The Race
THE WEIGHING AT NAAS
Naas, being on the highway to the course, was a lively thoroughfare
for all sorts and conditions of cars from Monday morning to
the eve of the Race. Not until Wednesday, however, when the
cars were weighed, did the town make any real acquaintance with
the machines and the personages of the event. On that day the
spectacle was a memorable one - the Main Street being a rendezvous
of at least four nationalities and the Market Place a babel[sic]
of strange tongues. The weighing of the cars was due to commence
at 11 o'clock and by that hour a crowd had assembled in the
vicinity of the public weighing machine. There were amongst
other notabilities early on the spot, the clerk of the scales,
Mr. Samson, whose duty it was to ascertain and record the weights,
as honorary officer to the various competing interests, and
Mr J. J. Inglis, the Town Surveyor, who was an able "second
in command," so far as the practical work of the moment
was concerned. The English, French, German and American competitors,
with their mechanical assistants were all present, and the proceedings
were followed with interest by spectators grouped around the
machines, lining the footpaths, and occupying windows and balconies
overlooking the Market Place. The two weighing machines (which
had arrived on Wednesday and were stored in the town hall up
to Wednesday morning) were of an ordinary size and type. They
were located close to the "weigh-house." A space slightly
exceeding the width of a motor car separated them. Long, narrow,
metallic supports grooved to receive the wheels of the cars
rested on the pans of the respective machines. The wheels of
the cars were guided into these supports. The right and left
wheels of the car rested therefore on the respective pans of
the two machines, and the weight was ascertained by adding the
reading of the scale on the right hand side to the reading of
the scale on the left. Thus, a motor which registered 9cwt.
on the right hand side and 9cwt. on the left, would be returned
as 18cwt. This information acquires interest from the fact that
late in the day, when the French formally questioned the accuracy
of the machines, in consequence of the high registers made by
two Panhards, tests were made to discover whether there was
any fallacy in the readings, due to variations of level or otherwise
as between the two sides.
Considerable and wearisome delay was occasioned at the outset,
while the standard maximum weight - the weight which no machine
could be allowed to exceed - was fixed in English avoirdupois.
Here the wide difference between the English and Continental
metrical systems was the occasion of some confusion and discrepancy
of result, and the need for some universal system of weights
and measures, that would do away with all such bother and time-wasting
on International occasions, received further emphasis from the
conflict of calculations. At length 19cwt. 3qrs. and 7lbs. was
arrived at as the standard maximum, and the weighing was proceeded
with. The dashing and intrepid French motorist, Gabriel, whose
machine (the famous Paris-Madrid car) was the first to depress
the scale, and Edge, the holder of the English Cup, who weighed
off at a later stage, were the two personalities perhaps on
which interest was most concentrated. Edge alone of all the
competitors was greeted with a hearty cheer, which he received
with a modesty which is characteristic. Gabriel is also a modest,
unassuming young fellow, albeit keen and alert, and is the very
last in the world whom an uninitiated observer would suspect
to be capable of the brilliant daring and absolute contempt
of risk which have signalised his past performances.
Nothing notable occurred in connection with the weighing operations,
until the Chevalier de Knyff, the moment Farman's Panhard registered
a weight of 20cwt. Odd, immediately raised a question as to
the veracity of the scales. Mr. Inglis, (who was taking the
readings at the "Post Office side" of the cars, Mr.
Samson being engaged at the left), called Sergeant Boyle, the
Inspector of Weights and Measures, and after some discussion
between the French competitors and the Clerk of the Scales,
arrangements were made for a test by the standard weights in
Naas Police Barracks. After thorough investigation, the correctness
of the scales was vindicated, and the French objection terminated,
the cars being reduced the necessary amount by stripping them
of everything save what was absolutely essential to the running
of the car - cushions, tools, etc., being amongst the rejected
appurtenances.
The following are the weights arrived at. There were not officially
announced, being regarded, in the words of the Clerk of the
Scales, as confidential:- 1
|
FRENCH. |
|
Car |
Driver |
Weight |
|
|
C. Q. Lbs. |
Mors |
Gabriel (No. 1) |
19 3 0¾ |
Mors |
Gabriel (No. 2) |
19 3 1¼ |
Panhard |
De Knyff |
19 3 7 |
|
(reduced from
|
19 3 26) |
Panhard |
Farman |
19 3 3¼ |
|
(reduced from
|
20 0 10¾) |
|
AMERICAN |
|
Winton |
Owen |
17 0 21½ |
Winton |
Winton |
19 0 21¾ |
Peerless |
Mooers2
|
19 2 17 |
|
(reduced from
|
19 3 5) |
|
ENGLISH |
|
Napier |
Edge (No. 1) |
19 1 20¾ |
Napier |
Edge (No. 2) |
19 2 20 |
Napier |
Jarrott |
18 3 10¼ |
Napier |
Stocks |
19 1 1½ |
|
GERMAN |
|
Mercedes |
De Caters |
19 1 24½ |
Mercedes |
Jenetsky3 |
19 2 17 |
Mercedes |
Foxhall Keane |
19 3 3 |
During the progress of the weighing the scene
in the Main Street was most animated. The number of cars actually
in and passing through the town - taking one period of 30 minutes
as an example - must have considerably exceeded 100. The local
hotels and improvised restaurants did a roaring trade. The foreign
visitors were warmly welcomed everywhere, and expressed themselves
highly satisfied with the cordial attitude of the people.
The police, under the direction of Head Constable Salmon, rendered
much assistance and maintained good order.