Your Heroes

The list of Suixtil-clad motor racing heroes is a long one. You know about Fangio and Moss, but there was also Campos, Frere, Schell, Pires, and many more.

Explore and discover the roll call of legendary drivers who wore Suixtil in their finest hour.

Bio data

collins1_o

Born on NOV 6, 1931, Peter died at the Ring on AUG 3, 1958

Racing career:

From 1950 until his untimely demise in 1958

Raced for / with:

Vanwall, Maserati and Ferrari

Key races

1956 was Peter‘s best year, with stellar races at Monaco, Spa, Reims, Monza and Silverstone among others

Personality

Peter was the ultimate gentleman racer and proved it many a times on and off the track.

Suixtil association

Peter was regularly wearing his original race pants along with Brescia shirt while also often sporting his Raticosa sweater.

Facts and trivia

Your Suixtil team had the privilege of meeting Peter’s widow back in the days and she was still emotional about the heyday of Peter’s career and their incredible love story.

Bio data

Born on OCT 5, 1922 in Argentina, died on JUN 15, 2013

Racing career:

Between 1950 and 1960

Raced for / with:

Maserati, Talbot Lago, Ferrari and Vanwall

Key races

Just so many, but the wet 1954 season was his best, with key wins at Le Mans and Silverstone

Personality

Froilan was always determined not just to race but to win

Suixtil association

Often seen with his Francorchamps or Original Race Pants, Angouleme shirt and his Silverstone jacket

Facts and trivia

The Bull of the Pampa won Ferrari its first title in a world championship and was always revered for that afterwards!

Bio data

Masten Gregory, 1962 (c)MotorBinder

Born on FEB 9, 1932, Masten Gregory died, much too young, on NOV 8, 1985

Racing career:

Masten raced on and off from 1957 to 1972

Raced for:

Porsche, Maserati, Ferrari, you name it, he did it!

Key races

Without a doubt, his victory (with Jochen Rindt) at le Mans 24 hours in 1965 at the wheel of a 250LM. He also competed in many F1 GP events, demonstrating how versatile he was

Personality

Masten was known as the Kansas City Flash but could have also been the poster (man)boy for the “speed kills” motto as a daredevil with strange habits and a taste for danger…

Suixtil association

Gregory was often seen wearing his Modena Race Pants and loved his Track Bag

Facts and trivia

Survived a series of incredible shunts to perish at 53 of a heart attack. He always looked distracted, probably because of his thick glasses that seemed so off character for such an incredible driver…

Bio data

Born OCT 30, 1917, died on FEB 13, 2005

Racing career:

Lasted from 1950 until 1964

Raced for / with:

Gordini, Ferrari, Vanwall, Bugatti, Cooper, Maserati, BRM, Aston Martin, Lotus and Lola

Key races

Le Mans 1954 of course, Monaco 1955 and 1958, certainly, but also some incredible performances in so many other races!

Personality

He was nicknamed Petoulet and often wore a quirky hat!

Suixtil association

Mostly seen in original race pants or Modena, he also sported the Florio quite well.

Facts and trivia

Petoulet is supposed to be the actual author of the famous quote used in the “Le Mans” movie “life is racing, everything in between is just waiting” – and that, frankly, wouldn’t surprise us one bit!.

©Edward Quinn Archives

©Edward Quinn Archives

Bio data

Was born on 17 SEP 1929 in the UK and passed away APR 12th, 2020, when 90 years young!

Racing career:

From 1948 until 1962 competitively, has been showing everyone since that he still very much “has it”!

Raced for / with:

Everything, with a marked preference for British cars. Nonetheless, scored some of his most impressive wins with Maserati and Mercedes

Key races

Just so many of them. Of course, the 1955 1000 Miglia, but also Monaco, Monza, the Ring and Pescara and so many more.

Personality

A feast of a man, he was knighted but was a born gentleman

Suixtil association

Sir Stirling was often seen sporting, aside from his El Chico helmet,  some Original Race Pants, along with a Nassau polo.

Facts and trivia

Sir Stirling survived many an accident, including falling 3 storeys down a lift shaft a few years ago – age 81 – and still stepped back behind the wheel not long after!

 

Bio data

Born on DEC 12, 1923 in Argentina he died, aged 30, at the Ring on JUL 31, 1954

Racing career:

in F1 from 1951 until his untimely death.

Raced for:

Maserati

Key races

Onofre‘s best races were fought at Spa in 53 and at Silverstone in 54 where he clawed back 25 positions to finish # 3, ahead of JM Fangio

Personality

He unfortunately died too young, the only racer to suffer such a fate on a Maserati.

Suixtil association

Onofre was often seen sporting the Original Race Pants and a Brescia shirt or Rio polo

Facts and trivia

The Marimon family has racing in its blood and Suixtil has proudly re-associated with the third generation of race drivers it has spawned

Bio data

Viva Fangio (and Suixtil…)

Born JUN 24, 1911, died JUL 17, 1995 in Argentina

Racing career:

From 1934 to 1958

Raced for:

Alfa Romeo, BRM, Maserati, Mercedes and Ferrari

Key races

Just too many to mention but his ’57 race at the Nurburgring, where he clinched his 5th world championship after beating numerous lap records, will stand the test of time.

Personality

El Maestro was well loved for his incredibly down to earth view of things and modesty.

Suixtil association

Fangio‘s relation to Suixtil was long and deep and, ever faithful to the brand that helped him with his start, he sported Suixtil gear long after the brand had disappeared. Most recognizable, no doubt, was his Rivadavia helmet, his race pants, one of his Monaco bombers, a shirt or  his Cuba (yes!) t-shirt….

Facts and trivia

El Chueco broke so many records, it is hard to list them all. Suffice to say that he won his first world championship title at the age of 40 and his fifth and last at over 46, a man in full!

Hans Herrmann at the Nürburgring (c)CBailey

Bio data

Born on FEB 23, 1928

Racing career:

From 1953 until his “official retirement” in 1969 – we’re lucky Hans still graces the vintage circuit with his charm and wit.

Raced for / with:

Porsche, Mercedes, Maserati, Cooper, Veritas – you name it…

Key races

You all heard the one about the ’54 1000 Miglia (driving under a railroad crossing ahead of an incoming train in a 550 Spyder), but Hans also had some great races with the W196s and so many more, including – of course – winning Le Mans with a 917…

Personality

Hans embodies the gentleman-racer and has demonstrated it often.

Suixtil association

The original race pants have always held Hans’s favor – and we thank him for that.

Facts and trivia

The Suixtil team has had the privilege of meeting Hans several times and have always been surprised by his kindness.

 

Bio data

Born FEB 16, 1921 in France, Died AUG 1, 1959 at the Avus track, Berlin, Germany

Racing career:

From 1952 and 1959

Raced for:

Gordini, Maserati, Ferrari & Porsche

Key races

The whole of the 57 and 58 seasons

Personality

Jeannot just had the right stuff and pushed his entire career to always go faster!

Suixtil association

Jean Behra favored our original race pants and red long-sleeve polo after which the Targa is modelled

Facts and trivia

Caught in 12 crashes, Behra developed a technique to survive them, though – at the speed he drove – it unfortunately proved imperfect in the end.

Harry Schell ever so relaxed – 1955 (c)CBailey

Bio data

Born JUN 29, 1921, died MAY 13, 1960 at the Silverstone track

Racing career:

From 1950 until his untimely death in 1960

Raced for / with:

Cooper, Talbot Lago, Maserati, Gordini, Ferrari, Vanwall and BRM

Key races

Harry had many great races, though his best place – 3rd in Pescara, 1957 – belies how great a driver he really was.

Personality

Very keen on safety, Harry was also an incredible prankster on and off the track

Suixtil association

Often seen in his original race pants or Modena pants and with either a Targa, a Florio or a Pescara, Big Harry always looked dapper.

Facts and trivia

Harry pulled some of the funniest pranks on the track and was still able to command incredible respect for his furious driving.

Bio data

Born MAY 08, 1908 and passed away JUN 30, 1981 in Argentina

Racing career:

From 1934 to 1955

Raced for:

Chevrolet, mostly

Key races

The TC races in which Toscanito competed were not mere rallies. Rather, they were Titanic affairs (with a constant side of disaster and tragedy) in which he excelled and, often, won.

Personality

Having cheated death (in the form of tuberculosis), Toscanito took his revenge in constant cigar-chomping and motor racing – a man in full who garnered the love and admiration of South-American audiences.

Suixtil association

Marimon was one of the early racers to be sponsored by Suixtil (what great foresight from M. Rudmann) and was very faithful to the brand that not only kitted him but also supplied him with the metal he raced – at life speed! He was most often caught sporting his Monaco bomber jacket, and chomping on his cigar, of course!

Facts and trivia

Domingo was Onofre’s father – who distinguished himself as part of the early Argentinean F1 Armada before he perished at the Nurburgring track in 1954 –  a tragedy that struck and saddened the entire racing world that so dearly loved both father and son. We are privileged to have re-established the Suixtil connection with the Marimon family, through Augustin & Facundo Casse, two grand-nephews of the great man who, guess what?, are also involved in motorsport! Talk about lasting bonds…

Bio data

Born in 1925 in Italy, he passed away peacefully on APR 28th, 2013, when 88 years young!

Racing career:

Giulio was one of those unsung heroes who all too rarely saw (and even less frequently, shared) the limelight even if none of our heroes would have been able to shine without them.

Raced for / with:

He was the star mechanic at Maserati before shifting to the Scuderia Centro-Sud and, finally, taking up the role of chief mechanic at Ferrari where he shone for decades

Key races

Just so many of them – and while we are partial to those of the ’50s, we cannot overlook the immense part that Giulio came to occupy in the career and life of such giants of the racing world as Arturo Merzario, Mario Andretti  and Clay Regazzoni.

Personality

Ever cool under pressure, Giulio triumphed against impossible odds (and that story with Mario’s Ferrari at Monaco bears testament to this!).

Suixtil association

While he started as a mechanic, he was, later often seen sporting the Original Race Pants and, occasionally, a Brescia shirt though he preferred his polo (or nothing but a cigarette).

Facts and trivia

Guilio is one of the rare persons to have excelled at both Maserati and Ferrari and that, in itself, speaks volume about both his talent and character!

 

Bio data

Born on JAN 31, 1930, died JUN 11, 1972 at Le Mans

Racing career:

From 1956 to 1971

Raced for:

You name’em, JoBo had them: from Maserati to Chapparal, from BRM to Porsche to Ferrari to Cooper, Brabham to McLaren, Lotus and Lola – he did them all!

Key races

Great performances on 718 Porsche at both the Ring and the Targa Florio deserve special mentions among a career that shone with great successes

Personality

The Sweet Swede never stopped and had one of the longest careers in the sport.

Suixtil association

JoBo was often seen in his Modena pants and Monza cashmere or a Barcelona jacket (not forgetting, of course, his Rally bag), an icon of style without even trying!

Facts and trivia

He could have done anything and chose racing, at which he was amazingly good!

 

Bio data

Born on MAY 4, 1928 in Germany, died on SEP 10, 1961 at Monza

Racing career:

From 1956 until his untimely demise in 1961

Raced for/with:

Ferrari, Porsche and Maserati

Key races

1961, the year he died, was Taffy‘s very best season with victories in Zandvoort and Aintree and podiums at Spa and the Ring, but he also distinguished himself at many events, including the Targa Florio

Personality

Taffy had to race – even against the will of his family who had other undertakings for him in mind – though none more noble…

Suixtil association

von Trips was often spotted sporting his original race pants and a Monza cashmere sweater.

Facts and trivia

Nicknamed the Count von Crash, he had an indomitable style and certainly a passion to race that were stunning.

Bio data

Born in Belgium on JAN 12, 1924, Olivier Gendebien died on OCT 2, 1998

Racing career:

From 1955 until 1962

Raced for/with:

Jaguar, Ferrari and Cooper

Key races

Olivier won string of amazing victories at the Targa Florio, the Tour de France Auto, the 12 hours of Sebring and the 24 hours of Le Mans – among others

Personality

Another true gentleman driver, he exuded style both on and off the track.

Suixtil association

Original race pants were Gendebien racing attire of choice while he also looked particularly elegant with that Sebring jacket…

Facts and trivia

Lost his shoes in a crash in the US in 1961, he has a turn named after him at the Sebring track.

Bio data

Born on DEC 3, 1924 in Argentina, passed away on JAN 26, 2012

Racing career:

From 1953 to 1955

Raced for / with:

Gordini and Maserati and any other cars he could lay his hands on

Key races

1954 was the year and Roberto clocked some great races at Bremgarten (where the Argentinians showed complete domination of the track) and Barcelona when he finished right behind El Chueco

Personality

Bitito loved to race, to the point where he got an OSCA lent to him by Fon de Portago so that he could take part in the Mexican Panamericana in 1954 – and also got Suixtil to underwrite his registration and costs!

Suixtil association

Often seen with his original race pants and Rio polo.

Facts and trivia

Wrote his biography – the title (borrowing from the famous line from Groucho)? “Why be normal?”, Why indeed?

Bio data

Born on JAN 30, 1917, Paul Frere died on FEB 28, 2008

Racing career:

Paul Frere raced from 1952 to 1960

Raced for:

Gordini and Ferrari

Key races

Without a doubt his victory (with Olivier Gendebien) at le Mans in 1960

Personality

Paul Fere was known as the nicest and friendliest of men

Suixtil association

Frere was often seen wearing his Original Race Pants

Facts and trivia

Was famous for his knowledge and advice on Porsche, a brand with which he did not race. Had a very long career as a motorsport journalist, commentator and writer, never really retiring from his beloved profession as a racer.

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