Munich. In the pantheon of notable BMW engineers, racing drivers and dealers, Georg (“Schorsch”) Meier occupies a very special niche. On 9 November 2010, this exceptional ambassador of the BMW brand would have turned 100.
“Schorsch”, as he was known in Bavarian, made motor sport history in his time. Born in Mühldorf, he embarked on off-road racing on a BMW R 4 and, among other triumphs, became German Military Champion. In 1937 he was signed on by BMW as a works rider, and crowned his very first season of road racing with the 1938 European Championship. What was arguably his most significant victory followed in 1939, when he became the first non-British rider on a foreign motorcycle to win the Senior TT on the Isle of Man. In doing so, he placed not only himself but the BMW brand firmly at the pinnacle of road racing.
After the war, he took another five German Championships on his pre-war supercharged BMW motorcycle, set up world endurance records and raked in medals in off-road events. Throughout, he remained loyal to the BMW brand – not just on the race track but in his business life as well. In spring of 1948 Meier opened up a motorcycle shop in Munich’s Dachauerstrasse and a year later became a BMW motorcycle dealer, subsequently selling BMW cars as well. At this time he was already one of Germany’s biggest and most successful BMW franchised dealers.
Georg Meier, who died on 19 February 1999, was one of the true sporting greats of his day.
He was a popular public figure not only for his sporting successes but also thanks to his exemplary comportment beyond the race track. As such he not only helped to define the sporting image of the BMW brand but also served as an outstanding ambassador of the brand at all times.
Georg (“Schorsch“) Meier’s racing successes (all on BMW 500 cc models)
1936 and 1937: German Military Champion.
1937: Race win in the Six Days with the German team. Fastest rider in all special trials in the six-day event. Switches to road racing, finishing 4th in his first road event at Hockenheim.
Wins the Eilenriede Race at the 1938 season opener and in the same year becomes the first European Champion after the introduction of new regulations which award the title based on points earned over several races. He also wins the 1938 German Championship.
Season 1938:
1st place/German Grand Prix
1st place/Dutch TT
1st place/Belgian Grand Prix
1st place/Italian Grand Prix
1st place/Hockenheim Race.
1st place/Norisring Race
Season 1939:
Winner of the Senior TT on the Isle of Man, the first foreign rider on a foreign motorcycle to do so.
1st place/Dutch TT
1st place/ Belgian Grand Prix After the Second World War, Meier wins the German Championship in 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1953.
Season 1947:
1st place/Eifel Race
1st place/Autobahn Race Braunschweig
1st place/Rund um Schotten
1st place/Bavariaring Munich
1st place/Hamburg Stadtpark Race
Season 1948:
1st place/Kölner Kurs
1st place/Reutlingen Circuit Race
1st place/Rund um Schotten
1st place/Dieburg Triangle Race
1st place/Aachen Forest Race
1st place/Prinzenpark Race Braunschweig
1st place/Circuit Race in Rosenheim
1st place/Eggberg Race near Säckingen
1st place/Bavariaring Munich
1st place/Hockenheim Race
1st place/Karlsruhe Autobahn Triangle Race
1st place/Hamburg Stadtpark Race
1st place/Norisring Race
1st place/Grenzlandring Race
Season 1949:
1st place/Eifel Race
1st place/Rund um Schotten
1st place/Stadtring Race Tübingen
1st place/Dieburg Triangle Race
1st place/ Aachen Forest Race
1st place/Bergrekord (Hill-Climb Race) Freiburg
1st place/Solitüde Race
1st place/Hockenheim Race
1st place/Karlsruhe Autobahn Triangle Race
1st place/Hamburg Stadtpark Race
1st place/Norisring Race
1st place/Grenzlandring Race
1st place/Dieburg Triangle Race
Season 1950:
1st place/Hamburg Stadtpark Race
1st place/Schleitzer Triangle Race
1st place/Eifel Race
1st place/Rund um Schotten
1st place/Bergrekord (Hill-Climb Race) Freiburg
Season 1951:
1st place/Eifel Race
1st place/Avus Race
1st place/Rund um Schotten
Season 1952:
1st place/Hamburg Stadtpark Race
1st place/Rund um Schotten
Season 1953:
1st place/Feldberg Race
1st place/Eifel Race
1st place/Solitüde Race
1st place/Eilenriede Race
1954: World record rides in Linas-Monthléry outside Paris, together with his brother Hans and Walter Zeller. World endurance records in solo classes 500, 750 and 1000 cc over 8 and 9 hours.
