Louis Meznarie (14 January 1930 – 6 August 2020) was a French engine expert and a team owner entrant to

24 Hours of Le Mans The 24 Hours of Le Mans (french: link=no, 24 Heures du Mans) is an endurance-focused sports car race held annually near the town of Le Mans, France. It is the world's oldest active endurance racing event. Unlike fixed-distance races whose ...

Early life

He was born in

Saintry-sur-Seine Saintry-sur-Seine (, literally ''Saintry on Seine'') is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France. Population Inhabitants of Saintry-sur-Seine are known as ''Saintryens'' in French. See also *Communes of the Es ...

(

Essonne Essonne () is a department of France in the southern Île-de-France region. It is named after the river Essonne. In 2019, it had a population of 1,301,659 across 194 communes.Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...

. As a child, he was fond of mechanical games, tinkering with bicycle parts to make them faster. At thirteen, he joined a workshop and got NSU Quickly, a bicycle with an auxiliary engine. From 1945 to 1948 he worked for

Sachs Sachs is a German surname, meaning "man from Saxony". Sachs is a common surname among Ashkenazi Jews from Saxony, in the United States sometimes adopted in the variant Zaks, supposedly in reference to the Hebrew phrase ''Zera Kodesh Shemo'' (ZaKS), ...

motorcycle factory, MR, working with

two-stroke engines A two-stroke (or two-stroke cycle) engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes (up and down movements) of the piston during one power cycle, this power cycle being completed in one revolution of ...

. From 1948 to 1949, he was a soldier in the French army, while remaining involved with motorcycles. In the 1950s, he began regional

motocross Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom. History Motocross first evolved in Britain from motorcycle trials competiti ...

races on a NSU Max 250 cm3 OSL. From 1959 to 1971 he was an official dealer of NSU for motorcycles and motorcars and engine preparation expert for French races. In 1968, he opened a large workshop in Le Plessis-Chenet ( Le Coudray-Montceaux town) with the support of

Shell Oil Company Shell USA, Inc. (formerly Shell Oil Company, Inc.) is the United States-based wholly owned subsidiary of Shell plc, a UK-based transnational corporation " oil major" which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 18,0 ...

. From 1971 to 1983, he was the official engine preparation expert for Porsche, with many victories in

French Rally Championship The FFSA French Rally Championship or Championnat de France des Rallyes is France's leading domestic motor rally competition. It's a championship that has been won three times by Didier Auriol, Guy Fréquelin, Patrick Bernadini and Philippe Bug ...

and

European Rally Championship The European Rally Championship (officially FIA European Rally Championship) is an automobile rally competition held annually on the European continent and organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The championship has b ...

Career

"Prepare or sale a car, is not interesting to me if I don’t know who will drive it", Louis Meznarie.

NSU official dealer

From 1960 to 1963 he prepared several official Prinz 3 (inline two-cylinders) for the

Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists ...

, with French driver

José Behra José Behra (11 September 1924 – 16 November 1997) was a French racing driver and rally driver. Racing career José Behra was the younger brother of Jean Behra. Similarly to Jean, he began his career racing motorcycles; Jean prepared a Terro ...

. In 1963 he prepared one Prinz 4 for Behra who won the

Tour de Corse The Tour de Corse is a rally first held in 1956 on the island of Corsica. It was the French round of the World Rally Championship from the inaugural 1973 season until 2008, was part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge from 2011 to 2012, and ...

and Monte Carlo Rally in Tourism category, From 1964 to 1971, he prepared several official cars (1000, 1200 or 1300 cm3, four-cylinders, 115 hp) for French drivers such as Marie-Claude Beaumont (2nd of women

, 1966),

Guy Chasseuil Guy Chasseuil (born 26 January 1942 in Paris) is a French former racing driver. During his racing career he specialized in rallying and endurance racing. Career Guy Chasseuil's first major race was the 1966 24 Hours of Spa, driving an NSU ...

(2nd of

, 1966),

Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche (born 28 March 1942 in Cenon, a commune in the Gironde department) is a French former rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 1976 and 1977 and the French Rally Championship in 1976 and 1978, each time behind the ...

(1st of Rallye du Forez and

Rallye du Var The Rallye du Var is a motor rally held in the month of November in the French commune of Sainte-Maxime in Var. It is often held as the final round of the French Rally Championship. It began in 1950. Famous participants include WRC champion, ...

in 1969) and

Gérard Larrousse Gérard Gilles Marie Armand Larrousse (born 23 May 1940) is a former sports car racing, rallying and Formula One driver from France. His greatest success as a driver was winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1973 and 1974, driving a Matra-Simca MS670. ...

(4th of

, 1966). After an agreement between NSU and the French manufacturer Citroën, he prepared in 1968 a 4-cylinder engine NSU for formula 3 Citroen MEP X7 : 2 cars compete in hill races.

Porsche official engine preparation expert

In 1971 911 2.4-litre, 260 hp and 2.6-litre, 284 hp for

and Jürgen Barth, 9 victories (

Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry Autodrome de Montlhéry (established 4 October 1924) is a motor racing circuit, officially called L’autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, owned by Utac, located south-west of the small town of Montlhéry about south of Paris. History Industria ...

Rouen-Les-Essarts Rouen-Les-Essarts was a motor racing circuit in Orival, near Rouen, France. From its opening in 1950, Rouen-Les-Essarts was recognized as one of Europe's finest circuits, with modern pits, a wide track, and spectator grandstands. The street ci ...

, Magny Cours and others). In 1972 911 2.4-litres for Jürgen Barth, Sylvain Garant and Mike Kyser at the

. They achieved 13th scratch ranking, 1st in category, with only one 911 finishing, In 1973 a 911 RSR 3-litre with 310 hp (950 kg) for

Guy Frequelin Guy or GUY may refer to: Personal names * Guy (given name) * Guy (surname) * That Guy (...), the New Zealand street performer Leigh Hart Places * Guy, Alberta, a Canadian hamlet * Guy, Arkansas, US, a city * Guy, Indiana, US, an unincorp ...

(

and several hill climbs). In 1974 911 Carrera RSR 3-litres, at 330 hp for Hubert Striebig and Hughes Kirschhoffer (

)(French) Thierry Chargé : "''Les 24 heures du Mans 1974 de la Porsche Carrera RSR d'Hubert Striebig préparée par Louis Meznarie''", 2013
and a 911 RS 3-litre for Thierry Sabine (

French Championship The French rugby league championship (french: Le Championnat de France de Rugby à XIII) has been the major rugby league tournament for semi-professional and professional clubs in France since the sport was introduced to the country in the 1930s. ...

, 1st in category 3). In 1975 and 1976 911 Carrera RSR 3-litres. In 1976 he prepared 934 turbos at 500 hp for Hubert Striebig and Charlotte Vernet (

Albi Albi (; oc, Albi ) is a commune in southern France. It is the prefecture of the Tarn department, on the river Tarn, 85 km northeast of Toulouse. Its inhabitants are called ''Albigensians'' (french: Albigeois, Albigeoise(s), oc, albig ...

, Silverstone and

). In 1977 935 turbo for Thierry Sabine. From 1979 to 1982 911 SC 3-litre (315 to 330 hp) for

Bernard Béguin Bernard Béguin (born 24 September 1947 in Grenoble) is a former French rally driver, who won the Tour de Corse in 1987, a round of the World Rally Championship. Career A regular competitor on the Tour de Corse, Béguin scored his first World Ra ...

1st in 1979,

2nd in 1980, scoring two victories in

and one in Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally in 1981,

2nd in 1982. In 1982 and 1983 911 SC 3-litre, 315 hp for Michel Teilhol (

1st in Division 2).

References

Sources

1972 24 Hours of Le Mans The 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans was a motor race staged at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France on 10 and 11 June 1972. It was the 40th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the ninth race of the 1972 World Championship for Makes. 1972 marked ...

: 13th position for Team Louis Meznarie *

1973 :

Audi Audi AG () is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. As a subsidiary of its parent company, the Volkswagen Group, Audi produces vehicles in nine production facilities worldwide. Th ...

80 for

Guy Fréquelin Guy Fréquelin (born 2 April 1945 at Langres) is a French former rally and sports car driver. Biography Perhaps Fréquelin's finest hour as a driver came when he finished runner-up only to Ari Vatanen, alongside then-navigator Jean Todt, at the ...

prepared by Louis Meznarie *

1974 24 Hours of Le Mans The 1974 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 42nd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 15 and 16 June 1974. It was the fifth round of the 1974 World Championship for Makes. After Alfa Romeo had won the first race of the season at Monza, it had been ...

: 44th position for Team Louis Meznarie *

1975 24 Hours of Le Mans The 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 43rd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 14 and 15 June 1975. Colloquially called the “Le Mans Economy Run”,Spurring 2011, p.171Clausager 1982, p.167-9Clarke 1997, p.10: Motorsport July 1975 stringen ...

: 28th position for Team Louis Meznarie *

1976 24 Hours of Le Mans The 1976 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 44th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 12 and 13 June 1976. This year the FIA introduced its new Group 5 and Group 6 regulations and the race was now open to nine distinct classes, although it was stil ...

: 11th position for Team Louis Meznarie
(French) February 2006 Newspaper (1/2): "''Louis Meznarie, not so tall, but strong ...''"

(French) February 2006 Newspaper (2/2): "''Louis Meznarie, not so tall, but strong...''"

External links

(Station NSU)
Les RSR d'usine en course en 1973
(Porsche Club de France) {{DEFAULTSORT:Meznarie, Louis 1930 births 2020 deaths 24 Hours of Le Mans teams Auto racing teams in France Yugoslav emigrants to France