Bernard Cahier

The Leica-wielding friend of the grid who helped redefine motorsport photography

- DELWYN MALLETT

PHOTO-JOURNALIST Bernard Cahier was once described as the 'Cartier-Bresson of motor racing. High praise, but perhaps a trifle misleading. To capture his famous 'decisive moments, Cartier-Bresson preferred to remain invisible as he snapped away, whereas Cahier's familiarity with the paddock personalities meant that he was always one of the gang, allowing him to get up-close and intimate. Even Enzo Ferrari usually managed to look happy as he gazed into Cahier's lens.

Born into a comfortably-off family in Marseille on 20 June 1927, Cahier was the youngest of three siblings. His father, Paul, was a professional soldier who eventually rose to the rank of general, and a motor racing enthusiast. He took five-year-old Bernard to the Marseille Grand Prix in 1932. It was held on the paved-oval Miramas circuit, where the youngster would have witnessed a thrilling duel between the Alfa Romeos of Nuvolari and Raymond Sommer and the Bugattis of Achille Varzi and Guy Moll. The noise, excitement and tang of Castrol-R in the air impressed the tot, who left determined to be a racing driver.