Bathurst 1000 winner John French has passed away at the age of 94.
French was a leading driver during the 1960s and 1970s before achieving Bathurst success with Dick Johnson in the ultimate comeback following the rock incident the previous year.
Born in Millaa Millaa in 1930, French started his career hot-rodding the first Holdens and won the Australian GT in a Centaur Waggott at Lakeside.
A hired gun for factory efforts by BMC, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Ford and Alfa Romeo, French came second to Peter Brock in the famous 1972 Bathurst 500.
French and Johnson enjoyed an enduring friendship typified by the events of Bathurst 1969. French was involved in the massive pile-up on top of the mountain where he rolled his Alfa Romeo and it was Johnson, who pulled him out of the wreckage.
Combining for multiple efforts at the Mountain, French was the oldest man to win Bathurst in 1981 alongside Johnson.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share with you that a core pillar of the foundation of our team, a legend of the sport and true friend passed away last night,” said Johnson.
“John French was a Ford Factory Driver and leant credibility and mountains of experience to Jillie (or Julie as John called her) and me, Dyno and Roy as we put it all on the line to go racing under our own banner.
“John, who we all affectionately called JC, was the oldest bloke to ever win the Bathurst 1000, when he shared the car with me in 1981. Only to be later pipped to second oldest in 2002 by only a few weeks, something he was never able to forgive Jim Richards for!
“As far as I’m concerned, he was a very underrated driver and he always shared the mantle with the likes of Moffat, Geoghegan, Gibson, Bond and Brock. I looked up to him and admired him. Safe to say that I was humbled and honoured when he agreed to co-drive with me!
“Over my career, I was lucky to share the car with some incredible drivers and racers, but to me JC was always the best team mate I ever had. And I’ve had some very special ones!
Queenslander, Car Dealer, The Man from Prudential, Bathurst 1000 Winner, Australian GT Champion, Ford Factory Driver, Foundation Member of Dick Johnson Racing, Legend and Friend.
“Please share your thoughts and well wishes to John’s son Geoff and his entire family and friends in memory of a truly great man.”
The 1981 victory was his sole success in 22 starts, the last in 1987 when he qualified a factory Mitsubishi Starion partnering Gary Scott and Akihiko Nakaya, but failed to drive in the race.
This was his final top-line appearance as French retired to focus on Alfa Romeo dealership situated in Brisbane.
The Repco Garage extends its condolences to his family and friends.