Louis-Joseph Chevrolet, born in LaChaux de Fonds, Switzerland. By age 12, Louis was making money repairing bicycles and winning races with physical ability and working with gear ratios. He drove his first De Dion tricycle in 1893 when the owner could not start it and Louis offered to help. 1896 Louis got a job with De Dion, then Mors and Darracq. He came to Canada in 1900 and, in 1901, New York. His 1st race was at Chicago's Harlem track May 27,1905 and bested Barney Oldfield's record. March 5th,1909 Louis drove for William Durant's Buick. When Durant was ousted from newly formed GM for the 1st time, he formed Chevrolet Motors Co on 11/3/1911. Chevrolet was given 100 shares of the corp. for his name and a car design. Because of disagreements with Durant, Chevrolet sold his shares and left in 1915. Louis and his brothers, Arthur and Gaston, founded Fontenac Motor Corp in 1916 to build performance parts for Fords. Louis Chevrolet passed away penniless June 6, 1941 in Detroit.