André Dessoude: “When you want to run and you have no money, you become clever”

Still on a good foot and with a good eye at 81 years old, André Dessoude, son of a shoemaker and seamstress, has patiently woven his business with the Dakar as a common thread. Despite a pile of awards with his 4x4s in the desert, the “Sorcerer of Saint-Lô” never talked about results or statistics. All that counts is passion, the formidable power to connect people from diverse backgrounds.

Published on 07/01/2022 à 16:00

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André Dessoude: “When you want to run and you have no money, you become clever”

André Dessoude © Abraham Simon

Hello Andrew. You arranged to meet us in the dealership, among the Nissans and MGs. Reassure me, we are not going to go out with your electric company SUV?

No, I chose the Nissan

We'll take care of it then. There is no speedometer, but I guess we drive at a more than decent speed, because the whole cabin vibrates!

I only take it out very rarely. It serves more as a display model, but it is a museum piece that is fully capable of rolling. (Laughs)

Tell me how the myth of French song was able to carry your colors!

It’s thanks to Jean Todt. In 2001, Johnny bought himself a Ferrari Modena. He calls Todt in order to shorten the delivery time, who invites him to Maranello. Johnny explains to him his desire to do the Dakar. Todt suggests: “ Do it with Dessoude, and no one else. Go see it ". I didn't know anything. A few weeks pass. Right in the middle Rally from Morocco, it is May 22, my birthday. Everyone told me at the bivouac: “ Johnny Hallyday is looking for you! ". He shows up with two bottles of champagne in his hand and wishes me a happy birthday. I'm falling on my ass! We have a drink and immediately agree.

Did he have any star-worthy requests?

No. Our watchword was the absence of alcohol at the bivouac. Johnny had to comply. One evening, a competitor mechanically serves him a beer. Géraldine Deshayes, my assistant, catches him in the act. “ No beer, you have to go to bed! » Il obtempère. Dans sa tente, comme il fumait sans arrêt, il finit par percer son matelas pneumatique. Le lende