This part covers the field of technological innovations and development, that proved to be influencial on cars and engines during the years 1895 to 1929.
Starting with the 1895 first ever pneumatic tyres by Michelin, applied in the Paris-Bordeaux race of that year. Only one sans-cheveau, the „l’Éclair“, was equiped with these new tyres. Although it wasn’t a succes, the advantage to the usual wheels of those days was so remarkebly, that these ware used again in the Chicago Times Herald contest later that year.
Almost ten years later, detachable rims or „jantes amovibles“ basically ensured the win for Renault in the first Frech Grand Prix in 1906. Now the tyre could easily be changed by means of a steel ring, bolted on the wheel. Around 1912, detachable wheels found their application, in the form of all-steel wire wheels with a central locking device. Names of the British Rudge-Whithworth or the French R.A.F. wired wheels became famous.
1912 saw the Charlatans designed and developed Peugeot hemi-head engine with 4-valves and double-ohc. This engine proved to be the precursor for many more Grand Prix race engines in later years. This very engine lasted long, as Howdy Wilcox won with it the first post-war 1919 Indianapolis 500.
After the great war, engines such as the Frontenac, Duesenberg and Miller ruled the American race scene over many years.
With is, features such as front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, four-wheel brakes and hydraulic brakes or even independent suspensions came to the fore on both sides of the ocean.
As a result of aeroplane egine development during the war, the post-war era whitnessed supercharging as an important and tech-setting phenomenon for race car engines.
This chapter lay-out differs from all other chapters, in that here, each technology feature will be highlighted with several magazine articles as sub-division.
* 01.12.2025 This page is under construction *
Technology
1895 Pneumatic Tyres
- What of Racing? - under construction
1906 Detachable rims - Jantes amovibles
1912 Detachable metallic wheels - Wire wheels
- Introduction and comparison of wheel strength tests - GrocerJack
1912 Peugeot 4-valve dohc hemi-head Engine
- World's Greatest Racing Car - The Automobile, 26 September 1912
- Constructional Features of the Peugeot - Motor Age, 26 September 1912
- Der siegreiche Grand Prix Wagen - Allg. Automobil-Zeitung, 3 November 1912
- Der siegreiche Grand Prix Wagen, Translation - Allg. Automobil-Zeitung 1912
- Les usines G. Derihon - La Vie automobile, 15 November 1910
- French Racing Secrets Divulged by Peugeot - Motor Age,15 January 1914
- The Acme of Racing Efficiency - The Automobile,12 February 1914
1904 - 1925 Front-Wheel Drive
- Front Drive Car, Patent # 761,657 - The Automobile, 18 June 1904
1914 Straight-8 Engine (and V-8)
- World's Greatest Racing Car - 26 September 1912
The Automobile
- The Acme of Racing Efficiency - 12 February 1914
1914, 1921 hydraulic 4-wheel Brakes
- Indianapolis Race is Truly International - under construction
The Automobile Journal
- The Frontenac Aluminum Racing Car - 10 July 1917
1925 Front-wheel drive
- Une Victoire Francais - under construction
La Vie au Grand Air
- La Victoire de Goux au Grand Prix d'Indianapolis - under construction
1926 Four-wheel Brakes
- Les usines G. Derihon - 15 November 1910
- La gagnante du Grand Prix - 31 August 1912
Les Sports Modernes
Le Sport Universel illustré
Le Monde illustré
La Vie illustré
Armes et Sports
La Stampa Sportiva
L'Illustrazione italiana
Allgemeine Automobil=Zeitung
- Der siegreiche Grand Prix Wagen - 3 November 1912





