Louis Meznarie facts for kids
Louis Meznarie (born January 14, 1930 – died August 6, 2020) was a famous French expert in car engines. He also owned a racing team that competed in the exciting 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
Contents
Early Life and Passion for Mechanics
Louis Meznarie was born in Saintry-sur-Seine, France. His parents had moved there from Yugoslavia. From a young age, Louis loved anything mechanical. He enjoyed taking apart bicycle parts to make them go faster.
When he was just thirteen, Louis started working in a workshop. He even got an NSU Quickly, which was a bicycle with a small engine. From 1945 to 1948, he worked at the Sachs motorcycle factory. There, he learned a lot about two-stroke engines. Even when he was a soldier in the French army from 1948 to 1949, he stayed involved with motorcycles.
In the 1950s, Louis began racing motocross. He raced regionally on an NSU Max 250 cm3 OSL motorcycle.
From 1959 to 1971, Louis was an official dealer for NSU motorcycles and cars. He was also known as an expert in preparing engines for French races. In 1968, he opened a big workshop in Le Plessis-Chenet. This workshop was supported by Shell Oil Company. From 1971 to 1983, he became the official engine expert for Porsche. During this time, his engines helped win many races. These included the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the French Rally Championship, and the European Rally Championship.
Louis Meznarie's Racing Career
Louis Meznarie once said, "Preparing or selling a car isn't interesting to me if I don't know who will drive it." This shows how much he cared about the drivers and the sport.
Working with NSU Cars
From 1960 to 1963, Louis prepared several official Prinz 3 cars. These cars had two-cylinder engines. They were used in the Tour de France Automobile race by French driver José Behra.
In 1963, Louis prepared an Prinz 4 for José Behra. With this car, Behra won the Tourism category in the Tour de Corse and Monte Carlo Rally.
From 1964 to 1971, Louis prepared many official NSU cars. These included the 1000, 1200, and 1300 cm3 models. They had four-cylinder engines and 115 horsepower. Famous French drivers used these cars. These drivers included Marie-Claude Beaumont, Guy Chasseuil, Bernard Darniche, and Gérard Larrousse. For example, Bernard Darniche won the Rallye du Forez and Rallye du Var in 1969.
In 1968, NSU and the French car maker Citroën made an agreement. Louis then prepared a 4-cylinder NSU engine for the Formula 3 Citroen MEP X7 car. Two of these cars competed in hill races.
Becoming a Porsche Engine Expert
In 1971, Louis Meznarie prepared Porsche 911 engines. These were 2.4-litre (260 horsepower) and 2.6-litre (284 horsepower) engines. Drivers like Gérard Larrousse and Jürgen Barth used them. They won nine races, including at Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry and Rouen-Les-Essarts.
In 1972, Louis prepared 2.4-litre Porsche 911s for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Drivers Jürgen Barth, Sylvain Garant, and Mike Kyser raced them. Their car finished 13th overall and first in its category. It was the only 911 to finish that year.
In 1973, he prepared a Porsche 911 RSR 3-litre engine. This engine had 310 horsepower and the car weighed 950 kg. Guy Frequelin used it in the Tour de France Automobile and several hill climbs.
In 1974, Louis worked on 911 Carrera RSR 3-litre engines. These engines had 330 horsepower. Hubert Striebig and Hughes Kirschhoffer used one at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He also prepared a 911 RS 3-litre for Thierry Sabine. Sabine won first place in Category 3 of the French Championship.
Louis continued to prepare 911 Carrera RSR 3-litre engines in 1975 and 1976.
In 1976, he prepared Porsche 934 turbos with 500 horsepower. Hubert Striebig and Charlotte Vernet raced these cars at places like Circuit d'Albi, Silverstone Circuit, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In 1977, Louis prepared a Porsche 935 turbo for Thierry Sabine.
From 1979 to 1982, Louis prepared Porsche 911 SC 3-litre engines. These engines had between 315 and 330 horsepower. Bernard Béguin used them and won the French Rally Championship in 1979. He also finished second in the European Rally Championship in 1980. Béguin won two races in the European Rally Championship and one in the Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally in 1981. He finished second in the French Rally Championship in 1982.
In 1982 and 1983, Louis prepared 911 SC 3-litre engines with 315 horsepower for Michel Teilhol. Teilhol won first place in Division 2 of the French Rally Championship.
See also
In Spanish: Louis Meznarie para niños
