Joakim Bonnier

Fluent in six languages, tall, with regular features set off by an immaculately clipped goatee beard and moustache, Jo Bonnier crammed a lot into his 42 years. He was an accomplished Formula One and sports car racer, president of the Grand Prix Drivers Association and proprietor of his own art gallery. But he never quite hit the big time, although winning the Targa Florio twice and a Grand Prix was not far off the mark.

Born into a wealthy family with its own publishing business called Bonnier Aktiebolag in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 31, 1930, Jo was educated in the Swedish capital, Paris and Oxford, but rejected the business life. He yearned to break loose and race. So he started with an old Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he was 17, then went rallying and ice racing. Before settling for a motor racing career, he became an officer in the Swedish navy and saw service on destroyers.