David E. Davis, Jr. on the Passing of Paul Frère
Road & Track’s Belgian correspondent Paul Frère was a damned good journalist and a damned good racing driver—not to be confused with a journalist who either thinks he is or wishes to be a racing driver. He won LeMans in 1960, sharing a Ferrari with fellow Belgian Olivier Gendebien. He entered eleven Formula 1 races between 1952 and 1956, and finished second for Ferrari in his final race, the Belgian GP at Spa Francorchamps. Even after his eightieth birthday he could wiggle himself into a racing car and cut pretty impressive lap times. As a journalist, he was absolutely reliable, and carefully kept every note on every car he had ever tested. He was a total professional and a thoroughly decent guy. He died after a long illness at the end of February.
In Stuttgart, I sat next to Paul at the great farewell dinner Daimler-Benz management threw for Günther Molter, another damned good automotive journalist who was about to retire as head of the Mercedes-Benz press department. As the speeches began, Paul asked me if I’d like him to translate for me. “Oh no,
Comments
Brock
In addition to the forgoing, he was , without doubt the most knoweldgeable authority on the 911 in the world. R.I.P.Paul, I've enjoyed reading your works.
X3 SoB
Eloquently put, Mr. Davis. In the 2/13/08 Question of the Day I picked Paul Frere as one of my choices as the best motorsports driver. I still think so. I have always enjoyed his insightful writings on driving, and respected his credentials as a bonafide racer and a classy gentleman in the traditional European manner(like Stirling Moss). He will be missed, and the world is a poorer place without him.
Son of a Beach
Paul Frere always wore a tie when driving, so cool. He was a proponent of driving an automatic with the right foot on the throttle and the left foot on the brake, a technique that made sense and made for faster, smoother driving, I still have trouble with wanting to move my right foot, but I have tried it. He was insightful into handling dynamics in a way that few could match, and was able to write about it in a plain spoken manner you could understand. He is a loss to the journalistic and racing world.
Kal
Well written. I haven't read any his work outside of Road and Track contributions, but I've always throughly enjoyed what little I have been exposed to.
JackSprat
There are so many Paul Frere stories among us writing professionals. Right after last year's Frankfurt motor show we were driving the Mercedes C 63 AMG around Mainz. At the big dinner evening, I had the ungodly good luck of sitting next to both Paul Frere and, across from him, Bernard Cahier, who never attends anything anymore really. I speak crap French, but their all-night conversation was choice material when I could follow.
I remember four years ago at Le Mans how Paul slipped into some Audi togs and took the R8 for a couple of hot laps of the circuit all by himself. According to the guys in the pits, he was outgunning some of the actual team drivers through a couple sections of La Sarthe. Amazing.
son in law
He was the Cary Grant of sports car drivers.
RIP MR. Frere
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