New-York tribune., 1905-06-30
AUTOMOBILE CUP RACING.
Gratifying Trials for the Gordon
Bennett Trophy IN France.
Paris. June 10.

fhat the French are pleased with
.te result of the qualifying race for the
Carbon Bennett Automobile Cup is TO put the
matter tamely. They frankly and undis-
Suisedly delighted The fine showing mace
hv the competing machines on Thursday last
has inspired confidence in the team that is 10
a.tend the French coIors in the international
race on July and given reasonable GROUNDS Tor
hope OF a French victory. Something more than
rho qualification of national pride is involved for
France In such a victory. The sporting signih-
cance of the race is utterly ignored in view of
the vast business interests that would be aHect-
, ed by defeat. The Gordon Bennett cup-whether
for good or evil need not now be discussed
has become the symbol of world supremacy IN
the automobile industry. In France this nous-
try represents an annual turnover amounting TO
about $4,000, GOO; gives employment directly 10
thousands and indirectly to scores of thousands
of people; and forms of the most valuable
industrial and commercial assets of the country.
Ii is the comprehension OF these facts that
caused French automobile and business circles
70 demand revision of the rules governing the
race for this cup. In their view, France has
greater interests at stake than any other of the
competing natiors, and the French industry
they claim is unjustly handicapped by rules
that do not take thisaconsideraden into account.
France in fact, is held to be in the position of
an acknowledged champion called upon to de-
fend the position against a group of rivals who
collectively have everything to gain from VIC
tory and individually have nothing 10 lose
from defeat: and as tangible commercial in
serests arc the stake the concern is all the
keener.
IT is not surprising therefore. that the elin1i-
natory race round the Auvergne circuit on Thurs
day last should have been watched with an at
tention that was akin to anxiety Nor is 1t sur
prising that the results have caused a feeling or
intense relief Experts are more than satisfied
with the manner in which the French industry
triumphed in q severe test. Out of twenty-1our
starters fifteen completed the entire circuit OF
about 242 miles in time to be officially classed
Never in any previous of this importance
has the percentage of lame ducks been so
small A few of the machines that failed to
complete the circuit were forced out Of the race
by an organic defect in the mechanism. Far
man frankly acknowledges that he took turn
too sharply and thus lost control of the steer
ing He is still wondering how he escaped from
following his car down the precipice at the bot
tom of which it ended its career. Girardot came
to grief through the splitting in two parts of
a front tire. One of them bowled away down
the road The other got entangled in the gear
ing and caused the car to swerve. Before it
turned a somersault on NJ Girardot it smashed
a telegraph pole and barked a tree. Girardot's
escape is wellnigh miraculous as Farman's
The latter had not scratch. and Girardots in
-juries are limited to severe bruises. Trouble
with the tires eliminated the other machines
that had not completed the race when it was
declared over.
Another point worth noting is the remarkable
uay in which the fifteen machines that did finish
kept together from beginning to end. 1t is ad-
ntted that the course is one of the most
dueue that could be conceived. In the circuit Of
eighty five and half miles, which had TO be
covered four times. were comprised about 150
,urns most of them at acute angle and fur
TIER complicated by precipices one side or
cliffs on the other and all of them calling for
supreme skill the part of the driver If acci-
dents to be avoided. The road presented
every variety of ascent and descent. In the bar
gain. its surface mad been rendered treacherous
by the recent heavy rains. Combined. these diff
fculties searched out any weak spot in the ma
chine, tried the brakes to the utmost, wore out