Early 1903, the basis decision has been made to hold that year’s Gordon Bennet Cup race in Ireland. Here, both for this decision relevant important decisions are highlighted in the American „The Automobile“ magazine. First, it was written here, in February 14 (coincedently on Valentine’s Day) that Irish responsables finally had found a suitable route of more than 150 kilometers. Secondly, two weeks later it is reported that the British parliament is very willing to give greenlight to the 1903 GB race in Ireland. Typical detail is, that it is hoped that the Americans will then, in result, organize the next GB race in 1904. History shows what happened with that hope.
Text and photos with courtesy of hathitrust hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracingistory.com.
THE AUTOMOBILE – Vol. 8, No. 7, February 14, 1903
Ireland Wants Gordon Bennett Race on Her Roads – Indications Favorable
The Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland is loath to give up all hope of holding the race for the Gordon Bennett cup on British soil, and through its latest efforts one of the two serious obstacles, that of finding a suitable course, has apparently been surmounted; and the other, that of parliamentary consent, is growing less formidable. Undoubtedly the French motorists would strongly prefer that the race should be run in their country, but they have no valid grounds for objection to a British course provided the conditions on which the cup is held be complied with.
After various preliminary searches in Ireland with unsatisfactory results, the representatives of the club discovered a stretch of road of over 150 kilometers in length, which they have pronounced fully satisfactory as to condition.
This road lies in the Province of Leinster, the start being at Naas, some 30 miles southwest of Dublin. The proposed route is, in detail, as follows:
Start, about 14 miles from middle of town, at canal bridge, to Newbridge, 5 miles, road has several bends, with five straight stretches not less than 12 mile each; to Kildare, 434 miles, across Curragh Downs, almost dead straight; to Monasterevin, 6½ miles, sharp turn at railway bridge, then dead straight for 5 miles, narrow at places; to Maryborough, 10 miles, with 8 miles of dead straight with space for passing. From Maryborough to the cross-roads, 1234 miles, includes two good straights of 6 and 4 miles, with a couple of miles of narrow and winding road at the end; from junction with Athy-Kilkenny road, 54 miles, with short steep hill on curve, followed by wide and straight road for 5 miles, into Athy; to Carlow, 114 miles, with many turns, preventing high speed; Carlow to Castledermot, 634 miles, half with curves of large radius and half straight; to Halverstown Corner, 14 miles, alternate straight lengths and bends; to Naas, 104 miles, fairly straight road.
The total distance is 902 miles, or 145.7 kilometers. This course may be lengthened 26½ miles, making a total distance of 188.4 kilometers, by going direct from Athy to Old Kilcullen, over an excellent old coach road, then through Castledermot and Carlow, back to Athy, and for the sec-ond time to Kilcullen and on to Naas. Three times over this course would make 565 kilometers for the full course.
The road was very thoroughly inspected last month by Secretary Claude Johnson, of the club, accompanied by S. F. Edge, Count Zborowski and Charles Jarrott, all expert drivers and racing men, and they pronounce it superior to that on which the cup was won last year, both in surface and straightness. As an alternate to covering one part of the road twice, an extra loop to the south from Maryborough through Abbeyleix is possible, but this piece of road is inferior.
It would seem from the report that this course is well suited to avoid all but merely frivolous objections. It will be absolutely neutral, even in so far as the British representatives are concerned, and the difficulties are no greater than desirable for such a thorough test of the vehicles as a great international race should be. It would probably be preferred by both German and American competitors to a course in France, and as a race the contest will attract far more interest if run on its own merits on a separate course than if merged in a longer and in some respects more prominent contest, such as the Paris-Madrid event will be.
The project is favored by the club and also by the people of Ireland, and every influence will be brought to bear on Parliament to secure the necessary permission.
In answer to a letter addressed by Roger W. Wallace, the chairman of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland, to members of Parliament representing Irish constituencies, a number have replied that they will be happy to sign a petition to Parliament that a bill may be passed which would enable the race to be run in Ireland, provided that proper measures are taken for the safeguard of the public, and that they will support the measure when it comes before Parliament.
It is proposed to start the race at 3 A. M. on July 9, the roads to be kept clear of ordinary traffic for ten hours, or until I P. M. Should the race be permitted, plans will be made for tours in Ireland after the race for the many visitors. A hill-climbing contest near Belfast is also under discussion, and Alfred Harmsworth, the publisher-motorist, has promised a cup for motor launches, to be first contested in Cork Harbor.
Photos.
Page 202. MAP SHOWING RELATION OF COURSE TO REMAINDER OF IRELAND.
SCALE MAP OF THE PROPOSED COURSE FOR THE GORDON BENNETT TROPHY RACE IN (PROVINCE OF LEINSTER) IRELAND.
THE AUTOMOBILE, Vol. VIII 8, No. 9, February 28, 1903. page 267
Parliamentary Aid for Irish Course.
Staff Correspondence.
LONDON, Feb. 18. – It is rumored here that the Gordon-Bennett race is now a certainty for Ireland, as the necessary bill to legalize its running by the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland will be introduced into Parliament by a member of the Cabinet. The measure being thus made a Government Bill is sure to go, and if the rumor which comes from a fairly authentic source is only correct, the Gordon-Bennett is booked for the Green Isle.
It is now almost a certainty that the Gordon Bennett contest will be held in Ireland. The latest advices from our London correspondent state that the necessary consent of the British Parliament will be secured by the introduction of a bill by a member of the Cabinet. This will practically make it a crown measure, and with such influences at Westminster and the unqualified support of the Irish people there is no doubt about the passage of the measure. We sincerely hope that the Irish course will be selected, if for no other reason than the precedent that it would create. Should the contestants from this side of the Atlantic carry the American colors to victory – and here’s hoping – it would then follow naturally that the 1904 contest would be held on American soil. This would draw public attention to the possibilities of automobilism in a way that no contest of a purely national character could possibly do. The intense interest which the American people manifest in the America’s Cup yacht races would be duplicated in the great international automobile race.