The 1901 Gordon Bennet Cup race was planned for the end of May 1901. Two months before, in the so called „Semaine du Nice“ during the last week of March, Mercedes was very succesfull. It was their break-through against French competition. As a result, Mercedes was to reconsider their participation in the Gordon Bennett race. The Paris-Berlin city-to-city race was on hand too. So what to choose? A first outlook to an eventfull 1901 Gordon Bennet race started to diminish.
With permission of hathitrust hathitrust.org == Text and fotos compiled by motorracinghistory
THE HORSELESS AGE — Volume 8, No. 6, May 8, 1901
THE FRENCH MARKET AND THE RACE.
Commenting on the victories carried off by the Daimler-Mercédes racers in the Nice week, Paul Meyan says in La France Automobile:
„The success which they achieved, an undeniable proof of the extraordinary efforts made by their manufacturers during the last year, was reflected by a large number of orders received. So much lost for our compatriots.
„The market of Nice, during the season, is well worth the trouble of following; it is an international market where is established at the beginning of the year a vogue for this or that make which has taken the prize in the contests organized with so much care and success by the Automobile Club of Nice.
„To fail to win a race there is a serious mistake; and the attention of our manufacturers should not be monoplized by the Gordon-Bennett cup and the Paris-Berlin race.
„They knew well, for they had been informed that foreign manufacturers would produce new types, very powerful and excellently adapted to racing. They only entered in competition their already antiquated types of Paris-Bordeaux. In this they made a mistake.
„We will have, they think, our revenge in two months. Possibly – but they are two months gained by our competitors, who will not spare their efforts to gain more next year. But what is done cannot be undone and Germany has entered as a competitor in our market.
„I was much pleased, however, to see the success attained by Serpollet on the one hand and by Rochet-Schneider on the other.“
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On account of the success achieved by the Mercédes racers in the Nice week, the German Automobile Club has accorded them two of the three places in the equipment to compete for the Gordon Bennett cup. Owing to differences in regard to the eliminating race, the Benz Company has decided to abstain, and the third place will therefore probably be filled by the Conello-Dürkopp vehicle.
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According to the president of the Automobile Club of France 300 vehicles have already been entered for the Paris-Berlin race fixed for June 27. All the necessary arrangements with local authorities of towns through which the contestants will pass have been completed.