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| Signatures on this item | |
| *The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare. | |
| Name | Info |
| Jacques Swaters (deceased) *Signature Value : £20 | Born 30th October 1926, Jacques Swaters is a former racing driver and Manager of Ecurie Franchorchamps. As a driver, he debuted at the 24 Hours of Spa race, driving an MG. In 1951 he raced in two World Championship rounds in a car prepared by his own team. By 1952, he Charles de Tornaco began the team Ecurie Francorchamps, and drove the team Ferrari in a few events, winning one Formula 2 race. He later moved to sportscar racing in Jaguar C and D Types. After retiring from racing in 1957, he successfully managed his team, supporting several up and coming Belgian drivers. The team ceased operating in 1982. Sadly, Jacques Swaters passed away on 10th December 2010. |
 Jean Blaton (deceased) *Signature Value : £40 | 1963 Le Mans Ferrari Driver. Blaton competed in his first race in 1957 with a 166 MM near Charleroi, adopting the pseudonym 'Beurlys'. The following year, Blaton took his rookie start in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite deplorable weather and an incident that cost him 50 minutes, he finished sixth at the wheel of a Ferrari 250 TR shared with Alain de Changy. In 1959, he switched to a 250 GT (long body) and earned his first podium finish along with Léon Dernier (known as 'Eldé'). Sadly, in 1960 he was forced to retire after leaving the track at the Dunlop curve in the third hour. After an almost sabbatical year 1961, Blaton claimed the third step on the podium at the 1962 running of the race with a Ferrari GTO, again joining forces with Dernier. He finished in the top 5 systematically every year through 1967: fifth in 1964 (with Lucien Bianchi), third in 1965 and 1967 (with Willy Mairesse), with the exception of a retirement in 1966. His best result was second place in 1963. Having made the trip to Le Mans from Belgium by road with their racing car, Blaton, his teammate Gérald Langlois van Ophem, and their teammates Léon Dernier and Pierre Dumay (fourth) celebrated the fantastic result together with champagne in Paris, showing off their Ferrari GTOs, 'shiny' after 24 hours of competition and parked in the red light district of Pigalle! In 1967, the year of his last podium, He was also the only gentleman-driver authorised to participate with the new Ferrari P4 prototype, shared with his extremely fast fellow countryman, Mairesse. Thereafter, he took the start in the 24 Hours five more times, finishing sixth in 1975 and returning with Ferrari in 1978 and 1979. That last year, he made it to the chequered flag in 12th place along with Nick Faure, Bernard de Dryver and Steve O'Rourke. Beginning in the mid-1980s, Blaton became a prominent figure at vintage races until his 70s. He died on 17th December 2020. |
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