Mon Sieur

Posted in Uncategorized on 07/25/2009 11:53 pm by admin

Mon Sieur

Jacky Ickx is honored in his homeland as the undisputed champion of car racing. Jackie began his racing career in 1964 and he won the Belgium Drivers Championship eleven times between 1967 and 1969. In 1968 he received the national trophy. He has raced on practically every continent and enjoyed success both in Formula One and endurance racing. He is quoted as saying, “Unfortunately in motor racing there is the mechanical part and the driver part. Only the ensemble of both results in victory. You need to have the best car and be the best driver.” His impressive record is proof of his continued effort to be the best driver. He was the only Belgian driver to win eight Formula One Grand Prix in France, Germany, Canada, Austria, Mexico and Holland from 1969 to 1972. He also raced in Africa and South America.

Jacky was born in Bruxelles, Belgium on January 1, 1945 into a family of motoring enthusiasts. Jackie’s father was famous in the field of motoring journalism and his brother was a well-known motorcycle race driver. Nevertheless at first young Jackie was bored with racing.

He was living on the family farm in Braine l’ Alleud and found farm life boring as well. So he decided to give motorcycle racing a trial. Before he was twenty, he served as a tank instructor in the national service. Then in 1965 when he was twenty he raced BMW’s and won the Spa 24 hour’s touring car race. Ken Tyrell was impressed by Jackie’s driving style and started him with a French Matra car. That was the beginning of his career. However, Jacky never hesitated to credit his parents for their encouragement and support, stating, “My parents helped me in a simplest and the most effective way: by being interested in my races and my results. For a sixteen year old boy it could have nothing there of more important.”

In 1966 Jacky started endurance racing winning several championships the most impressive being the 24 hours of LeMans six times. Jacky was a gentleman and a man of principle. This showed in his first run at LeMans. Jacky disapproved of the traditional LeMans start, as he perceived it to be dangerous. The drivers would line up on one side of the track and the cars would be lined up on the other. When the flag dropped, drivers were required to run to their cars, belt themselves in and start. Jacky, in protest, walked slowly across the track to his car. He was the last driver to start but still won the race.

Jacky won at LeMans in 1969, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, and 1982. His record is second only to Danish driver, Tom Kristensen, for the number of wins. This impressive record gave him the title of Monsieur LeMans or Mr. LeMans. In spite of his fame, Jacky had a reputation for modesty and kindness. He was somewhat of a philosopher and once said, “The fact that I am still alive after 100,000 laps is my championship.” However his daughter, Vanina, has followed in his footsteps and is a factory driver for Audi.

Car Shipping Philadelphia

Car Transport Philadelphia