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Way back when…….

Aug. 01 carousel, Cars no comments
Motor racing grew from the need for manufacturers to prove the reliability and speed of their new ‘horseless carriages’. The first motor ‘race’ had been organized by the chief editor of Paris publication Le Vélocipède, Monsieur Fossier. It was held on April 28, 1887 and ran over a 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) course from Neuilly Bridge to the Bois de Boulogne.
It was won by Georges Bouton of the De Dion-Bouton Company, in a car he had constructed with Albert, the Comte de Dion, but as he was the only competitor to show up it is rather difficult to call it a race.The French were at the forefront of early motor racing, their long straight Routes Nationale being ideally suited for the purpose. The first official Trial was held in 1894, between Paris and Rouen and the following year the first proper race took place from Paris to Bordeaux and back.Those early vehicles, such as the Panhard & Levassors and Peugeots were crude by modern comparison, yet to the spectators of the time would have seemed marvels of the age. Held on public roads, designed more for horse-drawn carriages than for cars, the roads were rough, potholed and unlit. That Paris to Rouen Trial of 1894 was run over a distance of 78.75 miles (126.7 kilometres) the winner averaging 11.5 mph (18.5 kph), the best performing vehicle being a De Dion steamer (really a tractor, capable of carrying six people). Of the finishers, 13 were petrol cars and 8 were steam driven. The cars ran on either solid rubber tyres, or steel wire spoked wheels and most had direct steering (usually by means of a tiller). more →