Johnny Claes

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File:Talbot F1 vr yellow EMS.jpg

Claes's Talbot Lago T26C, Ecurie Belge 1950

Octave John Claes (Template:IPAc-en; 11 August 1916 – 3 February 1956) was a British-born racing driver who competed for Belgium. Before his fame as a racing driver, Claes was also a jazz trumpeter and successful bandleader in Britain.

Early life and jazz career

Claes was born in London to a Scottish mother and Belgian father. He was educated in England at Lord Williams's School. In England, he began playing trumpet in a jazz band that included Max Jones on reeds, and another with Billy Mason on piano. In the 1930s he moved to the Netherlands, where he worked with Valaida Snow and Coleman Hawkins. He also worked with Jack Kluger's band in Belgium. Returning to England, he led his own group, the Claepigeons, making a recording in 1942. In the late 1940s he abandoned his jazz career and settled in Belgium as a professional racing driver.<ref name="Grove">Template:Cite Grove</ref>

Racing career

Claes was one of several gentlemen drivers who took part in Grand Prix racing of post-World War II. His first contact with racing was at the 1947 French Grand Prix, where he served as interpreter for British drivers. He made his debut in 1948, in his own Talbot-Lago, raced under the Écurie Belge banner. Although Claes never scored any points in the World Drivers Championship, he was, like many of his contemporaries, very active in non-Championship Grand Prix races and sports car races. His first win was at the 1950 Grand Prix des Frontières, held at the Chimay race track.

In April 1951 Claes crashed into a crowd while practicing at San Remo Grand Prix in Sanremo, Italy. He was uninjured but an observer was killed and three onlookers were seriously injured.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1952 he exchanged his outdated Talbot for a Gordini, and later for a Connaught, always with the Écurie Belge colours, but he also raced occasionally for works teams, including Gordini and Maserati. He also won the 1953 Liège–Rome–Liège Rally and took a class win at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans. Claes teamed with Pierre Stasse to finish 12th in the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans. They drove a Porsche.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Together with compatriot Jacques Swaters, Claes finished third in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Later in 1955 Claes's health problems worsened, as he had contracted tuberculosis. Claes sold his outfit to Swaters, who merged it with his own Écurie Francorchamps to form Écurie Nationale Belge. Claes entered occasional events until the end of the year, but finally succumbed to the disease in Brussels in 1956, aged 39.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	WDC	Pts.
1950	Écurie Belge	Talbot-Lago T26C	Talbot L6	GBR Template:Small	MON Template:Small	500	SUI Template:Small	BEL Template:Small	FRA Template:Small	ITA Template:Small			NC	0
1951	Écurie Belge	Talbot-Lago T26C-DA	Talbot L6	SUI Template:Small	500	BEL Template:Small	FRA Template:Small	GBR Template:Small	GER Template:Small	ITA Template:Small	ESP Template:Small		NC	0
1952	Équipe Gordini	Gordini T16	Gordini L6	SUI	500	BEL Template:Small							NC	0
	Écurie Belge	Simca-Gordini T15	Simca-Gordini L4				FRA Template:Small	GBR Template:Small
	HW Motors	HWM 52	Alta L4						GER Template:Small	NED
	Vicomtesse de Walckiers	Simca-Gordini T15	Simca-Gordini L4								ITA Template:Small
1953	Écurie Belge	Connaught Type A	Lea-Francis L4	ARG	500	NED Template:Small		FRA Template:Small	GBR	GER Template:Small	SUI	ITA Template:Small	NC	0
	Officine Alfieri Maserati	Maserati A6GCM	Maserati L6				BEL Template:Small
1955	Stirling Moss Ltd.	Maserati 250F	Maserati L6	ARG	MON	500	BEL Template:Small						NC	0
	Écurie Nationale Belge	Ferrari 500	Ferrari L4					NED Template:Small	GBR	ITA

Non-championship Formula One results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35
1950	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago T26C	Talbot L6	PAU	RIC	SRM	PAR DNA	EMP	BAR Template:Small	JER	ALB Template:Small	NED Template:Small	NAT Template:Small	NOT	ULS	PES	STT	INT Template:Small	GOO Template:Small	PEN Template:Small
1951	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago T26C-DA	Talbot L6	SYR	PAU	RIC Template:Small	SRM Template:Small	BOR	INT Template:Small	PAR	ULS Template:Small	SCO	NED Template:Small	ALB Template:Small	PES	BAR Template:Small	GOO
1952	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago T26C-DA	Talbot L6	RIO	SYR	VAL Template:Small	RIC	LAV	PAU Template:Small	IBS										ULS DNA
		Simca-Gordini T15	Simca-Gordini L4								MAR Template:Small	AST	INT Template:Small	ELÄ	NAP	EIF DNA	PAR Template:Small	ALB	FRO Template:Small					MAR Template:Small	SAB Template:Small	CAE	DAI	COM Template:Small	NAT	BAU Template:Small	MOD Template:Small	CAD	SKA	MAD	AVU	JOE	NEW Template:Small	RIO
		HWM 52	Alta L4																		MNZ Template:Small	LAC	ESS
1953	Johny Claes	Connaught Type A	Lea-Francis L4	SYR	PAU Template:Small	LAV	AST	BOR Template:Small	INT Template:Small	ELÄ	NAP	ULS	WIN	FRO Template:Small	COR	EIF	ALB Template:Small	PRI	ESS	MID	ROU Template:Small	CRY	AVU Template:Small	USF	LAC	BRI	CHE	SAB Template:Small	NEW	CAD	RED	SKA	LON	MOD Template:Small	MAD	JOE	CUR