Introduction on the title is on it’s way.
With permission of hathitrust hathitrust.org == Text and fotos compiled by motorracinghistory
Motor Age — Volume IX, No. 5, February 1, 1906
FRANCE SELECTS SARTHE COURSE
PARIS, Jan. 24 – The international grand prix, inaugurated for the great French feature this year, will be run over the Sarthe circuit, the sporting commission of the Automobile Club of France having finally settled the vexed question in favor of the citizens of Mans, who have been hustling with almost American vigor to secure the plum for their town. This decision, however, faded into insignificance when compared with the announcement made by the commission that it will recommend to the club that the race shall ex- tend over 2 days, a move entirely unsuspected by the outside public, and which indeed has been little discussed by those who keep close tab on motoring.
As mapped out by the commission, this innovation will be a startling one in that with it will go the right to change drivers on the second day. Probably 375 miles will be covered each day. This is proposed in view of the nature of the circuit, which is claimed to be far speedier than any other over which road races have been held. Then, too, there is the rule that compels the driver and his helper to mend and change their own tires. When this matter came up for discussion before the commission it met with the hearty approval of all save MM. Loysel, de Turckheim and Braiser. However, this point has not been definitely settled all the commission can do is to recommend it to the club.
Of all the courses submitted to the commission for consideration the Sarthe and Brie circuits were the only ones that came up for the final debate. The citizens of the town of Mans, near it, had realized the benefits to be derived from having the big automobile event at their very doors and with commendable spirit they had raised a guaranty fund of $20,000. This, with the natural advantages of the course, won the day for them and Brie lost out. The commission weighed all the evidence carefully. Mans, it was pointed out, is within 3 hours of Paris and accessible by railroad from other points. This made the first hit with the commission, while the promised coin was not lost sight of. The roads on this circuit are singularly level, with only one railroad crossing – at Saint Calais.
The Sarthe circuit, as stated above, is about 60 miles in length and forms almost a perfect equilateral triangle between the points La Ferté-Bernard, Auvours and Saint Calais. The road between Auvours and Saint Calais is triangular in character, but somewhat irregular on two of its sides. The lengths of the three sides of the triangle are: La Fourche to Saint Calais, 34 kilometers; Saint Calais to Ferte Bernard, 31½ kilometers; Ferté Bernard to La Fourche, 34½ kilometers. Just where the race will start has not yet been decided – some say at La Fourche, others Ferté Bernard.
It is the belief of the French manufacturers that in this grand prix they have a race that will put the Bennett to shame, not only in point of speed but in the class of the contestants. The enthusiasm being displayed over it makes one forget for the time being the stand taken against racing by the Automobile Club of France and you no longer hear the talk of all the big tours and tire races that was going the rounds about the time of the death warrant of the Bennett affair was signed. True, there is going to be the international tour that the French are banking on to make the biggest kind of a hit, but it is a cinch that even this will be overshadowed by the grand prix, which is expected to be international in character. It is expected, too, that this race will sort of bolster up the retail trade, which is reported to be falling off of late. Here in Paris the agents are feeling blue over the outlook, and it is freely gossiped that the Olympia show in London and the two affairs in New York have sort of put a crimp in the business in this city. It is stated that Americans on this side of the ocean no longer buy their cars from Paris agents, for they can get quicker deliveries by buying French machines in New York or London. Of course, the Parisians get little sympathy from the French makers, for they do not care whether they sell their wares in Paris, London or New York so long as they dispose of their outputs and get the prices asked for.
Photos. Page 16.
MAP OF THE COURSE AND ONE OF THE TURNS: MANS – ST. MARS – AUVOURS – BOULOIRE – ST CALAIS – BERFAY – VIBRAYE – LAMNAY – LA FERTÉ BERNARD – SCEAUX – CONNERRE
BIT OF THE ROAD FOUND ON THE SARTHE COURSE
