THE GORDON BENNETT RACE

The Gordon Bennet Cup
The first running of the Gordon Bennett Cup took place in France in 1900. It started in Paris and finished in Bordeaux. James Gordon Bennett, the editor of "The New York Herald" donated a cup for the race, the "Coup International" or the "Gordon Bennett Cup Race". When British driver SF Edge won the 1902 race, the next years event was to be held in England. There was much opposition to the running of the race in England where a 12m.p.h. speed limit applied. Another venue was sought and members of the racing club came to Ireland to examine the roads. And so the first ever Gordon Bennett Race took place in Ireland in 1903. This race attracted the world's greatest drivers of the day. It had a truly international flavour - 12 entries, three each representing France, Britain, Germany and the U.S.A. The race started at Ballyshannon, some ten miles from Athy on the Dublin road and the course selected was in the nature of a figure of eight. The first loop of the eight went to near Kilcullen, down the main road to Carlow doubled back by Mageney to Athy and on to Ballyshannon again. The second loop went left to the Curragh to near Port Laoise through Stradbally, the Windy Gap, Ballylinan and Athy and off again to Ballyshannon. The cars were not raced through the towns, but were led by a cyclist between controls at the outskirts. There was a fine grandstand at the Moat of Ardscull and the best seats were £1 each.

The race was won for Germany by the Belgian Jenatzy, in the time of 6 hours, 39 minutes at an average speed of 49 miles per hour for the 347 miles of the course. He was known as the "Red Devil", presumably for the fury of his driving. One car went on fire and another crashed near Stradbally.

The Gordon Bennett Trophy