Jacques Drion

Record type: Motorsport Biographies

Biography: Mount: Sidecar – Norton

Age 36, Jacques Drion has made motor cycling his profession. Although he lives in Breinig-Aachen, Germany he is of French nationality, and was French Sidecar Champion in 1952, in addition to finishing third in the World Championship series.

He has been racing since 1950, always on Nortons, and he gives much credit to Eric Oliver, who taught him the game. “Eric,” says Jacques, “was the best teacher I could have wished for, and he remains a very good friend.”

In 1952 Jacques was the winner at Hockenheim, Aix-les-Bains, and Tarare; second in the French and Spanish Grands Prix, third in the German and Swiss Grands Prix, and fourth at Monza. In addition, he ran second to Eric Oliver at ten other meetings.

In 1953 his victories included Montlhery, Lyons, Algiers (where he was also winner of the 500 c.c. solo race) and Staouli. He was second at Casablanca and Moulins and third at Floreffe, Vesoul and in the Ulster and Italian Grands Prix.

He started of the 1954 season well by winning races at Montlhery, Lyons, Valencia, Mazan, Bourg en Bresse and Rochefort-sur-Mer. Then he came over to the Isle of Man to compete in the first Sidecar T.T. over the Clypse Circuit, with 24-years-old Inge Stoll, a German girl, as his most efficient and attractive “passenger.” He drew into sixth place on the eighth lap, a position which he held to the end. He was, indeed, the second Norton rider to finish, for Eric Oliver won the race and B.M.W.’s were second, third and fourth.

Inge Stoll is again his passenger for this year’s Sidecar race.
(TT Special, 5 June 1957, p.11.)

Mount: Sidecar—Norton.

Age 33, Jacques Drion has made motor cycling his profession. Although he lives in Breinig-Aachen, Germany, he is of French nationality, and was French Sidecar Champion in 1952, in addition to finishing third in the World Sidecar Championship series.

He has been racing since 1950, always on Nortons, and he gives much credit to Eric Oliver, who taught him the game. “Eric,” says Jacques, “was the best teacher I could have wished for, and he remains a very good friend.”

In 1952 Jacques was the winner at Hockenheim, Aix-les-Bains, and Tarare; second in the French and Spanish Grands Prix, third in the German and Swiss Grands Prix, and fourth at Monza. In addition, he ran second to Eric Oliver at ten other meetings.

Last year his victories included Montlhery, Lyons, Algiers (where he was also winner of the 500 c.c. solo race), and Staouli. He was second at Casablanca and Moulins and third at Floreffe, Vesoul, and in the Ulster and Italian Grands Prix.

This season finds him in winning form, and recent victories include Montlhery, Lyons, Valencia, Mazan, Bourg en Bresse, Grenoble, and Rochefort-sur-Mer.

Since 1952 his passenger has been 24-years-old Inge Stoll, a German girl who has contributed greatly to his success.
(TT Special, 16 June 1954, p.10.)

Nationality: French

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