1904 Gordon Bennett Cup

Race report

The Times reported that the 1904 Gordon Bennett motor race took place in Germany on June 17, over 342 mi, consisting of four laps of a course in the Taunus Forest, in the vicinity of Bad Homburg. (The venue was suggested by Kaiser Wilhelm II.) From Saalburg the course ran north to Usingen, where there was a control point (for observation by course marshals), then through Grävenwiesbach to Weilburg, where there was a second control point, then past Allendorf and Obertiefenbach to Limburg. The Obertiefenbach-Limburg stage was the fastest of the event, enabling speeds of up to 150 km/h. At Limburg there was another control point. From there, the route was by way of Kirberg and Neuhof, where there was a very bad turn, then Idstein where there was another control point. It then ran through Glashütten to Königstein (a control point), then through Friedrichshof and the Oberursel control point to the Homburg control point and back to Saalburg.

Officiating were Baron von Molitor of the Automobilclub von Deutschland, the official starter, and M. Tampier of the Automobile Club de France, who was timekeeper. The chronographs for timing the event were supplied by the Anglo-Swiss firm of Stauffer, Son & Co. Officials from the other competing counties were also present.

There were 18 starters from eight countries, including three British entrants. The first car started from Saalburg at 7 a.m. The winner was France's Leon Théry, who accomplished the four laps in 5 h 50 min 3 s, an average speed of 58.62 mph. With each of his lap times within 3 minutes of the other, he earned his nickname of "the Chronometer". Jenatzy was second, driving a Mercedes. The only British competitor placed was Sidney Girling driving a Wolseley. Australia's Selwyn Edge, the 1902 winner who again drove a Napier, was reported to have held a good position during the first two laps, but was disqualified on lap three after receiving outside assistance due to tyre problems.

Classification

References

;Bibliography

References

1. [http://www.grandprixhistory.org/story.htm Grand Prix History online] (retrieved 11 June 2017)
2. ''The Times''. Saturday, June 18, 1904
3. [http://www.grandprixhistory.org/story.htm Grand Prix History online] (retrieved 11 June 2017)
4. "1904 GORDON BENNETT CUP".
5. [http://www.grandprixhistory.org/story.htm Grand Prix History online] (retrieved 11 June 2017)
6. [http://www.grandprixhistory.org/story.htm Grand Prix History online] (retrieved 11 June 2017) says {{convert. 54.5. mph. km/h
7. [http://www.grandprixhistory.org/story.htm Grand Prix History online] (retrieved 11 June 2017)
8. Hull, Peter G. "Napier: The Stradivarius of the Road", in Northey, Tom, ed. ''The World of Automobiles'' (London: Orbis, 1974), Volume 13, p.1483.
9. Hull, p.1488.
10. Onlookers helped throw buckets of water over the wheels to cool the tyres.
11. (Beaulieu, p206)