We're saddened to report the passing of Paul Frère, veteran racer and revered elder statesman of automotive journalism.
Frère was born on January 30, 1917 in Belgium. As a racing driver, Frère competed in Formula One between 1952 and 1956, and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1960 behind the wheel of a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. As an automotive journalist, Frère served as European editor for Road & Track, and as editor of French Porsche magazine Flat 6, in addition to authoring several books about cars and racing. In September 2006, we reported on a major accident Frère had near the Nurburgring in Germany, from which he recovered after spending two weeks in intensive care having punctured both lungs and broken several bones.
Frère died this past Saturday at age 91. We extend our appreciation to Steven who informed us to the sad news, and our deepest condolences to Paul's bereaved family and friends. He will be sorely missed.
[Source: ClassicRallies.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ca6 @ Feb 25th 2008 9:09AM
Oh, RIP Paul :( The man was a legend.
Everyone should read his "My life full of cars"
Bruxell @ Feb 25th 2008 10:54AM
Not to mention "Sports Car and Competition Driving." I grew up reading his letters from Europe in Road and track. I never met him, but I miss him already.
olddavid @ Feb 25th 2008 9:20AM
Another classic passes from this mortal coil, along with his generational knowledge of all things automotive. My Father, who was born one month earlier, is still around, thank heaven, and the older I get, the smarter he gets. Funny how that works.............and damned ironic, particularly to the parent of a 15 year old son.
Gooch @ Feb 25th 2008 9:32AM
I haven't read Frere's book, but I have read his reports from Europe and his car reviews for more than 30 years now. When a legend like this passes, it's like losing a family member. God rest his soul.
Richard @ Feb 25th 2008 9:36AM
I have read Paul's "Letter from Europe" in R&T since I was a kid. He was, in many ways, responsoble for my dreaming of the life beyond the steel mills of Northeastern Ohio I created for myself.
I am sure Paul heads off onto his next journey with all the speed and precision he used piloting through this life.
Godspeed! Man!
RidinLow @ Feb 25th 2008 10:17AM
RIP to one of the great classic automotive journalists. I too remember fondly reading his columns in R&T when I was a kid. =(
bill @ Feb 25th 2008 10:22AM
I have been reading Road & Track since 1968 ( I still have every issue since then to now), and one of the pleasures has been anything written by Paul Frere. As Gooch says, it is like losing a family member.
Franz @ Feb 25th 2008 11:32AM
His columns were actually my favorite in R&T also. Very creative writer. He's part the reason I'm so hooked on cars today. R.I.P.
Harrity @ Feb 25th 2008 1:02PM
RIP. :(
big L @ Feb 25th 2008 7:41PM
I felt as though I know him when reading his dispatches. It is all present tense because he is not forgotten. I think of him forever as 40 to 50 yrs old in my mind's eye.
What a wonderful long life he had-91 yrs old!
acalford @ Feb 26th 2008 1:20PM
Paul Frere wrote for Road & Track during its golden age, when the magazine wasn't trying to be Car and Driver Light. I can remember his work, fondly.