Snippets
Leinster Leader Saturday 4 April 1903 - Page
8.
PERILS OF MOTORING.
POSSIBILITIES OF THE GREAT CUP RACE.
AN EXPERTS VIEW OF THE COURSE.
In the current issue of the "Motor News" - which by
the way is illustrated with several admirable views of the proposed
route for the Gordon-Bennett Cup Race, - some of the perils
of motoring are indicated. The Special Committee of the Automobile
Club, consisting of Messrs Claude Johnson, S. F. Edge, W. G.
D. Goff, and R. J. Mcredy, recently made a tour of the course,
and it was as a result of their tour that the "twisting
stretch" between Kilcullen and Naas, and Naas and Newbridge
was omitted. Mr. E. Glover, County Surveyor of Kildare, accompanied
them. The following extracts from Mr. Mecredy's description
of the proposed route will be read with interest:- "The
Newbridge road was followed to the North Eastern edge of the
Curragh. Here they wheeled sharp to the right. The road proved
narrow at first, but the surface was fair, and Mr. Glover expressed
the opinion that it could be widened, and the cross gutters
filled up. We happened to ask Mr. Edge if it were possible that
racing cars could pass each other on such a very narrow road,
and his reply was characteristic: "Where one car over takes
another, there it will try to pass, even if it has to run on
to the grass edge for the purpose." It brought home to
us very forcibly the fierceness of the great struggle which
is approaching. On the stretch of road referred to, an ordinary
touring car would hesitate to attempt passing even at a moderate
speed. The thought of the huge leviathans thundering past each
other at 60 miles an hour with the off wheels on the grass,
and only inches to spare, is enough to make anybody shudder
at the mere idea. Passing Mallock's Hotel on the edge of the
Curragh the road widened to Kilcullen, straight stretches succeeding
gentle curves. At Kilcullen a halt was made to examine the right-angled
corner, which we found to be banked the wrong way, and Mr. Edge,
gazing reflectively at the house opposite, remarked,
"THAT'S A FINE WALL."
It was decided that a control was unnecessary, but that a warning
green flag will have to be placed some distance up the road
if the house in question is to escape destruction.
Retracing our course on to the Curragh, we closely inspected
the corner where the short cut joins in to the Newbridge-Kildare
road, and on Mr. Edge's suggestion it was decided to cut away
the grass bank, so that any cars missing the corner though[sic]1
over-eagerness might run safely on to the hard green sward of
the Curragh. Under such circumstances the spectators in the
neighbourhood would have an exciting few seconds. Then we measured
a suitable distance back for a site for a warning green flag,
and Mr. Edge expressed the opinion that it was a deceptive bend.
We pointed out that the main road through the Curragh ran nearly
at right angles, and that the racers would notice the long line
of spectators. "They will notice nothing but the road in
front," was the significant response. These side lights
on motor car racing were decidedly interesting, and we congratulated
ourselves that we were not a competitor, and as a spectator
registered a vow to keep the right side of all bends and corners.
Passing over the River Barrow, swollen high be recent rain,
we came on
A TERRIBLE DOUBLE CORNER
Over a can bridge half a mile out from Monasterevan. Should
any one of the drivers miss the first bend, he will doubtless
find the waters cool and refreshing after the dust and toils
of the race; while if he misses the second bend a steep bank
and grass field will afford a soft resting place.
From Athy to a point near Old Kilcullen (9½miles) is
about the best part of the whole course, and it will have to
be traversed seven times in all, or a total of 66½ miles
of straight road. From Athy Railway Station there is a straight
stretch of ½ mile.
From Old Kilcullen, the road dips down a grand, straight, smooth-surfaced
hill, where the pace, if we mistake not, will approximate to
90 miles an hour. From this on to Carlow the general features
of the road are the same. Dead straight stretches of from one-half
to 3 miles are connected by slight curves, and, except for the
last three miles into Carlow, the surface is good and reasonably
wide. Near Castledermott2, Wilson's Bridge will have to be filled
up, and in Castledermott itself, it was arranged to have a control
between the Carlow Gate and Doyle's Hotel. The stretch from
Carlow, where a control will be, to Athy was modified. The first
stage to Mageny Bridge is the worst bit on the whole course,
owing to the winding nature of the road. Then follows a right-angled
turn to the left over the bridge, and another to the right.
The road from this on is narrow, with a succession of straights
connected by bends, and with two sharp corners near Athy. It
will prove a trying stage to the racers.
Mr. Edge's thorough inspection of the entire
Gordon-Bennett course has left him more than satisfied as to
its suitability. He thinks that it is a very fair course, and
that in places a speed of 95 miles an hour will be attained.
As regards surface, he thinks it is quite good enough, though
in this connection we may mention that the present condition
of the road cannot be taken as any criterion of what it will
be in July. Even the best Irish roads, owing to the system of
repair adopted, are always bad in winter and early spring, before
the metal used for darning has worn in. In addition to this,
if, as is intended, a sum of from £1,000 to £2,000
is expended, the results, though of a comparatively nature,
will be astonishing.
While the committee were discussing the road question at Athy,
and as to how the money could best be expended, a very valuable
suggestion was made, to the effect that a portion of the money
should be given direct to the road contractors, and that an
effort should be made to excite their emulation and sporting
enthusiasm, so as to get them figuratively and actually to leave
no stone unturned to make the roads under their charge as good
as possible. A sum of money paid beforehand with the promise
of the same amount if the road satisfied the County Surveyor,
would have an excellent effect. The appeal to their sporting
instincts would do even more, while if these men were appointed
road officials and given badges on the day of the race, that
sentiment which forms such a strong feature in the Irishman's
character would be touched, and they could be relied upon to
spend most of their spare time for weeks before the event in
improving the surface. This, in most cases, can be best done
by the use of pit gravel, which can be got in most localities
in the district at 8d per load. In places the steam roller will
have to be used, especially on that awful stretch of highway
between Athy and Ballylinan and also for the last three or four
miles between Castledermott and Carlow. Some parts of the course
are of such excellent surface that no money need be spent on
them."