THE BEGINNING of AUTO RACING

World's First Auto-Race     Paris - Rouen Race 

On July 22, 1894, Pierre Giffard, editor of the Parisian magazine Le Petit Journal promoted the race as a Competition for Horseless Carriages that were not dangerous, easy to drive and cheap during the journey.

The main prize was for the first to cross the finish line in Rouen. 102 people paid the 10 franc entrance fee.

69 cars started the preliminary 50 km selection event that would pick entrants who would start the main event which was 127 km from Paris to Rouen. 25 were selected.

The entrants ranged from serious manufacturers like Peugeot, Panhard or De Dion to amateur owners.

Jules-Albert's De Dion was first into Rouen 6:48 hours, average speed of 19 km/hr but was disqualified since it was a steam car and needed a stoker which was forbidden.

One Peugeot finished 3:30 hours; another Peugeot 16:30 hours; a Panhard 33:30 hours and another Pahard 55:30 hours behind the De Dion

EARLY RACES

In 1895, the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris Trial was held. The winner was Emile Levassor in a Panhard-Levassor, 1205 cc model. He completed the 1,127 km course in 48:47 hours, 6 hours ahead of the runnerup.

The first regular auto racing venue was Nice France, run in March 1897 as "Speed Week"
To fill out the schedule, most types of racing were, invented here. They included the Hill Climb and  Drag Racing.

An international competition, between nations rather than individuals, began with the Gordon Bennett Cup in auto racing. Please see a later blog devoted to the Bennett Cup.

The first race in the United States took place in Chicago, Illinois, over a 54 mile course with Frank Duryea winning in 10:23 hours beating three petrol-fueled and two electric cars.

CITY to CITY RACING

With auto construction and racing dominated by France, the French automobile club ACF successfully staged a number of international races,usually from Paris
 

In 1903, Marcel Renault was involved in a fatal accident near Angouleme in the Paris-Madrid race. Nine Fatalities caused the French government to stop the race in Bordeaux and ban open-road racing


FIRST BUILT RACING CIRCUITS

The Milwaukee Mile is the oldest motor racing track in the world, with racing being held there since 1903. It started as a one mile horse racing track in the 19 th century.

Brooklands in Surrey, England was the first purpose built motor venue, opening in June 1907. It featured a 3 mile concrete track with high-speed banked corners. Damage done to the track during World War II mean the track never reopened for racing.

Brooklands seems to have been the inspiration for the Indianapolis Speedway, which opened in 1909.

1910 - 1940

The 1930's saw the transformation from high-priced road cars into pure racers like Delage, Auto Union, Mercedes-Benz, Delahaye and Bugatti. They constructed streamlined cars with engines producing up to 612 hp.

From 1928-1930 and again from 1934-1940 the maximum weight was 750 kg. Extensive use of alumunium alloys was required to achieve light weight. Even removal of the paint by the Mercedes team.