JESS G. POURRET RIP | FerrariChat

JESS G. POURRET RIP

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by 375+, Nov 17, 2018.

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  1. 375+

    375+ F1 World Champ
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    Enthusiast, historian and author Jess Pourret passed today. He was a charming and remarkable man, author of the Ferrari 250 GT Competition Cars the book that set the mark and is still the standard reference work for these cars. A life well lived, RIP Jess.
     
  2. tifoso2728

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  3. Nembo1777

    Nembo1777 F1 World Champ
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    Very sad to hear, I met him many times when I was a teenager at Pozzi, Le Mans and various Ferrari related shops in Paris in the 80's he was always ready to share his knowledge and the book shown in the post above was my very first serious Ferrari book: buying and reading it was a major event for me back then. I looked at it the other day in fact when seeking data.
    He lived in Thailand but spent part of his summers here in Burgundy about 90 minutes north and had invited me but I could not make it.

    RIP Monsieur.
     
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  4. vitajojo38

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  5. ArtS

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  6. Christian.Fr

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  7. Jeff Kennedy

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    I last was with Jess at a Ferrari Owners Club of Thailand Christmas party some years back. Jess was at the time one of the early outside consultants to the Classiche program at the factory. A man of immense knowledge and very tight connections inside Maranello.

    Where did he pass? Thailand, France or other?
    I too add my RIP condolences.
     
  8. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
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    Sad news, but thanks for letting us know....
     
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  9. Pierre Coquet

    Pierre Coquet Rookie

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    Jess passed away Saturday (Sept< 17th) in Chiang-Maï Thaïland

    According to his instructions, he will be cremated locally after a ritual religious ceremony and his ashes taken back in France to be buried in Tharoiseau cementery, with Jess’mother.

    RIP Jess.
     
  10. modena1967

    modena1967 Formula Junior

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    Rip Monsieur Pourret. :(
     
  11. Christian.Fr

    Christian.Fr Two Time F1 World Champ

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    At the same time I just see that Fchat open quickly a thread in Ferrari who's who...

    Now you can check, the Ferrari protagonistas in life.
     
  12. Nembo1777

    Nembo1777 F1 World Champ
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    Ten years ago I had asked him to write the foreword for my 201o Breadvan book with Keith Bluemel.

    He sent me this very kind letter which having thought about it I don't see anything wrong in sharing and it shows who he was: a very kind enthusiast keen to encourage others to follow his path. He also gave me great encouragements in Maranello during the 2007 60th anniversary celebrations.

    In the end Mauro Forghieri accepted to write the foreword and did it extremely nicely revealing that Enzo had asked him to go take a close look at the car at Brands Hatch!

    To be very frank and blunt the reason I did not act upon Mr Pourret's invitation to visit him is that I was intimidated by this major Ferrari historian whose work I had read when I was a teen.

    Thank you for all the memories Sir!

    MS

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  13. DWR46

    DWR46 Formula 3
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    Does anybody know why Jess moved to Thailand many years ago?
     
  14. 4re308

    4re308 F1 Rookie

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    Wow very sad news indeed! Godspeed Jess!
     
  15. turbo-joe

    turbo-joe F1 Veteran

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    I think because of the always nice weather, even in chiang mai it will have sometimes only 18 °C
     
  16. Pierre Coquet

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    Ferrari was not the unique center of interest for my friend Jess.

    He was also the main specialist about the Ya-Ho civilization.
    He wrote the main book about this minority living in South China, Viet-Nam, Laos and Thailand) and in general very attracted by the Asiatic philosophy.


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  17. 375+

    375+ F1 World Champ
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    So typical of the man.
     
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  18. NARTspyder

    NARTspyder Rookie

    Nov 20, 2018
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    Let me add that Jess was a passionate ethnologist and he spent years studying the Yao, researching and travelling all around Asia, even learning their language. He also assembled the most important collection of Yao artefacts, around 2500 items, which he donated in 2008 to the city of Avallon, near his hometown in France. For those interested, his collection is now part of the permanent exhibition of the Avallon museum: http://www.museeavallonnais.com/index.php/collection-yao-mien-et-mun
    An achievement Jess was very proud of!
     
  19. modena1967

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  20. Ed Niles

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    He was certainly one of the giants in the world of vintage Ferraris. As noted above, he was a consultant to Classiche, and his book on the 250GT berlinettas was one of the most thoroughly researched of them all. I have many fond memories of picking berries for dinner at his country place, and of his many visits to our home and some of the antics we engaged in. He was the main reason that my brother-in-law made up a sign which reads, "Hotel Niles". He was a man of strong opinions; it was his way or the highway. Example: He asked me to proof/correct his manuscript, and when I tried to break up his over-long sentences he over-ruled me. Oh well.

    Yes, he was an authority on the culture of Thailand and near-by areas. Also on tea. And jazz. Altogether something of a renaissance man.
     
  21. LVP488

    LVP488 F1 Rookie

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  22. 375+

    375+ F1 World Champ
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    Yes a serious jazz enthusiast. Jess was a renaissance man by any measure--and terrific company.
     
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  23. NürScud

    NürScud F1 Veteran

    Nov 3, 2012
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    Simon Kidston posted this photo on his IG account, writting this:

    ''When did you last see an owner blasting his priceless Ferrari 250GTO over mountain roads just for the hell of it? This Frenchman set the example and did more to cement the model into legend, thanks to the pioneering books he authored, than anyone before or since. RIP Jess ‘Monsieur GTO’ Pourret, who died yesterday.''

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  24. Boudewijn

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    Photo taken of Jess with 3607GT at the Mont Blanc 1985.
     
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  25. GIOTTO

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