The French magazine La Vie Illustrée mostly covered interesting and important events. So was an event with cars and their corresponding speeds, in those days important ehough to be published. Here, kind of introduction is given on one of the City-to-City races: the Paris-Berlin race. It consisted of two classes: „Touristes“ and „Vitesse“. The latter of course dealing with the shortest possible time. Each class had his own route, with some differences between both, but about the same distance, i.e. around 1.200 kilometers. Tourist class, covering 75 cars, started on June 22 and finished June 29 and was divided into eight stages. In the „Vitesse“ category, no less than 160 entries,consisted of three stages. They started June 27 and finished on June 29, same as the touring class.
With permission of the Bibliothèque national francais – gallica.bnf.fr Text and photos compiled by motorracinghistory.com. Translation by DeepL.com
La Vie Illustrée – Vol. 4(?), No. 141, June 28, 1901
THE PARIS-BERLIN CAR RACE
AS this issue of *La Vie Illustrée* goes to press, the competitors in the Paris-Berlin car race are on their way to the banks of the Spree.
In this issue, we feature profiles of the main competitors in the Paris-Berlin race. With very few exceptions, the most famous figures in the automotive world are among the starters.
The race is organized by the Automobile Club of France and the Automobile Club of Germany, with the support of the Automobile Club of Belgium and the Union of German Automobile Clubs.
It is divided into two main categories: “tourists” and “speed.” The tourist race is 1,218 kilometers long. It takes place over 8 days, comprising 8 stages, with mandatory stops at the following destinations: Reims, Luxembourg, Koblenz, Frankfurt am Main, Eisenach, Leipzig, Potsdam, and Berlin.
The “tourist” category is itself divided into two classes: Class A, subject to continuous monitoring to ensure consistent speed, and Class B, with checks at the start and finish of each daily stage. There were 75 cars entered in this “tourist” category. The start took place on June 22, and the finish of the eighth and final stage will therefore be tomorrow, Saturday, June 29, in Berlin. As for the “speed” category, it attracted an impressive field of 160 entries!
It, too, is subdivided into several classes: 1st, motorcycles weighing less than 230 kilograms; 2nd, small cars weighing 230 to 400 kilograms; 3rd, light cars weighing 400 to 630 kilograms; and 4th, large cars weighing over 630 kilograms.
The start of the “speed” race took place on Thursday, June 27, at 3:30 a.m. The route differs from that of the touring class between Rethel and Potsdam. There are only three stages: Aachen, Hanover, and Berlin. Total distance: 1,198 kilometers. Arrival in Berlin on June 29, as for the touring class.
The President of the Republic, the King of the Belgians, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and the Emperor of Germany each offered a magnificent work of art as a prize. The prizes for the top three finishers were displayed in the halls of the Automobile Club de France on Place de la Concorde. As for Wilhelm II, he intends to personally present his prize to the winner upon arrival.
And now, let us hope that the automobile industry, so French and so powerful, will once again provide our national colors with the opportunity for a new and resounding victory. In our next issue, we will also publish a series of photographs taken during the race and at the finish in Berlin by our special correspondent, Mr. Louis Piston, head of the photographic department at La Vie Illustrée.
Maurice Martin.
Photos.
Page 0.
THE START OF THE PARIS-BERLIN RACE – Mr. & Mrs. J.-L. FORAIN, LEAVING THE AUTOMOBILE CLUB
Among the tourist departures in the Paris-Berlin automobile race, the most sensational was certainly that of Mr. J.-L. Forain, the artist with such a witty and perfectly satirical pen. He left the Automobile Club, accompanied by Mrs. Forain, on Saturday, June 22, at ten o’clock in the morning, heading for Berlin.
Page 207.
Silver cup presented by His Majesty the King of the Belgians. – Bronze cup presented by His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. – Porcelain vase presented by the President of the Republic.
Page 208.
Some of the leading speed racers in the Paris-Berlin race
Mr. FOURNIER, winner of Paris-Bordeaux. – Mr. LEVEGH. – Mr. CHARRON. – Mr. GIRARDOT. – Mr. RENÉ DE KNYFF. – Mr. GILLES HOURGIÈRE. – Mr. CLEMENT. – Mr. SERPOLLET. – Mr. MORS. – Mr. ÉTIENNE GIRAUD. – Mr. LOUIS RENAULT. – Mr. MARCEL RENAULT. – Mr. MAURICE FARMAN. – Mr. HENRI DE ROTHSCHILD. – Mr. CHAUCHARD. – Mr. RENÉ LOYBEL. – Mr. BARON PIERRE DE CATERS. (Photos by Panajou, Barenne, Nadar, Clément Maurice, Otto, Raynaud, and from La Vie Illustrée.)
Page 209.
The Start of the Paris-Berlin Touring Race
THE SEALING OF MR. CHOUAN’S CAR AT THE AUTOMOBILE CLUB. THE LARGEST CAR IN THE RACE. — “ESCARGOT,” OWNED BY BARON DE ZUYLEN, DRIVEN BY MR. JOURNU.
Some of the leading speed racers in the Paris-Berlin race
Mr. FOURNIER, winner of Paris-Bordeaux. – Mr. LEVEGH. – Mr. CHARRON. – Mr. GIRARDOT. – Mr. RENÉ DE KNYFF. – Mr. GILLES HOURGIÈRE.
Mr. CLEMENT. – Mr. SERPOLLET. – Mr. MORS. – Mr. ÉTIENNE GIRAUD. – Mr. LOUIS RENAULT. – Mr. MARCEL RENAULT.
Mr. MAURICE FARMAN. – Mr. HENRI DE ROTHSCHILD. – Mr. CHAUCHARD. – Mr. RENÉ LOYBEL. – Mr. BARON PIERRE DE CATERS.
