The Race

FURTHER DETAILS.

INTELLIGENCE FROM THE CONTROLS.

The two "loops" traversed by the cars represented about 370 miles. The Carlow-Athy loop, which was circuited three times, was 45 miles odd; the Kildare-Monasterevan-Maryborough loop 58 miles. The gross times spent in each loop were exhibited on a blackboard, and certainly a more ill-managed arrangement it would be difficult to conceive. Figures were altered and re-altered to the confusion of those whose task it was to compile the returns for the Press. We give the figures in the rounds which possess most interest. ¹⁰

Name.	First Round	Fourth Round or half distance	Sixth Round	Seventh Round.
	H. M. S.	H. M. S.	H. M. S.	H. M. S.
Edge	1 23 23	1 54 59	-	-
De Knyff	1 33 47	1 38 16	1 33 39	1 38 41
Owen	1 33 57	Out	-	-
Jenatzy	1 26 58	1 31 52	1 31 32	1 37 19
Jarrott	1 25 14	Accident.	-	-
Gabriel	2 5 10	1 34 20	1 43 58	1 35 5
Moers	3 11 10	Out	-	-
De Caters	1 27 17	1 37 39	1 38 16	-
Stocks		Accident.
Farman	1 24 31	1 35 55	1 38 17	1 31 31
Winton	3 23 24	Out	-	-
Keene	1 23 3	Out	-	-

The most disappointing performance of the Race was that of Gabriel, from whom the public expected wonders. No doubt his speed at the outset was electrifying. His torpedo-like car went down Kilrush hill at a speed exceeding 85 miles per hour. It flew along touching the ground only at intervals. Passing the Grand Stand a second time, his pace had fallen to 'flat mediocrity.' His cyclinders[sic]¹¹
were out of order - his mad race was practically run. Hence-forth he ranked inconspicuously. But the fault was not the man's, but the machine's. The exhibition of nerve was indeed thrilling.
The Germans, who in popular opinion - influenced by the burning of their "crack cars" - stood no chance, supplied at even the early stage of the second circuit an "eye-opener" as to the powers of Jenatzy and the- comparatively- despised Mercedes. There was a striking irony in the fact that the motor darlings of France and England were left sadly behind by the German cars, which some folk were disposed to regard as makeshifts!
With the exception of Kildare and the Curragh, to which enormous crowds went by train and car, the attendance at the various points was small. Indeed, the Motor Race on the whole in this particular respect sadly disappointed the high expectations encouraged and formed.
A noteworthy incident at Ballyshannon was the unselfish act of the Baron de Caters, who stopped and told the anxious public that Jarrott's car was disabled but Jarrott himself happily unharmed. For such an act of noble self-abnegation, this competitor seriously prejudiced his chances. The courtesy and humanity prompting it will be long remembered when most of the other incidents of the race are forgotten.
Nothing very exciting occurred at any of the controls, save at Carlow, Kildare and Stradbally. At Old Kilcullen corner everything was orderly and businesslike, and the Press report a regard for their facilities which was singularly lacking at Ballyshannon. The attendance here was rather poor. At half an hour before the start of the race there were more police on the road between Ballyshannon and Kilcullen than there were spectators. As to what may have happened during the day it is difficult to say, but there were no crowds in the morning. The numbers who took up their positions on the V-shaped piece of heath between the two roads were neither reinforced or diminished during the day. Others could not get there - not, indeed, that there seemed any disposition of the kind. The only incident of note was that Gabriel over-shot the control mark, and evidently found some difficulty in reversing, while all of the Mercedes cars seemed to start with wonderful rapidity.