Benoit Musy

Benoît Nicolas Musy (December 13, 1917 – October 7, 1956) was a Swiss Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and race car driver.

Biography

Musy was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, the son of president Jean-Marie Musy. He received an agriculture engineering degree in Bern, and served in the air force during World War II, during which he in 1944 became famous for rescuing a large number (1200) of Jews from the concentration camp Theresienstadt with the aid of his father. [ [http://www.orbisenterprises.com/Holoc-1/Holoc-2/Holoc-3a/holoc-3a.html Holocaust Rescue] ] He also received one the first Swiss parachute jumper licenses in 1947.

Motor Sports Champion, part 1: motorcycle

Infobox Former Grand Prix motorcycle rider


Caption =
Name = Benoit Musy
Nationality = flagicon|Switzerland Swiss
Years = 1949 - 1951
Teams = Moto Guzzi
Races = 4
Wins = 0
Podiums = 0
Points = 8.5
First race = 1949 250cc Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix
First win =
Last win =
Last race = 1951 500cc Swiss Grand Prix

He acquired further fame as a motorcycle racer, winning six Swiss championships with Moto Guzzi motorcycles. He also competed in the 1949 Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix, part of the inaugural Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. He competed in three more Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix races, finishing as high as fourth place.

Motor Sports Champion, part 2: motorcar

Former F1 driver


Caption =
Name = Benoit Musy
Nationality = flagicon|Switzerland Swiss
Years = 1954 - 1955 - 1956
Teams = Musy and Maserati
Races = 15
Wins = 9|
Podiums = 11|
Points =
Last race = 1956 Grand Prix Monthlery, fatal accident
Later he moved to racing cars. He had various ones, all Maserati. Musy started in May 1954, with a 1953 Maserati A6 or A6GCS (#2040) [ [http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/chassisNum.aspx?carID=9817&iDNumID=666 Maserati A6GCS] ] , a Maserati factory race car, formerly used by Giletti, the official Maserati pilot. With this car he has won several races, including some record laps, on different tracks. He sold the car in 1955 to Pietro Pagliarini.

At that time, Benoît Musy was already part of the semi-official driver of Maserati. He took part of several races with very little succes on Maserati 150, Maserati 200S and Maserati 200Si. He even participated at a race in Dakar (Sénégal) with a Maserati 250. He did not finish [ [http://histomobile.com/dvd_histomobile/histomo/55/4313.asp Maserati 250] ] .

After a test drive in the Swedish Grand Prix, he bought a Maserati 300S (#3057) in 1955 with which he earned several podium results. It was a red car with a large white strip going from front to rear.

Musy died in a racing event at Autodrome de Montlhéry, France, on October 7, 1956, crashing a factory Maserati 200S (#2047) over an embankment after a steering column breakdown. Ejected from the car , he died immediately. In total, he attended eleven mid-1950s European sports car championships, of which he won five.

#3057 Maserati 300S

The #3057 Maserati 300S was later sold to the Angolan Racing Team
* in Nov. 1975: the Angolan Revolution in Nov. 1975, the car was left behind.
* it was transformed into street car with a US V8 cylinder engine and #3057 was used as a convertible sports car.
* in Nov. 1989 Stein Johnsen, from Norway, discovered it and imported it to Norway
* in March 1991 The car arrived in Oslo per ship
* in Feb 1992 The car was sold to Peter J. Scott, Ashe Park, Hampshire, UK "MSJ 963"
* from 1992 to 1994 The car isgoing through a major restoration project at Church Green, Dorset. A new Maserati engine from Cyril Embry, body and gearbox, from Eyears. Engine from this car is in s/n 3069
* in Feb. 1995 Offered by Paradise Garage, Scout Lane, Clapham, London T&CC
* in Aug. 1996 Coys Historic Festival Silverstone Martin Stretton #31
* in May 19973rd GP Historique Monaco Martin Stretton #10
* in Jul. 1997 Coys Historic Festival Silverstone Martin Stretton #47
* in Aug. 1997 2nd OGP Nuerburgring Martin Stretton #235
* in Jul. 1998 Coys Historic Festival Silverstone Martin Stretton #10
* in Oct. 1998 Sold to Tom Walduck, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK
* in 1999 Mille Miglia Walduck/McSwan #317
* in March 2000 Sold to Dr. Michael Hinderer, Gruenwald, D
* in June 20000 Shell Historic Challenge, Le Mans Michael Hinderer #155
* in Aug. 2000 OGP Nuerburgring 2000 Michael Hinderer #360
* in Apr. 2001 Shell Historic Challenge, Spa Michael Hinderer #58
* in June 2001 Shell Historic Challenge, Brands Hatch Martin Stretton #58
* in Aug. 2001 Silverstone Historic Festival Martin Stretton #33
* in Aug. 2001 OGP Nuerburgring Michael Hinderer #426
* in Oct. 2001 Tutte le Ferrari a Monza Michael Hinderer #58

Auto racing results

References

External links

* [http://www.musy.net/Maserati-1/maserati-1.html Benoit Musy]
* [http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri190.htm Enrico Maserati pages: Maserati 200]
* [http://www.pilotosmuertos.es/comunicados/mayo2007/musy.html History and pictures about B. Musy] Es icon
* [http://www.lagruyere.ch/archives/2001/01.10.16/article1.htm Two different people from the same place: Jo Siffert and B. Musy] Fr icon