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The
day the country stopped to watch the Great Race
If you can imagine or even better recall the excitement
that prevailed in Ireland pending the visit of John Fitzgerald
Kennedy, President of the United States of America to his
ancestral homeland in 1963 then you have some idea of the
euphoria generated by the staging of the Gordon Bennett
Motor Cup Race in the counties of Laois, Carlow and Kildare
one hundred years ago this year.
That this world event was ever staged in the Emerald Isle
was the result of a unique set of circumstances. An Englishman
Selwyn Edge had won the 1902 race and the onus was on England
to find a suitable venue for the 1903 event. Not as easy
as you might think because at the time there was huge resentment
in England against motor racing and motor cars in general
by vested interests of the day such as the landed gentry,
so much so that the politicians were afraid or unwilling
to confront them. But more importantly there was a twelve
miles speed limit on all roads in the British Empire, hardly
ideal conditions for the staging of a motor race.
Then into the breech stepped the right Honourable John Scott
Montague, an avid motoring enthusiast who also happened
to be a member of Parliament at Westminster where laws were
enacted that covered both Ireland and England. The Honourable
John drafted the Light Locomotives (Ireland) Act 1903, which
exempted cars from any statutory speed limit on the day
of the race. To overcome any political opposition by County
Councils the legislation would have to include an incentive
or sweetener. The carrot dangled in front of the newly formed
local authorities (formed 1899) was that the legislation
would absolve County Councils from all road improvement
costs on the chosen route. Cash starved County Councils
embraced the Gordon Bennett Race with the enthusiasm and
fervour of a Papal visit, what County Councillor could say
no to such a gift horse. The filling of almost ninety miles
of pot-holes and hope to be re-elected.
Several Councils passed resolution welcoming the race but
South East of Dublin was always the favourite to be chosen
as the preferred route as the level terrain and proximity
to Dublin would eventually be the deciding factor.
The world press attention was now firmly focused on the
chosen routes in counties Laois, Carlow and Kildare with
Athy the subject of most of the publicity where the race
headquarters was situated. Reports in the local papers indicated
that local representatives were not letting the grass grow
under their feet. At a special meeting of Queen (Laois)
County Council the principal business was the consideration
of the regulations for the Gordon-Bennett Motor Race suggested
by the local government board. At the meeting fears that
the emergency services would not be able to operate freely
on the day were allayed by the executive.
Mr P.A. Meehan presided and on the proposal of Mr. M. Mahon
Cuddagh and seconded by Mr. Dooley the Seal of the Council
was affixed. Also present at that meeting were Mr. Lowry,
Mr James Ramsbottom. James Conroy, Denis Shaughnessey (Stradbally)
and Mr. T. Timmons (Stradbally). Maryborough (Portlaoise)
Town Commission was not to be found wanting either in their
eagerness to facilitate the great race. They convened and
passed an order moving the Maryborough market from Thursday
2nd July (The day of the great race) back to Wednesday the
1st July. All was now in place for the preparation of the
route. Queen County Council, whose responsibility for the
Great Race stretched from the County bounds at Monasterevin
to the County bounds beyond Ballylinan made ever effort
that all would be right on the day. Council workers toiled
from dawn to dusk preparing the circuit. Their final task
was to spray a special mixture on the roads to keep down
the dust. While the public sector had been getting about
their business the private sector or entrepreneurs weren’t
sitting on their hands either. Every known service to make
you comfortable and enjoyable on the day of the race was
advertised.
Advertisements appeared in local newspapers offering a range
of goods and services guaranteed to make the day of the
Big Race s enjoyable as possible. The Leinster Express carried
notices of a Grand Stand at Aughnahila where the advert
stated ‘A magnificent position for spectators, near
the famous Rock of Dunamaise and immediately over looking
the course. Unbroken stretch of seven miles plainly visible
to the naked eye. Select, compact and well fenced site.
Absolute safety. Teas and Coffee at moderate charges on
grounds. Access of course up to 6 am. Tickets from 2/6d
to 7/6d.’
Tickets could be obtained from Nicholas Lalor (owner of
the site), Gaze and Jessop Auctioneers, Motor and Cycle
Agents, Maryborough or Mr. P.A. Meehans Maryborough and
Abbeyleix. The Windy Gap stand boasted of the ‘best
view on course, cars can be seen for miles thundering down
from Old Rock at Dunamise, through Stradbally and up to
the Mountainous pass at Windy Gap.’ Mr. E. P. Hannigan
and Mr. D.P. Shortall were in charge of the ticket sales
for the Windy Gap stand which were priced at 3s. to 5s.
each. For those that wished to view the race at the distance
could avail of the offer of J.D. Rowe, Maryborough whose
sale of ‘good field glass or telescope’ would
guarantee them the best possible view of the race. Prices
ranged from 12s, 15s, 20s, and upwards. If you wanted to
while away the time as you waited for the Racing Cars to
pass by you could avail yourself of the merchandise of a
Mrs. Collins who resided near “The Ancient Ruins.’
A history of the famous Rock of Dunamaise could be obtained
from her. Mrs. Collins talents extended beyond the role
of bookseller as she could ‘provide teas to parties
of visitors, on receiving notice and at extremely moderate
charges’. A versatile Lady you must admit.
Everything was now in place for the Great Race. A huge contingent
of Royal Irish Constabulary, (R.I.C.) Police Officers, some
seven thousand in all took their positions around the course.
From day-break crowds were taking up every vantage point
available. By 6am all roads were closed off to the public.
At 7am on July 2nd, 1903 Selwyn Edge in a Napier Racing
Car took off from Kilrush to the cheers of the spectators.
His advantage was short lived as Camille Jenatzy, (nicknamed
The Red Devil because of his red beard) and driving a white
Mercedes was soon in command and would lead all the way
to become the eventual winner. But while the time-keeping
and logistics were being carried out at Kilrush, Ballyshannon
and Athy the drama and real action was happening at Dunamaise,
Grange and Stradbally.
Charles Jarrott a member of the Great Britain Team and his
mechanic Bianchi were careering down the perilous Dunamaise
slope at 70 m.p.h. when the steering failed, the car hit
an embankment and somersaulted into the air throwing the
driver out but pinning the mechanic Bianchi underneath it.
Spectators rushed to the scene of the accident and lifted
the racing car off, allowing the trapped passenger to be
freed.
Jarrot who had initially directed operations now succumbed
to his injuries and fainted, both were carried to the nearby
farm yard of the Fingleton family of Grange where their
injuries were attended to by Dr. Kennedy. They were then
removed by ambulance to Rheban Castle Athy and despite being
badly shaken and suffering some broken bones Jarrot and
his mechanic made a full recovery to fitness and lived to
drive another day. Camille Jenatzy driving a Mercedes was
declared the winner of the 1903 Gordon Bennett Race with
1 minute 40 seconds to spare over his nearest rival De Knyff
of France, driving a chain driven Panhard. Jenatzy who predicted
that he would die in a Mercedes, and who by his daring exploits
was never destined to live to old age foresaw his demise,
but not in the way he had foretold. By 1913 he had acquired
a hunting lodge in the Ardenes Forest in France. One night
Jenatzy a practical joker slipped out from the house and
hid in the bushes. He started to imitate the noise of a
wild boar, then suddenly one of the hunting party leaned
out of a window with a rifle and shot him. An ambulance
was called and on his way to the hospital Jenatzy died.
The ambulance was a Mercedes. His premonition was fulfiled.
The Great Race as it was known brought much prosperity to
the area with the public houses and hotels doing a roaring
trade and every available inch of accommodation occupied
by visitors, who came from all over the world. It also left
the legacy of much needed road improvements to the benefit
of the local people long after the racing cars had departed.
Courtesy of the Leinster Express
May 2003
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