1904 Gordon Bennett Cup

The Times reported that the 1904 Gordon Bennett motor race took place in Germany on June 17, over {{convert|342|mi|km}}, consisting of four laps of a course in the Taunus Forest,[http://www.grandprixhistory.org/story.htm Grand Prix History online] (retrieved 11 June 2017) in the vicinity of Bad Homburg.The Times. Saturday, June 18, 1904 (The venue was suggested by Kaiser Wilhelm II.[http://www.grandprixhistory.org/story.htm Grand Prix History online] (retrieved 11 June 2017)) 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,{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} then past Allendorf and Obertiefenbach to Limburg. The Obertiefenbach-Limburg stage was the fastest of the event, enabling speeds of up to {{convert|150|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. 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.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} It then ran through Glashütten to Königstein (a control point), then through Friedrichshof and the Oberursel control point{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} to the Homburg control point{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} 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,[http://www.grandprixhistory.org/story.htm Grand Prix History online] (retrieved 11 June 2017) 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 {{nowrap|5 h 50 min 3 s}}, an average speed of {{convert|58.62|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}[http://www.grandprixhistory.org/story.htm Grand Prix History online] (retrieved 11 June 2017) says {{convert|54.5|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} With each of his lap times within 3 minutes of the other, he earned his nickname of "the Chronometer".[http://www.grandprixhistory.org/story.htm Grand Prix History online] (retrieved 11 June 2017) Jenatzy was second, driving a Mercedes. The only British competitor placed was Sidney Girling driving a Wolseley. Australia'sHull, Peter G. "Napier: The Stradivarius of the Road", in Northey, Tom, ed. The World of Automobiles (London: Orbis, 1974), Volume 13, p.1483. 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 disqualifiedHull, p.1488. on lap three after receiving outside assistance due to tyre problems.Onlookers helped throw buckets of water over the wheels to cool the tyres.

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;Bibliography

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• {{Citation |author=Douglas-Scott-Montagu, Edward John Barrington|title=The Gordon Bennett Races|year= 1963|publisher=Cassell & Company Ltd.|location=London}}

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{{Gordon Bennett Cup}}

Category:Gordon Bennett Cup (auto racing)

Gordon Bennett Cup

Category:June 1904 in sports

Category:1904 in German sport