And so again, The Horseless Age is very limited in messaging on the Gordon Bennett Cup preparations in 1899. Understandable this is, as it is an automotive magazine with emphasis on technical issues. In later years, after the Gordon Bennett Cup becomes more and more popular, they reported more on the GB series.
Text and photos with courtesy of hathitrust hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracingistory.com.
THE HORSELESS AGE – Vol. V, No. 9, November 29, 1899
Rules for the International Races.
The rules for the contest over the Gordon-Bennett International Challenge Cup have been revised and published by the Automobile Club.
The contest is to be held between May 15 and Aug. 15 over a road course of not less than 340 and not more than 400 miles. The race will take place next year in France; but in the future it will be at the option of the defending club, either in the country to which the latter belongs or in France.
Each of the qualified clubs may enter three motor carriages weighing unoccupied, containing neither fuel, water, petroleum, batteries nor luggage of any kind, more than 880 lbs.
Throughout the race each carriage must be driven by a member of the club which has entered it and must carry one other passenger. All competitors will start at once.
The club the colors of which are carried by the winning carriage will become the defender of the cup, but in no case will the cup become the permanent property of any winner. Challenges must be sent to the defending club before January in each year, and a deposit made at the same time of the sum of $700, which will be refunded at the start. The expenses of each contest will be borne equally by all the clubs taking part in the race.
The Belgian Automobile Club has signified its intention to compete.
———————