My Two Lives. Race Driver To Restaurateur

René Dreyfus: no English, no friends, no money.. • During the 1920s and ’30s René Dreyfus raced Maseratis, Ferraris, Bugattis, and more; he was one of the best. He won the Prix du Million. He beat the Germans at Pau-and became a hero to the Jewish schoolboys.

In 1940 René Dreyfus, French auto racing champion, came to the United States to compete at Indianapolis. Then Paris fell to the Germans—he was stranded here. René made friends, borrowed money to buy a restaurant (no cars to race, but surely French cuisine?), and began to learn English. Meanwhile, unknown to René, his brother Maurice was active in the French Resistance, just one step ahead of the SS.

When the US entered the war, René joined the army. He was too old, his English poor, and France was the last place in the world a Frenchman with a Jewish surname would go—if he had any sense. Well, champion race car drivers aren’t especially known for prudence and good sense. They are tenacious, determined, strong-willed and daring. René persevered: through KP, and English classes, and crossing the Atlantic to enter Italy with the 5th Army. He received a battlefield promotion to Master Sergeant for exemplary performance while under fire.

A champion and celebrity of the exotic world of pre-war European auto racing, a war hero, and gourmet restaurateur-René Dreyfus lived in the fast lane. René retired. He closed Le Chanteclair. No longer obligated to a six-day, 72-hour week, he accepted an invitation to be guest of honor at the 50th Anniversary of his winning the 1930 Grand Prix of Monaco. He traveled through France visiting old friends and places, and wrote his memoirs.

Hardback in excellent condition, with clean unmarked and unclipped dust jacket, in clear protective cover.