1956day.year
Johnny Claes
(1916 - 1956)
English-Belgian race car driver and trumpet player
English-Belgian race car driver and trumpet player
English-Belgian racing driver who also performed as a jazz trumpet player.
Johnny Claes was born in 1916 and pursued careers in motorsport and music.
He raced motorcycles and cars, winning several international competitions in the 1930s and 1940s.
Alongside racing, he was an accomplished jazz trumpeter, performing under his own name in London.
Claes was the first driver to enter a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix in 1950.
He balanced his dual passions for speed and music throughout his life, embodying a rare blend of athleticism and artistry.
His unique legacy bridges the worlds of racing and jazz.
Johnny Claes