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Gordon Bennett Motor Race 1903
Intro and Menu | June Articles
Leinster Leader, Saturday 6 June 1903 – Page 4
(Advertisement)
Motor Race Announcements.
Accommodation for Motors.
Extensive Storage in Spacious Yard,
quite close to
Town Hall, Naas.
Terms very reasonable
Cars will be carefully looked after.
Apply “Petrol,”
c/o Leinster Leader,
Naas.
z1ts
District Doings.
…
In Athy and Carlow.
The June “Motor News” says:- “With Mr. Coleman at
Carlow, Mr. Woods at Kildare, and Messrs. Duthie and Large
at Athy, the neighbourhood of the Gordon-Bennett Race is well
supplied with skilled repairers. The latter firm has already accomplished
some very complicated repairs. Their plant includes two large lathes,
drilling machines and punching and shearing machines.”
***
The same paper still harps on “the enormous prices charged for
hotel accommodation in connection with the Gordon-Bennett race,
in the neighbourhood of the course.”
***
The cry, however, has been sufficiently discounted by this
time, and may easily be ignored.
***
It may be well to mention, in the matter of accommodation,
that several Athy people, who advertised their houses through the medium
of auctioneers and otherwise, have not up to this received offers.
***
Many have not yet advertised, but no time should be lost, as
the rush will soon come and after all occupiers of houses in Athy and
Carlow have just as good a right to make money as the members of the
syndicate which is erecting a grand stand at Kilrush.
***
The “Motor News” also states the “the English papers
have got hold of the extravagant prices for accommodation demanded on
the Gordon-Bennett course,” and points out that “they have
fallen into the error, however, of supposing that the same charges prevail
everywhere”.
***
Charges in a number of Cork, Kerry and Down hotels are given,
and described as “most reasonable,” and then comes the hope
that “English papers will give prominence to this fact, and so
undo the mischief which they have done.”
***
If the influx of visitors be as enormous as is expected, it
is only natural that prices should be somewhat high, but we are confident
that, taking all the circumstances into account, there will be no room
for the accusation that the cost of rooms in this district will be exorbitant.
***
Extra stocks of all classes of provisions should be laid in,
otherwise when the anticipated in-rush of thousands comes, there will
be a sort of famine.
***
Mr. Orde, secretary of the Automobile Club, visited Athy on
Tuesday, and had an interview with Messers. Thos. Hickey, chairman
of the Urban Council; Mr. J. Minch, J.P., C.C.; and T. Plewman,
J.P. Mr. Orde wished to know if the Automobile Club might rely on the
assistance of 100 stewards as “a voluntary offering” in
Athy on the day of the motor race, and also if the Urban Council would
move the control back to the Model School.
***
As regards the stewards, Mr. Orde was given no hope, and Mr.
Minch said that to rely on such a contribution would only lead to confusion.
***
The District Inspector of Police (Mr. Sharpe) was accordingly
requested to make representations for an increase in the force of police,
as at present arranged for duty in the Athy Urban District, viz., 120
men. Military would only be stationed at the Curragh and the Heath of
Maryborough.
***
Mr. Sharpe said that in country districts the authorities had
arranged for about seven policemen to the mile, this number of Constabulary
to be supplemented by eight stewards.
***
This looks rather small, and it will certainly be unsafe as
well as dangerous to rely too much on volunteers.
***
The Urban Council are likely to approve of the control being
moved back to the Model School. The Geraldine Road would still remain
free, and those occupying positions on the Agricultural Grounds will
have an opportunity of seeing a spurt at full speed.
***
Mr. Orde states that the cars will certainly start at intervals
of five minutes, and that this will be retained at all the controls.
***
Should two cars therefore enter a control together they cannot
leave except at an interval of five minutes.
***