Almost one year before the first Savannah Grand Prize was to take place in November 1908, a brief description of the beautiful Savannian road course was given in this article of The Automobile. Finally, a visit of Mr. Victor Beyer from France is mentioned, who was responsible for the organization of the July 1907 Grand Prix de France. After the 1908 Savannah Grand Prize, he would write an article on that race in The Automobile.
By courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, Text and jpegs compiled by motorracinghistory.
THE AUTOMOBILE Vol. XVII, No. 24, December 12, 1907
WHAT SAVANNAH OFFERS FOR A ROAD COURSE
SAVANNAH, GA., Dec. 9. — The Savannah Automobile Club is thoroughly in earnest in its efforts to have the availability and desirability of this city made known as the proper place for the holding of one of the big automobile road races. President F. C. Battey and his associates intend to leave no stone unturned to bring about the holding of an automobile event sometime during the winter. According to information printed in the Savannah papers and given out by members of the club, the aid of the American Automobile Association has been solicited in the undertaking. The Mayor and other city officials and prominent citizens are greatly interested in the project, and it would appear that the Savannah club will be successful in its efforts to bring about a big road race.
In the near future the club will effect the organization of the Georgia State Automobile Association of the national body, and it is not improbable that should any profits accrue from the race intended to be held, it will be divided between the local club and the State body and used for the general good of all autoists.
Ten miles of almost perfect road are available for the course, the disposition being an east and west stretch, each four miles long and almost straight, joined by a north and a south road, each a mile in length. The starting and finishing point would be at the north end of the course, at Dale road or Forty-second street, just on the limits of the city of Savannah. At no point is the course crossed by other roads, and the only traffic intersecting it is a car line, the management of which has agreed to suspend operations during the meet. Road surface throughout is excellent macadam, the soil being of such a nature that even heavy rains only affect it for a few hours. The country being exceptionally level, and the roads unusually straight, the fastest speed would be possible with safety.
The climate of the district is one of the most equable in the country, the weather in January being usually very good, so that there would be little danger of rain interfering with the meet. From the viewpoint of picturesqueness, the course has few equals, the beautiful overhanging foliage forming a charming setting. Probably the only objection which could be brought against the course is its shortness. From the spectators‘ standpoint, however, ten miles is an advantage, for it will give frequent passage of the racers; policing and guarding of the course would, in addition, be simplified by the short length.
While the ten-mile course is preferred by the local automobilists, should there be a positive demand for a larger circuit, it is possible to arrange for one of twenty-two miles, taking in a couple of roads which are not quite up to the standard, but would be plenty good enough for road racing and perhaps would add to the strenuousness of the event. Savannah is easily accessible by some of the finest steamships sailing from Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston and New York.
Savannah Editor Invites the Autoists.
Referring editorially to the project, the Savannah News ex- presses itself in the following terms:
„Bringing the big automobile meet in January to this city will be a good thing for all parties concerned, and we feel confident that it will be the beginning of regular annual meets of the same character here. No section of the country available for winter racing, not excepting California, offers so many advantages as do Savannah and Chatham County. The roads hereabouts are exceptionally fine and almost level, and the character of the soil is such that even heavy rains do not affect them for more than a few hours; and even in the heaviest rains the roads never become impracticable. In January, however, the weather is usually good, so that there is practically no danger of rains interfering with the races. Our climate is the most equable on the continent, so that extremes of weather need not be taken into consideration. When the visiting and competing automobilists have come and seen and driven over our roads, they cannot be otherwise than delighted, and when they go home they will advertise us to their friends, and those friends will wish to come and experience the pleasure themselves. Every effort should be put forward to the end of making this first big meet in Savannah a success in every way.“
GRAND PRIX MANAGER VISITING AMERICA.
Among the passengers on board the storm-delayed Touraine which warped into the French line pier on Monday morning last was Victor Breyer, president of the Board of Management of the Velodrome Buffalo, Paris. Mr. Breyer, who is on a short visit to the United States, is best known to the public on this side of the Atlantic as the manager of the French Grand Prix of the Automobile Club of France, run on the Dieppe circuit last July, and the first road race in France which had been made a financial success. The organization of the race was, in the opinion of all experts, the most perfect the world has ever seen, this excellent result being in great measure due to the efforts of the manager.
Photos.
Page 875.
ALONG THE VERNON ROAD THERE IS A MOST PICTURESQUE CANOPY OF ANCIENT LIVE OAKS AND DROOPING SPANISH MOSS.
Photographs by M. Edward Wilson, Savannah, Ga.
Page 876.
CAUSEWAY ON LA ROCHE AVENUE, A MODEL ROAD SURFACE. – ON THE WATERS ROAD IS GREATEST „HILL“ ON ENTIRE ROUTE.
THUNDERBOLT ROAD HAS A GOOD START AND FINISH PLACE. – ISLE OF HOPE ROAD IS ANOTHER TROPICAL STRETCH.