Obituary

We report with deep feeling the death of Jean Chassagne. Speaking very good English and well-liked in this country, Jean was one of France’s great drivers. He drove in the Sunbeam team prior to 1914, after mechanicing for Rigal when he won the 1912 3-litre Dieppe race. In 1913 he was third in a Sunbeam behind two Peugeots in the French Grand Prix. Serving as a pilot with the French Air Force during 1914-18, Chassagne returned afterwards to racing. He had a nasty experience in the 1922 200-Mile Race, when his Talbot-Darracq went over the top of the Byfieet banking, leaving Jean’s shoes neatly planted side by side on the concrete. He was unhurt and unruffled and subsequent appearances netted him victory in the 1923 Routes Pavées, 7th place in the 1924 French G.P. in a Bugatti and 1st place with Laly in an Aries in the 3-litre class of the 1927 Belgian 24-Hour Sports-Car Race. Also, for a time he was a member of the blower Bentley team. Later, Chass. tested for Bugatti before joining the French branch of Castrol as an expert on aviation lubricants.