Snowy Was Famous Record Breaking Motorcycle Champion

In the 20s and 30s, my late grandfather, Rene Milhoux, was a very famous Belgian motorcycle champion and speed record breaker. His exploits were regularly reported in the national press. One such newspaper was "le XXe Siecle" (The twentieth Century), a supplement of which was "le Petit Vingtieme", which was headed by a man named Georges Remi, better known as Herge, the author of Tintin.

Also regularly in the newspaper was the photo-reportages of a man named Robert Sexe, who was a travelling photo-journalist whose

Snowy The Dog

photographs were used as a direct inspiration for Tintin's first three adventures. Herge, having never travelled himself.

Robert Sexe would travel the world on motorcycles. On one occasion my grandfather was introduced to Robert Sexe by the owner of the motorcycle company for which my grandfather was factory rider (Gillet de Herstal) so that he could act as technical advisor of the round the world trips. The two men quickly struck up a close friendship.

When my grandfather would break world record on his bikes he would always wear immaculate white overalls. He wasn't a very tall man either…
Small, all white, brave and intelligent and called Milhoux…

My grandfather was one day invited to the offices of the "le XXe Siecle" for an exclusive interview, during his visit he got to meet several people attached to the newspaper, including Georges Remi, they had a little chat during which, Mr Remi asked my grandfather if he didn't mind that he named his cartoon dog after him, Snowy (in french: Milou).

My grandfather had a great sense of humor so of course he didn't mind at all (especially as the spelling had been changed). Remember that in those days Tintin was hardly known and my grandfather was something of a national hero.

I just thought you would find this little anecdote amusing if not interesting.

For this post we say thanks to Renaud Milhoux.