1904 Gordon Bennett Trail Eliminations.
1904 Gordon Bennett Race
English Elimination Trials
Isle of Man: various tests (not a race)
10th May: 5 laps of 83.885 km (Isle of Man circuit)
11th May: 3 hillclimbs ½ mile (Port Vuillen)
12th May: 2 flying kilometre trials (Douglas Promenade)
Results:
1 9 Selwyn Francis Edge Panhard
2 6 Clifford Earp Napier
3 10 Sidney Girling Wolseley
4 12 Charles Jarrott Wolseley
5 3 Hargreaves Napier
6 1 J. Stocks Napier
Did not complete all tests/trials
7 Muir Wolseley
11 Rawlinson Darracq
14 Mark Mayhew Napier
4 Victor Hemery Darracq
2 J. Edmond Darracq
Notes:
1. The English Elimination Trial was not a real race. Having every intention of sending the
best cars, the English Club had determined to make an exhaustive trial. The racers were
to go through a five-lap run. In the course of the lap they would be timed and marked for
the following points:- speed over a three mile stretch; speed over a flying half mile;
speed over two miles up the hill out of Ramsey; accuracy of stopping at the controls;
time occupied over (a) taking in petrol and water, (b) serious repairs, (c) adjustments
and tyre repairs; skill in starting; variation over schedule time on the sections of the
course; and time occupied in passing through the controls. The Club did not wish to
subject the competitors to the dangers of driving at their utmost speed, as in a race,
and a certain amount of time was therefore allowed for each lap, the drivers having to
keep as nearly as possible to the schedule times
2. May 12th. On returning from the 2nd run to the starting point, the brakes on Earp's car
jammed and he skidded into a wall, smashing the car badly and injuring his brother, who
was acting as mechanic. Thereupon the third run was abandoned, and the Trials were at an
end.
3. Selected for Gordon Bennett Race: 1. Edge, 2. Girling, 3. Jarrott. Reserves Hargreaves
and Stocks. Earp was not chosen, as the judges considered that after such an accident
neither car nor driver could possibly be fit for the race in the short time available.
1904 Gordon Bennett Race
French Elimination Trials
20 May - Argonne circuit: 532.76 Km / 99.747 kmh (61.982 mph)
6 laps of 88.793 km
Results:
1 5 Leon Thery Richard-Brasier 5:20'28"0
2 7 Jacques Salleron Mors Z 5:40'02"0
3 10 Henri Rougier Turcat-Mery 5:45'05"4
4 11 Fernand Gabriel de Dietrich 24/28 5:48'20"8
5 6 Hubert le Blon Serpollet 6:13'32"2
6 15 Henri Caillois Richard-Brasier 6:21'27"2
7 18 Georges Teste Panhard 70 6:40'23"8
8 8 Henri Farman Panhard 70 6:51'00"0
9 26 Pelzer Serpollet 7:05'27"6
10 3 Albert Clement Clement-Bayard 7:10'52"8
Retirements:
21 Charles Jarrot de Dietrich 24/28 5 mechanical
20 "De la Touloubre" Turcat-Mery 5 mechanical
25 Phil Stead Richard-Brasier 4 stone in flywheel
24 Amblard Hotchkiss HH 3 crash
1 Baron De Forest de Dietrich 24/28 3 mechanical
12 Jean-Philippe Beconnais Darracq 3 cranksahft
17 Leger Mors Z 3 mechanical
27 Lavergne Mors Z 2 clutch
19 Arthur Duray Gobron-Brillié 2 split radiator
28 Henri Tart Panhard 70 2 overheating
4 Baron Pierre de Crawhez Hotchkiss HH 2 magneto
29 "Alexander Burton" Gobron-Brillié 1 split radiator
16 Chanliaud Serpollet 1 tyre
22 Louis Wagner Darracq 1 engine
23 Jacques Guders Clement-Bayard 1 clutch
2 Paul Baras Darracq 0 mechanical
9 Louis Rigolly Gobron-Brillié 0 split radiator
13 Rene Hanriot Clement-Bayard 0 mechanical
14 Achille Fournier Hotchkiss HH 0 crash
Fastest lap: Henri Farman (Panhard) lap 2: 48'44"6 (109,299 kmh)
Race leaders: Henri Farman (2), 1-2 ; Leon Thery (4), 3-6