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Race back in time

What is now symbolised by aerodynamic vehicles cruising at breakneck speeds began with creaky
combustion machines moving at an average speed of 16 kmph. SUMERU SALLA turns back the hands
of the clock and takes a look at some of the major events in the history of car racing.

T
he year 1894 is considered the big bang
of car racing when it all began in Paris.
The key purpose of the first motoring
contest was to test the endurance of cars
with gasoline-fuelled engines, but there
were some other factors involved as well.
Organised by Parisian magazine Le Petit
Journal, the event was a publicity stunt to
increase circulation of the magazine. Introduced in a time
when horse-driven carriages were still in vogue, the race
was termed as a competition for horseless carriages.
The race drew 102 participants some even competing
with tricycles and quadracycles. Racers who completed
the first 50-km qualifier round were allowed to run for the
final lap of 127 km from Paris to Rouen. On July 22, 1894,

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Facing page: The 2008 Indianapolis 500
Above: Formula Renault 3.5 World Series, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain
21 qualified drivers began the race, and the finish line was
first crossed by Jules-Albert de Dion at a speed of 19 kmph
after covering the distance in 6 hours and 48 minutes.
The stakes were raised at the 1895 race held from Paris
to Bordeaux and back a distance of 1,178 km with the
winning car touching an average speed of 24.15 kmph. This
race however, is often credited to be the first race because
of various reasons: firstly, the 1894 event was more of a
contest whereas the latter was a competition purely for
racing; secondly, the winner of the 1894 race was declared
ineligible because of the easy to drive clause, which stated
that the car must not require a mechanic or stoker. Since
Alberts car was propelled by a stoker, he was not entitled
to receive the prize. These two significant events triggered
plenty of town-to-town races across Europe. However,
since the cars could then speed up to 8090 kmph, the
government banned races on the grounds of danger to
spectators and livestock.
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GLOBAL ENDEAVOURS
The first international race was
the brainchild of James Gordon
Bennett, owner of The New
York Herald. In 1901, Bennett
introduced a trophy to be
won annually in an event
where automobile racing clubs
of the world would participate
with three cars manufactured
internally. The onus of organising
the same rested with the
Automobile Club de France (ACF),
which would conduct races in
various circuits of Europe.
Owing to the popularity of the
Bennett Trophy, special trials
were conducted to select Gordon
Bennett teams, as more and
more manufacturers realised that
racing was a shortcut to fame.
By the end of 1905, however, the
ACF felt restricted to the limit
of three cars and discontinued
their involvement with the
Bennett Trophy, giving birth to
the first French Grand Prix held in Le Mans in 1906. This was
followed by the first Italian Grand Prix in 1908. Up until the
1930s, the cars manufactured for races were prototypes for
future models, and the event would, in a way, be a preview
to get a glimpse of the new models on offer. This changed
after World War 1, as racing assumed a serious demeanour,
and cars were manufactured solely for the purpose of racing
with customised, high-performance bodies and efficient
engines fitted inside lightweight chassis.
ADVENT OF PURE RACERS
By the 1930s, production prototypes were being replaced
by specially designed racing cars from some of the biggest
car manufacturing companies such as Alfa Romeo, Auto
Union, Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye and Mercedes-Benz.
Hybrids made their way around the 1950s and 60s and
started a trend that would continue well into the future. A
hybrid car today is characterised by its power and engine,
but back then it represented the cars overall identity and
style. For instance, the Allard J2X MKII was a hybrid, which
successfully combined European handling with American
muscle power. Similarly, the Lotus with its 1961 model Type
19 and the 1966 AC Cobra 427 were manufactured. The
blend of mostly British chassis and American V8 engines
gave birth to the Can-Am series in the 1960s and 70s.
Heres a look at some of the most important events in
motor racing:
THE CARRERA PANAMERICANA
It began in 1950 with the completion of Mexicos Pan-
American Highway as a mode to attract international
businesses. Spanning over 3,000 kms between Tuxtla
to Juarez, the race exhibited some of the most extreme
conditions seen on racetracks. Even after careful selections
and engine tuning, carburettors had to be adjusted to
deal with the thinning air at higher altitudes. According to
Alfred Neubauer, the then racing manager of the Mercedes-
Benz Grand Prix team, this race was a combination of the
Grand Prix of Tripoli, the Mille Miglia of Italy, Germanys
Nrburgring and the 24-hour Le-Mans. The road was paved
with a mixture of highly abrasive volcanic ash, which could
reduce a new tyre to a bald and worn-out state after a mere
thousand kilometres.
A BMW 328 (1937) at the Mille Miglia race in 2010
Touted as one of the most difficult races, the tour for
the Panamericana began in a tropical climate in damp
temperature and extended along a road, which went from
sea level to a dizzying height of 3,000 metres all within
72 hours. The cars that enjoyed success at different stages
were the Oldsmobile 88, Mercedes-Benz Gullwing 300SL
and Porsche 550 Spyder among others. Porsche even
named the Carrera and later the Panamera car models after
this race.
THE NEW YORK TO PARIS RACE 1908
Also known as the Great Auto Race of 1908, the event
included six drivers from France, Germany and the United
States of America. Sponsored by The New York Times, the
race began on a freezing February day from Times Square.
The initial route from Alaska through the Bering Strait
was altered due to its unforgiving conditions. While the
drivers were diverted to Seattle, their cars were shipped to
Yokohama in Japan. They then moved to Vladivostok in the
Tundra region of Siberia and later to Europe. Only three of
the competitors made it through the gruelling conditions
across continents. The race took place at a time when
horses were a favourable mode of transport and sceptics
were still mulling over the use of an automobile over
the quadruped.
MILLE MIGLIA
Started in 1927, Mille Miglia was the race that
put Italy on the map of international motoring
events. The USP of the race was its sheer
simplicity and the fact that it invited participation
from anyone who was interested for a nominal
entry fee of 1 lira. Furthermore, the criterion
for racing was strictly limited to unmodified
production cars. In 1938, following the shocking
accident of Spanish racer Alfonso de Portago,
Italian ruler Benito Mussolini banned the Mille
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Miglia, but it was later resumed in 1940. The
accident, which reportedly led to the death of
nine spectators, including three children, was a
major setback for the racing event.
24-HOURS OF LE MANS
At a time when racing events were about
competing with the fastest cars, the Automobile
Club de lOuest (ACO) organised the 24-hours
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Grand Prix motorsport racing
Le Mans in 1923 for the sole purpose of testing the
endurance and reliability of cars and drivers alike.
The race is traditionally held in the town of Le Mans, and
cars have to strive to keep up their position for 24 hours
with as little mechanical damage as possible. The Sarthe
Circuit in France, where races have been originally held,
uses local roads, which remain open to the public all year
round. This in turn stretches the drivetrain components and
engines to their extreme limits thus forcing innovation into
the sport. Racing consistently for 24 hours on primary fuel
also means that cars have to be more fuel-efficient.
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INDIANAPOLIS 500
Considered as The Greatest Spectacle in
Racing, the Indianapolis 500 has been
held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
since 1911. This race is held on the oval-
shaped speedway with cars reaching a
speed above 320 kmph and covering a
total distance of 500 miles from start to
finish. The race has seen a number of
innovations that have shaped the way
we drive our cars today seat belts,
turbochargers, intercoolers and rear
view mirrors to name a few. In addition
to that, Carl G. Fisher, the founder of
Indy500 introduced the concept of
using a pace car in the race for safety.
Some of the most influential cars of
Indianapolis 500 include the 1911
Marmon Wasp, 1955 Offenhauser, 1965
Lotus 38, 1923 Mercedes-Benz and the
1971 Mclaren M16.
MONACO GRAND PRIX
One of the most notorious tracks for
F1 racing, Monaco Grand Prix has
a formidable as well as desirable
reputation among racers. Started in 1929
by Antony Noghs, the Monaco Grand
Prix surprisingly saw no participation
from Maserati and Alfa Romeo in its
inaugural race. The 3,340-km circuit
comprising several elevation changes,
tight corners and a narrow course make
it one of the most trying racetracks in
the world. Three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet famously
stated that racing at Monaco is like trying to cycle in your
living room, but added that a win here is worth two
anywhere. The Monaco Grand Prix, along with IndyCar and
Le Mans, forms the Triple Crown of the three most famous
races in the world.
While the origin of car racing may have been accidental,
what it has developed into has been the result of many
incidents leading up to the thrilling sport that it has become
today. It is therefore intriguing and interesting to travel
through time and learn about racing.