Claude Dubois

Born : December 26 1932
Deceased : February 7 2022

Biography Claude Dubois

Claude Dubois was born in Brussels on December 26, 1932 in the district called “Cuireux”, near the Gare du Midi. His father, Barthélémy Dubois, Belgian of origin, and his grandfather had settled there as traders in leather and skins. It is with his mother Marie Antoinette Crépin, of French origin, that Claude often spent vacations in Francorchamps before the war.

The war years

In May 1940, like most Belgians, his parents fled to the south of France in a De Soto. This exodus did not last long, because at the end of June, they were already back and were going to settle in a big house. Claude contracted tuberculosis at the end of 41 and had to interrupt his studies. His parents placed him in convalescence in the countryside until the liberation in September 1944.

The winter of 1944/45 was extraordinary for him, a permanent celebration with the American and British liberators. Dad’s cellar with its great Bordeaux wines was emptied and it was there that he learned English. His health was still not perfect and Claude was sent to a private school in Switzerland. Back in Brussels, he pursued commercial studies, but the previous chaotic years did not help him. At the age of 17, his rebellious and independent spirit reinforces his decision to leave school and register as an apprentice mechanic in a garage.

First races

His growing interest in cars led him to attend races and rallies. He buys a motorcycle and participates in his first rally, that of the Capital, in 1953. At the age of 20, he decides to join the family firm, where he helps his father. His first earnings are spent on the purchase of a second-hand Panhard X87. Very quickly, it will be resold for a brand new Triumph TR2 that Claude will immediately engage in competition.

Claude Dubois began his racing career in the early 1950s. He first made a name for himself internationally in 1956, when he teamed up with Gilberte Thirion in the 1000 km race in Kristianstad in a Porsche 550 of the Equipe Nationale Belge and finished twelfth overall in the sports car world championship. Dubois now started regularly for the team in international sports car races.

 In 1957 he made his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The race ended prematurely for him because the mechanics of the team did not fill the Porsche 550 with petrol that did not comply with the regulations and the car was disqualified after 70 laps. His best result at Le Mans was tenth overall in 1966, which he achieved together with Pierre Noblet for the Ecurie Francorchamps.

In 1962 he finished eleventh in the Berlin Grand Prix , third in the Coppa Cittá di Enna and seventh in the Tour de France for automobiles . In addition to his racing activities, the Belgian built a middle-class existence. The first Ford dealership became a Belgian Ford importer in the mid-1960s. After the end of his own racing career in 1967, he built his own racing team and supported the racing activities of many Belgian racing drivers.

From his first marriage in 1959, was born in 1963, a little Caroline, whose godfather was none other than Paul Frère. He then founded his own company, Ets Claude Dubois, which deals with the preparation of rally cars.In 1966, a second little girl, Perrette, was born and later married William Mairesse, son of the famous pilot of the same name. Laurence Comte, Gilberte Thirion’s daughter, will be one of his great friends.

In 1967, Claude Dubois ended his career in motorsports with a victory in Zandvoort on a Shelby, he became importer for the Benelux of AC Cars. The year 69 will be an eventful year, first by the accidental death of Lucien Bianchi and then by a divorce.

But all is not black, because quickly, he receives the importation for the Benelux of the mark De Tomaso and meets his second wife, Michèle. She gave him a third child in 1978, but this time a son, Martin. His father died the same year.

Two years later, business was bad and Claude was hired by International Motor Cy (Toyota) to manage the new exotic car department. He brings to the company the De Tomaso brand and soon Maserati. The firm also took on the distribution of Rolls Royce and Lotus.

At the end of 1982, he left the group, with the unique import of the Chrysler brand in his suitcase, which was worth almost nothing at the time. And as misfortunes never come alone, it is a second divorce. Wives don’t take well to economic crises.

He entrusts the sale of Maseratis to the Mannès brothers, friends, and sells many Panthers in the United States.

From 1983 to 1993, he set up Chrysler-Jeep Belgium, of which he became the Managing Director in 1988. Sales increase from 200 cars to 4,000 cars annually and from 6 dealerships to 34 in 5 years. The company is the N° 1 in Belgium in terms of progression, at the end of 92 (according to the financial magazine Trends-Tendances).

He takes a well-deserved retirement in January 93.

Claude Dubois Race Results

Courtesy pictures as mentioned and unknown
Source : www.porsche356sl.com