Motor Racing 1894-1914 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Count Jules de Dion

The 127km race was won by Jules de Dion in a car of his own design. He covered the 127km in 6 hours, 48 minutes. However, although de Dion crossed the line first, he was not actually considered the winner as his car was technically illegal, as it was a steam car that required a stoker.

The official winners were the Peugeot of Georges Lemaitre, and Panhards of Rene Panhard and Emile Levassor as these cars were judged the fastest, safest and best handling.

Answer: Emile Levassor

The 1895 Paris-Bordeaux-Paris is considered the very first auto race as it was the first race where all cars started together. Driving a Panhard & Levassor, Levassor, forgoing any sleep, covered the 1178km in 48 hours and 48 minutes, finishing 6 hours ahead of the nearest competitor.

Answer: 1903

The French were at the heart of the early automobile, with numerous constructors around France and most of the recognised races of the time taking part in France, with races starting in Paris and heading around the continent. In 1903, the Automobile Club de France staged their most ambitious race yet, from Paris to Madrid. Well over 100 cars applied to take part but the event would turn tragic. One of the founders of Renault, Marcel would die in the race and eight other fatalities led to the French Government steppingin, the race being abandoned on arrival in Bordeaux. City-to-city racing had come to an end.

Answer: France

The Gordon Bennett Cup differed from regular auto racing of the time as teams competed for their nation and not as individuals (effectively the Nations Cup of Motor Racing). This led to a reorganisation of the sport with cars now being entered in standard national colours.

This explains British Racing Green, Rosso Corsa of Italy and Bleu de France. French teams would win the Cup four times in 1900, 1901, 1904, and the last event in 1905. The UK won the Cup in 1902 and the Germans won in Ireland in 1903.

Answer: Le Mans

Although a Grand Prix was held in Pau in 1901, the first true Grand Prix, recognised by all motor racing historians, including the FIA, was held at Le Mans on the 26th and 27th June, 1906. On a circuit covering just over 100kms, 32 entires covered six laps on both days, with the Renault of Ferenc Szisz covering the 12 laps in 12 hours and 14 minutes, over 32 minutes in front of Felice Nazarro in a Fiat.

Answer: Targo Florio

The brainchild of Vincenzo Florio who had pioneered the Coppa Florio in 1900, the first Targa in 1906 was considered the ultimate test of man and machine. The race covered 3 laps of a 148km track, with the track covering substantial elevation changes and torturous hairpin bends. The first winner was Alessandro Cagno driving an Itala, who covered the 3 laps in 9 hours 32 minutes.

Answer: Brooklands

Built in Surrey, Brooklands opened its doors to the racing world in 1907. Measuring 2.75 miles in length, the circuit was effectively oval in shape with high banking at each end, with emphasis on spectator visibility. The first race was held shortly after it opened; and it was another world first as it was the first recorded 24 hours race with Selwyn Edge leading a Napier 1-2-3. Racing continued at Brooklands until the outbreak of the Second World War but, due to substantial bomb damage, racing never returned after 1939.

However, Brooklands remains standing today, a monument to a bygone era of motor racing.

Answer: 1911

Motor racing began not long after the gates opened at the Speedway in 1909 but due to major incidents taking place in the first weeks after it opened, the AAA boycotted any further events until improvements were made. This lead to the track owners lining the entire 2.5 mile oval with 3.2 million bricks, leading to the term 'The Brickyard', a name that has stuck. By 1911, a change in focus by the track owners led to the establishment of a 500 mile race on Memorial Day.

A field of 40 cars took part in the very first 500, with Ray Harroun the winner in his Marmon Wasp, covering the 500 miles in 6 hours 42 minutes.

Answer: Panhard

The first event was held in Long Island, with a 30 mile course set up on winding roads in Nassau County. George Heath would win the race in a Panhard, an American driving a French car, so the crowd and Vanderbilt had half a reason to be happy. American drivers would win most events up until 1916 with the first American automobile manufacturer to win the race in 1908.

Answer: 1904

The AIACR was established on June 20, 1904, after many national automobile associations and racing clubs took the decision to band together to formulate standard rules and represent the various interests of motor racing organisations. However, despite the establishment of the AIACR, the Automobile Club de France continued to organise the French Grand Prix until the outbreak of World War One.

Answer: Georges Boillot

Held on a 47 miles course in Dieppe across two days on the 25-26th June, 47 cars took part in the Grand Prix held across two days with ten laps each day and the aggregate time taken to decide the winner. David Bruce-Brown in a Fiat led the race at the end of the first day, but after the American was disqualified on lap 15, Boillot was handed an easy victory for Peugeot, finishing 13 minutes ahead of Wagner in a Fiat.

Answer: True

The first American Grand Prize was held in Savannah in November 1908, the winner being Louis Wagner driving a Fiat. Two more events were held in Savannah in 1910 and 1911, both won by David Bruce-Brown. Four more events were held until 1916 with Howdy Wilcox winning the final event in a Peugeot in Santa Monica. With the Indianapolis 500 becoming ever more popular, the American Grand Prix would not be held again until 1958.

Answer: Christian Lautenschlager

Christian Lautenschlager won the 1914 French Grand Prix as he led a Mercedes 1-2-3 on French soil, only weeks before the outbreak of the First World War. The Mercedes plan was simple, five cars would compete, with two cars effectively 'rabbit cars', forcing the rest of the field to chase them to destruction. Max Sailer in a Mercedes led until lap six when he retired with a blown engine, and Boillot took over the lead.

But constant stops for tyres whittled down his advantage, while Lautenschlager, who only stopped once, eventually took the lead on lap 18. Boillot, desperate for a third French Grand Prix win, chased the Mercedes in vain and his Peugeot would eventually retire on the penultimate lap, it's engine blown. Boillot slumped behind the wheel, in tears. Lautenschlager won from his teammate's Louis Wagner and Otto Salzer in front of a stunned and silent French crowd.

Answer: Jules Goux

Goux, driving the same Peugeot that would take two French Grand Prix wins, would be the first European to win the 500 at 'The Brickyard'. He would return again in 1914 and finish fourth but the outbreak of World War One led to a stint in the French Army. Goux would return to the USA three more times at the end of the war, but he would spend most of his time competing in the expanded Grand Prix calendar in Europe.

Answer: American Grand Prize

Three racing events were held in 1916, all in the United States. The Indianapolis 500 was held in May, but shortened to 300 miles with a Briton, Dario Resta, winning the final race before the events in 1917 and 1918 were cancelled. The Vanderbilt Cup was held on November 16th in Santa Monica, won by Dario Resta and finally the American Grand Prize was held two days later on November 18th, also in Santa Monica.

The event was won by Howard Wilcox and Johnny Aitken. All three events were won by Peugeot.