Hans Mezger has died

[Pedro '84 Coupe]

https://www.automobilemag.com/news/porsche-engineer-hans-mezger-obituary-1929-2020/

[tevake]

RIP. Hans, thanks for all you've done for us!

Aloha Richard

[GH85Carrera]

Sad news.

He came to Oklahoma City and talked to our local War Bonnet Tech session years ago. War Bonnet Region invented tech sessions and we had great factory support from Porsche AG.

Hanz was a nice guy. I was single back then and he did not bring his wife. I was on the committee that put on War Bonnet Tech, so I sat next to him at dinner. After the big dinner we wandered down to the bar.

We drank all the St. Paulie Girl beer in the place. That was the night I learned never try to keep up with a German when drinking beer. We bought each other rounds of beer until closing time. I had to stagger back to my room and had a killer headache the next morning. He was walking fine and looked fresh and rested in the morning.

Like a dumb ass, I never did get his autograph. It was long before cell phones, and selfies were really impossible with a Hassleblad. Somewhere I think I still have the pictures of him I took for our group.

RIP.

When Hanz came to talk to us, he brought a real TAG Turbo engine from the F1 cars. It was in a plexiglass box, so no parts walked off. The Factory did supply one valve cover to be given to the winner of the drawing. They gave away titanium connection rods from the engine in the car that won Le Mans that year. They gave away the rear view mirror from cars from Le Mans. I still have parts of the all new 993 rear suspension in my garage. I miss our Tech Sessions.

[Tobra]

That guy brought a lot of joy to the world, RIP

[unclebilly]

Glen - that’s an amazing story and connection.

I’m very envious.

RIP Hans.

[Deschodt]

Wish I looked as good as he did at 91, he had an amazing life !

[rusnak]

Aww man 😔. Thank you, Hans Mezger.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Glen - that’s an amazing story and connection.

I’m very envious.

RIP Hans.

We had Helmuth Bott, Tony Lapine, and many others come talk.

Heintz Stehle, the head of powertrain development. Herbert Ampferer the head of Engine Development came in 1992. Dr. Hans-Joachim Esch came in 1993. He was the manager of Engine Design and development.

Lots more factory speakers came. Ahh, the good ol days.

[unclebilly]

Glen - that is absolutely awesome.

Our local PCA chapter is more interested in cars and coffee type events and drives to Banff...

When we had a track, I ran the race program and when the track closed, 99% of the track guys in the club left the club. I have paid PCA dues but not to the local chapter since. That was 9 years ago. The revenues for the track program covered the costs of lots of the other ‘social’ events...

They have tried to get another autocross program going in the last few years with limited success.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Aww man 😔. Thank you, Hans Mezger.

Ditto. He was a genius.

[Baz]

[Deschodt]

Assuming he lived in Germany, I hope local Porsche owners do the biggest Mezger engine parade for his funeral... Would be fitting !

[Bill Douglas]

Thanks for all you have done for us.

[Baz]

I hope everyone takes their Porsche out for a spirited run sometime this week and gives thanks for what this man did for the brand.

[slow&rusty]

His legacy will live on, what an amazing life filled with incredible contributions. Porsche should name the next supercar the "911 Mezger GT "instead of GT2 or GT3 and do a limited run in his honor.

[Scott Douglas]

Few people have brought so many joy in their lives. RIP.