Albert Lemaitre, Peugeot / Public domain
In 1894, what is sometimes referred to as “The world’s first motor race” was arranged. The editor of a newspaper called “Le Petit Journal” which was one of four dailies in France was credited with the race’s creation. His name was Pierre Giffard, and he masterminded the planning and promotion of the event in order to bolster the popularity of his daily.
The race was billed as “Le Petit Journal Competition for Horseless Carriages.” There were 102 entry fees which were paid, regardless if they arrived or not. It costed them 10-francs each, which was equivalent to about a week’s amount of paid work on an average salary in France. And prize money was a total of 10,000 gold francs.
As a result, the contestants entered with vehicles powered by many different forms of technology. Additionally, multiple entries were of the “unusual” sort. This competition really seemed to bring out the creative side of people.
Here is the list of unusual technologies used and the amount vehicles which used them as a power source for their vehicles, yet didn’t arrive for qualifying:
- Gravity – 9
- Compressed Air – 5
- Automatic – 3
- Electricity – 3
- Gas – 3
- Hydraulics – 2
Other technologies by vehicles unarrived included liquid pedals, propellers, and levers. And other petrol or steam-powered designs along with some four-wheeled bicycle cars known as a quadricycles, in addition to tricycles did not arrive for qualifying.
There were rules against stokers used for steam powered carriages. And if cars used these forbidden devices they were still allowed to race, but not allotted any of the winnings.
The race itself was held in the morning of July 22nd, 1894. So, 25 contestants started off at Porte Maillot and finished at the ‘Champ de Mars’ at Rouen – a distance of 1,178 km.
They were found to be using the banned stoker
The first vehicle to arrive had a time of 6 hours and 48 minutes. Because the winner was a steam-powered “tractor” it needed a stoker. It was manufactured by a company called De Dion-Bouton.
Among the famous passengers in its carriage was the writer Émile Driant. Unfortunately for them, they were found to be using the banned stoker and did not receive the first place prize of 5000 francs.
But De Dion wouldn’t let that stop them and went on to be operational from 1883 to 1953.
The first place prize was then awarded to the second place winner of a petrol-powered vehicle. Its vehicle was made by Peugeot, a popular vehicle manufacturer which is still operational and thriving today.
