FAMOUS RACES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 70, 24 March 1931, Page 15

FAMOUS RACES.

GORDON BENNETT CUP.

SUGGESTED REVIVAL

ITALIAN'S IDEA

An interesting suggestion—that brings back memories of the world's first classic motor car road races—is made by Chevalier Florio, chairman of the Italian Automobile Racing Board. It is that the one-time world-famed international Gordon Bennett Cup should be revived. Not many motorists of to-day know of the famous international motor races that created such great interest from 1000 to 1905. In those days the Gordon Bennett Cup was to the motor world what the Davis Cup has been in tennis and sporting circles in recent years.

Florio's suggestion is that the classic cup, which France has retained since the last event was decided in 1905, should again be put up for annual competition, with an added cash prize of £SOOO, and .that the old time conditions should apply. The French Automobile Club is said to be willing to release the cup for further competition.

In 1899 Mr. James Gordon Bennett, proprietor of the ''New York Herald," presented a valuable trophy, which later became famous as the Gordon Bennett Cup, for an annual international motor car race open to all nations manufacturing automobiles. The contest was limited to three cars from any one country—the automobile club of the winning country to hold the cup for the ensuing 12 months, and to also have the right of selection of venue for the contest the following year. The competing cars had to be constructed wholly and

in every detail in the country they represented. They had to weigh—unloaded —over 400 kilos (7cwt 3qrs 141b), whilst the two people aboard had to each weigh list 31b, or ballast to even up the weight. There was no maximum weight limit until 1902 when 1000 kilos (22041b) was adopted. From its inception the event created most intense interest in motoring and sporting circles throughout the' world.

The first race was held in Fance on June 14, 1900, over a 352 miles course from Paris to Lyons, and was won by Charron (France), driving a 24- h.p. GPanhard-Levassor —his time being Dh 9m, with a speed average of 38J m.p.h.— a remarkable achievement at the time. Only three countries were- represented —France, Belgium and America.

France again had control of the cup for the 1905 contest, and selected the Auvergne circuit (341 J miles). Five countries entered teams, France, England, Italy, Austria and America. The event was a repetition of the previous year's race, the Thery-RJchard-Brasier combination again being victorious. The time was 7h 2m 42 2-3s, average speed 48£ m.p.h. Grand Prix. Some months prior to the holding of the 1905 race France suggested that the Gordon Bennett Cup should be substituted by an event to be known as the Grand Prix of France. This raised such a storm of protest from England, America, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland arid Italy, and also threats of boycott, that the French Automobile Club gave way and, as previously mentioned, the contest was conducted under the usual conditions, and Thery won again. After a lapse of 25 years, there is now talk of reviving the grand old international contest, but here again the same misgivings art: likely to arise as to whether any ration is justified in staking its automobile reputation on the outcome of an international road race, in which so many things may happen. Chevalier Florio is a keen supporter of automobile racing, and the great Florio Cup annually held in Italy is the outcome. His suggestion to revive the Gordon Bennett Cup will be much debated in Europe and U.S.A., and an event of an international character may be the outcome.