The first Gordon Bennett Cup race from Paris to Lyon was a „victory“ for the French. Fernand Charron on a Panhard-Levassor won with Léonce Girardot in a Mors second. That were the only two cars maling it to the finish. This report gives an account of the race and of several „around-it“ situations. A reference to Le Vélo is given more than once, indicaation that this newspaper has a certain authority in those days.
With permission of the Bibliothèque national francais, gallica.bnf.fr Text and fotos compiled by motorracinghistory
THE NEW YORK HERALD, European Edition — No. 23,307, Friday, June 15, 1900, page 1.
FRENCH TEAM WINS THE INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOBILE CUP.
M. Charron Reaches Lyons First — 566 Kilomètres in 9h. 9m. 49. — M. Girardot Second.
OTHER COMPETITORS RESIGN.
Chapter of Accidents to the Machines — Surprises at the Start.
The Automobile Club de France, in the person of M. Charron, has won the International Automobile Cup.
M. Charron, with a Panhard-Levassor machine, arrived the first at Lyons yesterday, at 12.24, having covered the 566 kilometres in 9h. 9 min. that is to say, at an average speed of 61 kilometres 857 metres an hour.
M. Girardot arrived second, in 10h. 30min. 23sec.
Messrs. René de Knyff, Winton, and Jenatzy did not finish.
The “Vélo“ points out that this race proves that an automobile can beat the Paris-Lyons express, for though the time of the express is less than that of M. Charron yesterday, the distance covered by the train is much shorter.
The itinerary followed in the race is longer than the direct road, it having been necessary to lengthen the route in order to make it about 550 kilometres, as required by the conditions of the race.
The Pans-Lyons express takes 9h. all seven minutes to do the distance of 512 kilometres between the two stations. M. Charron took 9h. 9min. to do the 566 kilometres. But at the rate of 61 kilometres 857 metres (M. Charron’s average speed) the train would do the 512 kilometres in 8h. 16min.
Seldom has a race been marked by so many surprises both at the start and during its progress. Contrary to expectation the Belgian contingent was represented in the person of M. Jenatzy. whereas the German competitor at the last moment decided to withdraw. During the race itself M. René de Knyff became stranded, M. Girardot met with an accident, and Mr. Winton had a breakdown.
The Start.
The signal for the start was given at 3.14 a.m. on the Versailles road, at the entrance; to the Park of Saint-Cloud, just above the Montretout level crossing. Despite the early hour, quite 200 people were present, says the „Vélo.“ Many had come on automobiles and bicycles a long distance. The scene was very picturesque.
In the semi-obscurity men were carrying lanterns, giving the finishing touches to the racers, while the spectators scrutinized the rival machines.
M. Jenatzy did not enter with the machine that had been specially made for the cup race, as it was not ready. Some complaint was made against the tires of his improvised racer, because they proved to be of French make.
Herr Eugen, the German competitor, declared that he would not start because the tires of his machine were not ready. At the same time, he protested against the short delay allowed to prepare for the race. This protest was endorsed by M. Jenatzy. M. de Chasseloup-Laubat, who appeared to be the only representative of the organizing committee, acted as starter.
The following is the official list of the competitors: —
1. M. R. de Knyff (France).
2. M. Jenatzy (Belgium).
4. Mr. Winton (U.S.A.).
5. M. Charron (France).
7. M. Girardot (France).
M. Edouard de Perrodil’s, chronometer marked 3.14 a.m. when the signal was given. Instantly there was a terrific snorting, and the racers started at their best speed, going up the sharp incline which follows the tunnel at the rate of sixty kilometres an hour. M. René de Knyff and M. Girardot led, followed by MM. Charron, Jenatzy and Mr. Winton. In a few seconds they were out of sight.
The Route.
The “Velo“ publishes telegrams from its correspondent posted along the route.
At the Picardie gate the times were as follows: Girardot, 31i. 23min.;. Jenatzy, 3h. 23min. 2^ec.; Charron, 3h. 24min.; Winton, 3h. 24min. 1sec.; René de Knyff, 3h. 24min. 2sec.
At the Blue Gate the times were as follows: Girardot, 3h. 26min.: Jenatzy, 3h. 26min. 2sec.; Charron, 3h. 26min. 30sec.; Rene de Knyff, 3h. 27min.; Winton, 3h. 27min. 4sec.
At Limours (distance 30 kilometres), the times were as follows: Girardot, 3h. 49min. 15sec,; Charron. 3h. 52min.; Rene de Knyff. 31h, 53min. 30sec ; Winton, 3h. 59min.; Jenatzy, 4h. 29min.
The Mors Motor.
M. Levegh, the unofficial competitor, who had started in front of the regular contingent, was noted as passing Limours at the rate of 100 kilometres an hour.
M. de Chasseloup-Laubat passed at 4h. 15m. after the , taking a short cut to rejoin the racers.
At Chateaudun (125 kilometres) the following times were noted : —
Levegh, 4h. 32m.
Charron, 5h. 4m. 55s.
Girardot, 5h. 14m. 44s.
Jenatzy, 5h. 51m. 56s.
Winton, 6h. 28m. 50s.
Mr. Winton went by with a bent wheel in front and one of his rear tires punctured.
At Les Ormes (154 kilomètres) the times taken- were : — >
Girardot, 3h. 49min.
Charron, 5h..55min.
René de Knylf. 6h. 41min.
Jenatzy, 6h. 46min.
The Orleans correspondent of the „Velo“ telegraphed that the utmost uncertainty prevailed as to the route which the competitors would take in passing through the city, and it was only by a lucky accident that he was able to catch sight of them.
M. Girardot arrived at 5h. 53min. M. Charron reached the same point at 6h. 10mn., slowing up to show his rear axle, which had been bent in crossing a gutter. Three kilometres away, but, nevertheless, determined to persevere. M. René de Knyff turned up at 6h. 49min., at a walking pace, his fourth speed having broken shortly after leaving Chartres. He withdraws.
Three minutes later M. Jenatzy came up with several punctures and two broken fuses but still determined to go on.
On leaving Orleans M. Girardot broke a rear wheel against the curbstone in trying to avoid a frightened horse. The damage was summarily repaired at a neighboring blacksmith’s, and M. Girardot resumed the race at 7.55, thus losing more than an hour.
Mr. Winton reached Orleans at 8.30. One of his front wheels was buckled and a rear tire had left the rim. It was not expected then that he would continue.
M. Levegh had passed Orleans at a tremendous gait, at 5.25.
The reports from. Gien (236 kilomètres) timed Charron at 7.15, Jenatzy 8.28, Girardot 8.45.
M. de Knyff Withdraws.
At 11.25 M. Rene-de Knyff abandoned the race at this point and returned to Paris, with MM. Krebs and Chasseloup-Laubat.
Nevers (322 kilometres) was passed by M. Charron at 8.42. M. Girardot came by at 10.10.
M. Charron was still leading at Moulins (376 kilometres), where he arrived at 9.28, going full speed, and running over a dog. He stopped there for supplies. M. Girardot arrived at 11.4.
At La Palisse (427 kilomètres) M. Charron passed at 10.9, followed by M. Girardot at 11.44. This being market day, there was quite a crowd to watch the race.
At Roanne (476 kilometres) M. Charron passed at 11.3. M. Girardot reached there at 12.41.
Telegraphing from Lyons, the „‚Vélo’s“ correspondent announces the receipt of a telegram from Mr. Winton, then at Orleans, declaring his intention to withdraw from the race and return to Paris. Mr. Winton’s return was, however, postponed till he could get a new tire.
M. Jenatzy, who was travelling at lightning speed in the early stage of the race, burst his two front tires at Chevreuse.
The Finish.
As already announced in the HERALD, the finish of the International Automobile Race was placed at the Restaurant des Délices de la Demi-Lune, which is a hostelry some ten kilometres out of Lyons. Thither proceeded a perfect, swarm of „chauffeurs“ to welcome the victor, among the number being: MM. Brun, vice-president, and Burdet Santoux Bernard, d’Anjerville, of the Automobile Bicycle Club:
Stead, just back from Nice; Meyan, Rigoullat, Captain Barrisien, chief of the automobile section of the 14th Army Corpse M. Colin, president of the Motor Club; Captain Insmore, the American delegate and many others.
M. Charron arrived very much exhausted. Another accident to his machine had occurred twelve kilometres before the finish. This time it was the pump that had been broken by a dog.
Over the festive board M. Charron told the story of his exploits. While the company was discussing the dessert at 2 p.m., M. Girardot arrived.
The official times at Lyons are. as follows: 1, Charron, 9h. 9min. 49sec.; 2, Girardot, 10h. 36min. 28sec.
In the evening the Automobile Bicycle Club of Lyons entertained the two successful „chauffeurs.“
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Photos.
M. FERDINAND CHARRON. – PANHARD AND LEVASSOR AUTOMOBILE. In which M. Charron won the race.M. LEONCE GIRARDOT. – THE MORS AUTOMOBILE.
The automobile „Mors“ which preceded the International Cup race yesterday is the same vehicle which won in the Bordeaux-Perigneux-Bordeaux race. This machine has a motor of twenty-four horse-power and attained a speed in the race last mentioned of eighty-two kilometres an hour and had an average speed of seventy-eight kilometres an hour.
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