{{Short description|French engineer (1930–2020)}} {{multiple issues| {{Like resume|date=August 2020}} {{sources needed|date=May 2026}} }} '''Louis Meznarie''' (14 January 1930 – 6 August 2020) was a French engine expert and a team owner entrant to [[24 Hours of Le Mans]].

[[Image:MeluaLucLeMans1975-1.jpg|230px|thumb|The Louis Meznarie racing team working on Porsche flat-6 motor at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1975; [[Luc Melua]] is in the background, his colleague unidentified.]]

==Early life==

Meznarie was born in [[Saintry-sur-Seine]] ([[Essonne]]), France, to migrant parents from [[Yugoslavia]]. 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 Motorcycles|Sachs]] motorcycle factory, MR, working with [[Two-stroke engine|two-stroke engines]]. From 1948 to 1949 whilst serving in the [[French Army]] he remained involved with motorcycles.

In the 1950s, Meznarie began regional [[motocross]] races on a [[NSU Motorenwerke|NSU]] Max 250 cm3 OSL.

From 1959 to 1971, Meznarie 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]]. From 1971 to 1983, he was the official engine preparation expert for [[Porsche]], with many victories in [[24 Hours of Le Mans]], [[French Rally Championship]] and [[European Rally Championship]].

==Career== "Prepare or sale a car, is not interesting to me if I don’t know who will drive it", Louis Meznarie.<ref>[http://livre.fnac.com/mobile/Product/ZoomArticle/1/2196167 (French) Book of Gérard Clarac : "''NSU et Porsche 911 de compétition préparées par Louis Meznarie''", 2008, ETAI].</ref>

===NSU official dealer===

From 1960 to 1963, Meznarie prepared several official [[NSU Prinz|Prinz 3]] (inline two-cylinders) for the [[Tour de France Automobile|Tour de France]], with French driver [[José Behra]].

In 1963, Meznarie prepared one [[NSU Prinz|Prinz 4]] for Behra who won the [[Tour de Corse]] and [[Monte Carlo Rally]] in Tourism category.

From 1964 to 1971, Meznarie prepared several official cars (1000, 1200 or 1300 cm3, four-cylinders, 115&nbsp;hp) for French drivers such as Marie-Claude Beaumont (second of women [[French Rally Championship]], 1966), [[Guy Chasseuil]] (second of [[French Rally Championship]], 1966), [[Bernard Darniche]] (1st of Rallye du Forez and [[Rallye du Var]] in 1969) and [[Gérard Larrousse]] (fourth of [[French Rally Championship]], 1966).<ref>[http://passionnsujcb.canalblog.com/archives/2007/12/28/7367921.html (French, Dutch, German, English) Auto Passion : "''Interview of Louis Meznarie, NSU, 1989''"].</ref> 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.<ref>[http://panhard-racing-team.fr/?page_id=4402 (French) La MEP X7 NSU].</ref>

===Porsche official engine preparation expert=== {{confusing-section|reason=this does not explain what the subject did or how the other details are relevant - try using complete sentences instead of a list|date=August 2020}} In 1971 911 2.4-litre, 260&nbsp;hp and 2.6-litre, 284&nbsp;hp for [[Gérard Larrousse]] and [[Jürgen Barth]], 9 victories ([[Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry]], [[Rouen-Les-Essarts]], [[Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours|Magny Cours]] and others).

In 1972 911 2.4-litres for [[Jürgen Barth]], Sylvain Garant and Mike Kyser at the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]]. They achieved 13th scratch ranking, 1st in category, with only one 911 finishing,

In 1973 a 911 RSR 3-litre with 310&nbsp;hp (950&nbsp;kg) for [[Guy Frequelin]] ([[Tour de France Automobile|Tour de France]] and several hill climbs).

In 1974 911 Carrera RSR 3-litres, at 330&nbsp;hp for Hubert Striebig and Hughes Kirschhoffer ([[24 Hours of Le Mans]])<ref>[http://www.les24heures.fr/index.php/1974/207-1974-voitures/542-1974-60-porsche-carrera-rsr (French) Thierry Chargé : "''Les 24 heures du Mans 1974 de la Porsche Carrera RSR d'Hubert Striebig préparée par Louis Meznarie''", 2013].</ref> and a 911 RS 3-litre for [[Thierry Sabine]] ([[French Championship]], 1st in category 3).

In 1975 and 1976 911 Carrera RSR 3-litres.

In 1976 he prepared 934 turbos at 500&nbsp;hp for Hubert Striebig and Charlotte Vernet ([[Circuit d'Albi|Albi]], [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]] and [[24 Hours of Le Mans]]).

In 1977 935 turbo for [[Thierry Sabine]].

From 1979 to 1982 911 SC 3-litre (315 to 330&nbsp;hp) for [[Bernard Béguin]], [[French Rally Championship]] 1st in 1979, [[European Rally Championship]] 2nd in 1980, scoring two victories in [[European Rally Championship]] and one in [[Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally]] in 1981, [[French Rally Championship]] 2nd in 1982.

In 1982 and 1983 911 SC 3-litre, 315&nbsp;hp for Michel Teilhol ([[French Rally Championship]] 1st in Division 2).

==References== <references/>

==Sources== * [[1972 24 Hours of Le Mans]] : 13th position for Team Louis Meznarie * [[Tour de Corse]] 1973 : [[Audi]] 80 for [[Guy Fréquelin]] prepared by Louis Meznarie * [[1974 24 Hours of Le Mans]] : 44th position for Team Louis Meznarie * [[1975 24 Hours of Le Mans]] : 28th position for Team Louis Meznarie * [[1976 24 Hours of Le Mans]] : 11th position for Team Louis Meznarie * [https://web.archive.org/web/20141224024654/http://www.csa911.com/images/accueil/louis1.jpg (French) February 2006 Newspaper (1/2): "''Louis Meznarie, not so tall, but strong ...''"] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20141224025754/http://www.csa911.com/images/accueil/louis3.jpg (French) February 2006 Newspaper (2/2): "''Louis Meznarie, not so tall, but strong...''"].

==External links== *[http://stationnsu.e-monsite.com/pages/sorciers-nsu/p-tit-louis-louis-meznarie-sorcier-francais-nsu.html P'tit Louis - Louis Meznarie ... Sorcier français NSU ! ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727215333/http://stationnsu.e-monsite.com/pages/sorciers-nsu/p-tit-louis-louis-meznarie-sorcier-francais-nsu.html |date=2019-07-27 }} (Station NSU) *[http://porscheclubrsdefrance.com/reportages/les-rsr-dusine-en-course-en-1973/4/ Les RSR d'usine en course en 1973] (Porsche Club de France)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meznarie, Louis}} [[Category:1930 births]] [[Category:2020 deaths]] [[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans teams]] [[Category:French auto racing teams]] [[Category:Yugoslav emigrants to France]]