The Grand Prix Automobile Race. SEVENTY MILES AN HOUR ON COUNTRY ROADS. FASTEST 1 DUE ON RECORI/

Progress, Volume III, Issue I, 1 November 1907, Page 30

The Grand Prix Automobile Race. SEVENTY MILES AN HOUR ON COUNTRY ROADS. FASTEST 1 DUE ON RECORI/

[By the Paris Correspondent of the "Scientific American ""• One of the most brilliant and successful races of the season was the grand Prix of the Automobile Club of France, which brought together the leading racing cars of different countries, mounted by the most experienced drivers. The race was run on the second of July over a forty-eight mile circuit laid out in the northern part of France, and for a certain distance the route la-\ near the coast passing between Dieppe, the starting point of the event, and Trepcrt, then passing inland, taking in various towns of Normandy. Among the cars entered in the race were the principal French makes — Darracq, Lorra-

Ine-Dietrich, Clement, Renault, Panhard-Levassor, Gobron and Brasier ; then the Italian Fiat cars which won the two previous big international rices of the year ; and the Mercedes. Walter Christie's curious car awakened many comments from the assembled crowd. Among the drivers were Nazzaro, Lancia, Szisz, Jenatzy, Farman, Baras Wagner, Gabriel and many others whose names are familiar as record winners. The total length of one round of the circuit was 76 98 kilometres (47.84 miles) and there were ten rounds covered in the race, making a total distance of 478.4 miles. The roads were in fairly good condition and with good weather prevailing, everything favoured the Grand Prix event, and in fact the race was a most exciting one. Nazzaro, he winner, made an average speed of no less than '13.6 kilometers (70 miles) an hour, which is rearkable for such a long distance The start took place at six o'clock m the morning m front of the handsomely decorated tribunes which had been erected at Dieppe, wheie a large crowd representing the automobile clubs of Europe and the leading sportsmen had assembled Minister Barthou of Public Works represented the French Government on this occasion The race was started at 6 01 by Lancia on his Fiat car , then came Collomb on a Corre racer at 6 02, Hannot on a Darracq, Duray piloting a Lorraine-Dietrich, and so on. The cars started at intervals of one minute, and the last one started at 0. 33. Soon after, the arrival of L ancia was announced. He passed the tribunes at lightning speed, having made the first round in good form in 41.33, but he is closely followed by Duray who has gamed a minute and a half over the Italian champion. Then follows Hannot (Darracq car) and close behind is Szisz, the winner of last year, on his Renault car, w ho is gaining ground and is only 39 seconds behind Durav. Nazzaro makes the first round at a prudent speed before letting himself out on the final heat, according to his custom. The French pilots Ciillois and Gabriel are in good condition a- is Wagne* on a Fiat car, who is also gaining. At th<* first round it appeals that the three Lorraine- Dietrich, the three Fi^t, the Renault mounted by Szisz, the three Darracqs and the two Mercedes are to take the lead in the race and are ahead of the Brasier Clement, and Panhard. As to the others they seem to be already out of the race. During the first round the Renault car mounted by Richez makes a skid and overturns. Bablot with his Brasier racer is just behind, and m trying to avoid him he run« up the bank and also has a spill, but the two pilots and their mechanic^ are not hurt and are able to repair their cars and start up again. What is striking about the race is that it does not end as is expected from the ■results of the fh st rounds During the first part of the race the struggle is between Wagner on his Fiat car, the Italian Lancia also on a Fiat and Duray, with the French Lorrame-Dietnch, and this was -without doubt the most exciting part of the event. On the second round, Wagner is m the lead, followed by Duray and Lancia, and the struggle between the latter two is very close ; at each round they appear together on the route, and Duray is following hard upon the Italian, seeking to pass him. At the fifth round Duray has the lead, and then is obliged to stop to fill up with gasoline. Lancia does the same farther on Almost all the interest m the race is now between these two champions. At the sixth round Lancia and Duray pass before the tribunes with scarcely a hair's breadth between, and Duray has now gained three minutes, seeing that he started later and he soon passes ahead oi his adversary. Lancia now begins to slacken, as something has gone wrong with his motor. On the ninth, or next to the last round, it seems as if Duray must win the race, since he is ahead, and Lancia is now obliged to abandon it as one cylinder of his motor is damaged. Unfortunately, Duray is thrown out of the race just as he expects to win. A ball-bearing m the transmission gear is out of order, and he is obliged to stop This changes the state of affairs and as the two champions have disappeared we now fi:d that the Italian Nazzaro is in the lead with his Fiat car, followed by Szis? piloting the Renault who is four minutes behind m the lace although, as he started first he finishes before Nazzaro At the final heat, Szisz crosses the line, but Nazraro who staited nine mmutes after him, has made the round at lightning speed, gaining ground m the final heat and crossing the finish only 6J mmutes after his opponent, thus winning the race after a hard struggle and a most brilliant performance of the Fiat car What is remarkable is that Szisz was the winner in the last year's race over Nazzaro and the latter has just won the Emperor's cup not long since Still more stukmg is the fact that Naz/aro is now winner in the three leading races of the season — the Targa Flonc, the Emperor's cup and the Grand Prix. His time m the present event is 6h 46mm. 33sec. for the total distance of 478.4 miles, making an average of 113 621 kilometres (70 55 miles) an hour. Second comes the French pilot Szisz on his Renault car, m 6 £3 10 3-5 Third Baras piloting a Brasier car in 7 5 05. Fourth, Gabriel on a Lorraine-Dietrich in 711 37 Fifth Rigal (Darracq car), time, 712 30 Sixth Gullois

(Darracq), in 7:15:58. Seventh, Barillier (Brasier car), in 727 54. Eighth, Garcet (Clement car), time 734 17. Ninth, Fitz Shepard (Clement) 739 56 Tenth, Hemery (Mercedes) 824 25. There were sixteen cars which were able to finish the race.

"Messrs Trengrove and Pethenck hove cabled for a l'i-18 Piley chassis for garage purposes. The body will be biitlt lordly. ****** The two-oylmier JRiley motor bicycle which was associated with th<=> fatality en New Brighton btc'Cii some months ago has been scM to Mr Stanley Morgan, captain ot the \*. elhngton Motor Cycle Club, who will have it enm erted by Messr". Trengrc\e and Pethenck into a bucket-seat c ide car. This machine, being the most powerful motor cycle in the dominion should easily attain a high rate of speed wuh the a 'dccl load." Mr. Peter Ellis, of Wellington, has started a'small workshop at No. G Ebor street, off Tory street Wellington At present he is engaged in making the patterns of his new steam motors which, are being built for the market, late experiments and tests having proved the emciencv of the engine. The engine at present under way is to be especially suitable for the country -district butter factories etc Being of simple design and comparntrs ely " fool-proof " a big demand may reasonably be expected for this class of engine, for, notwithstanding that gas and oil engines have found a large place steam power is preferred m many instances In starting this workshop Mr. Ellis has in view the making of patterns for castings of all kinds for engineering and architectural work, models for patents, mechanical and architectural drawings ana copies of drawings, sun prints etc. Also the giving of mechanical advice and assistance in working out inventors' ideas, works for which he is bv nature and experience well fitted. His eldest son has joined him m the business. ****** Mr. C. F. B. Livesay, architect, has commenced the practice of his profession at the National Mutual Chambers, Cxistomhouse quay, Wellington. ****** Mr J. Hoggard (until recently associated with Mr. Charlesworth) and Mr. W. J. Prouse (for some \ ears past connected with the firm of Messrs. Prouse Brothers), have entered into partnership and will commence the practice of then- profession as architects m their rooms, Hunter street. Mr. Hoggard, who has had experience m Wellington, has just returned from a visit to America, where he interested himself m architecture and sanitation Mr. Prouse has' had practical experience in timber construction and the use of New 7ea.land timbers.