Now I am SURE it was indeed silver with a wide light blue panel on the nose.

An interesting colour scheme, but in an era of very much national colours, I would love to know what prompted this livery.

[Ray Bell]

Possibly it was the same reason that Matich raced with the reverse for a while (pale blue with silver or gold nose)...

The car got damaged and hasty repairs were made without the right paint on hand?

[marat]

Sorry for the quality, here Collomb during practice, German GP 1961.

[Barry Boor]

Thanks, marat, Q.E.D !!!!

[ReWind]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins
Bernard Collomb's real name is actually Nicois Bernard Collomb-Clerc.

In Mike Lang's "Grand Prix!" (vol. 1) he is "F.B. Collomb". So there must be a first given name beginning with "F".

[marat]

No, just Bernard.

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by ReWind
In Mike Lang's "Grand Prix!" (vol. 1) he is "F.B. Collomb". So there must be a first given name beginning with "F".

It could be that the "Nicois" that I was given was garbled & it was actually "Francois"


Anyway, the point is that unless Bill's Collomb also cut off the "-Clerc" he isn't related to our friend Bernie.

[marat]

Bernard Collomb-Clerc: owner of a building company in La Clusaz. Rather a skier than a racing driver.

[Barry Boor]

Just to prove that all this info I am always asking for is not wasted....



Thanks again to all who helped on this one.

[T54]

Cool! Is that an Airfix slot car? I knew Bernard Collomb many years ago (a really nice and capable man with a great sense of humor) and sure enuf, that's his T53!

T54

[Barry Boor]

Is that an Airfix slot car?

Basically, yes, well spotted, T. This one is equipped with Scalextric rear wheels, silicone tyres made by Mad Jack Stinson, and a driver's head I have made especially for me based on one I picked up somewhere along the line.

As you clearly have knowledge of slot cars, I wonder if you have ever found your way here....?

http://website.lineone.net/~barrybboor

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by Barry Boor


Courtesy of Rob Ryder but from an unknown source, here is the proof of the above quote.


This begs another question, of course; did he later paint this car......?

I do like to see photos of a driver enjoying a ciggie - reminds me of Patrick Depailler!

[T54]

Barry, I was unaware of your site and I have added it to my faborite. The best British bloke I know who is at the same time an afficionado for the full-size and miniature vintage stuff is Mark Gussin and he has a fabulous web site. I met him at the Goodwood Vestival of Speed in 2000, a very nice chap. He is also very talented and knowledgeable about old racing cars. Come to think of it, Britain's most famous such person has to be the late Henri Baigent, no?

Our own site is this one where we should qualify as a Lola or Dallara in miniature...

As far as Bernard and the cig in lips, it was oh-so typical at the time as the French government owned the tobacco distribution and was pushing it on us like mad. Fortunately for me I always hated the stuff and stayed away from it.
Come to think of it, they still DO own the distribution...

T54

[Barry Boor]

Finding myself with several spare Airfix Lotus 24 shells, I decided to move Bernard up a notch by producing his 1963 Lotus.

I am greatful to Jean-Maurice for his help regarding the colour; the actual blue is probably not right but from over 40 years distance, it's hard to see the exact shade!



As befits, this image will soon be on the 'Rubbish' thread.

[Bondurand]

Thanks Barry !

When there is no clear color picture available (Images that have been posted here had disappeared ), I'm always pleased to see a model as accurate as possible.

[Team Gunston]

Old thread, but just found something of interest here :

[URL=http://forum.gtr-speedcar.com/viewtopic.php?p=7398#7398]

Bernard Collomb at the 1962 Urcy hillclimb.

[Team Gunston]

forum.gtr-speedcar.com/viewtopic.php?p=7398#7398

Maybe it's better like that.

[Barry Boor]

Nope, that don't work, either.

[Team Gunston]

If it doesn't work, try that :

asa.bourgogne.free.fr/Urcy/index.htm

And go to the gtr-speedcar.com link in the middle of the page.

Sorry

[Team Gunston]

Oh, shame on me again. Better now ?

http://asa.bourgogne.../Urcy/index.htm

[corre-lalicorne.com]

Bill Mofat: There was a Collomb active in voiturette racing from very early in the 1900's through to the mid 20's. His results were modest in his La Licorne/Corre. Any relation ?

Albert Collomb was driving for Corre-La Licorne compagnie. And also ones Joseph Collomb.
Perhaps Bernard is a nefew or son.

[VDP]

[Who is Joseph Collomb ???

[corre-lalicorne.com]

[Who is Joseph Collomb ???

Look at my website and you will know everything i know about the courreur Joseph Collomb.
http://www.corre-lalicorne.com and hit the button "en course"
or direct: http://www.corre-lal.../en-course.html

He was an important driver for the Corre La Licorne circuit-cars.
If someone knows more, please let me know.
e-mail: lalicornenederland@yahoo.fr

Edited by corre-lalicorne.com, 28 September 2009 - 06:56.

[Barry Boor]

Towards the end of the 1959 season Bernard Collomb drove a T.45 Cooper in the Coupe de Salon F.2 race at Montlhery. The entrant of the car was listed as Monsieur Collomb himself but he is not shown in Doug's wonderful Cooper Cars book as ever having purchased that type of Cooper.

So can anyone shed light on where this particular car came from and who owned it, if, that is, Collomb borrowed it and entered it for himself?

And before you all go reaching for Sheldon.....














......he doesn't show a chassis number!

[David McKinney]

According to my copy of the relevant Black Book, Collomb raced F2-14-58 in late 1960. It is unlikely he would have raced another car in earlier 1960, or in 1959

However, the same source has Mike Spence racing this particular car for Peter Westbury earlier in 1960

And Brian Naylor and later John Campbell-Jones are listed as racing F2-14-58 in the 1958-60 period. Doug Nye's Cooper Cars quotes the factory records as saying this car was sold new to Naylor, and JCJ confirmed to me he raced the ex-Naylor car.

Bottom line: I don't know which car was Collomb's

[Barry Boor]

As this seems to have been Bernard's only race in a Cooper in 1959 I guess he borrowed it from someone else.

Bernard is nearly 80 now but if he still lives in Nice, maybe our friend Frank Verstappen, who I believe also lives in Nice, could seek him out and ask him.

[David McKinney]

He probably did a lot of hillclimbs - he did with his later cars, IIRC

[Bjorn Kjer]

Barry , are you sure you do not mean Frank Verplanken ?

[Barry Boor]