Gérard Crombac
Gérard "Jabby" Crombac was a Swiss auto-racing journalist and author.Biography
In 1954 he bought the Lotus Mk4 previously owned by Lotus founder Colin Chapman and began racing with this car. While this marked the start of a long friendship with Chapman, Crombac realised he was not racing driver material, and stood down in 1958.
In 1959 he began managing the interests of Jo Schlesser in association with Jean Lucas, while working for French discount retailer Prisunic.
In 1962 Crombac partnered with Lucas to found the French magazine Sport Auto, where he was chief editor until 1989. In 1973 he and a Sport Auto team composed of Thierry Lalande, Luc Melua and Jean-Louis Moncet, assembled a kitcar in one week-end.
Crombac shared an apartment in Paris with racer Jim Clark during the time that Clark listed his official residence as Switzerland for tax purposes.
Crombac and his wife Catherine had a son who was named Colin James in honour of his close friends Colin Chapman and Jim Clark.
He died from cancer while in a hospice in Paris on November 18, 2005. His funeral was held on November 28, 2005 at the Crematorium in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. In August 2007 his ashes were scattered in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez in accordance with his wishes.Publications
Biography/autobiography
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