8 replies to this topic

[Oleksij Hrushko]

Leafing through a book of 'A Motor Racing in Camera 1894-1916' by Georgano I found the photos from 1912 Belgian Grand Prix. I always thought that first Belgian GP was held at 1925. Georgano wrote that "The first country after France to organise a national Grand Prix was Belgium, who held a two-day event totalling 720 miles in July 1912... The Grand Prix was really more of a reliability trial for there was no outright winner. Cars which maintained an average speed allotted to them on a cubic capacity basis were awarded points, highest marks going to the Minerva and Mercedes teams".
On the photos from book #9 car (SAVA) is seen (no driver mentioned) and on another - Model T Ford (Catala driving through Dinant). It is also mentioned, that event did not attract a very exciting international entry, but such makes as Minerva, Miesse, Germain, FAB and Mercedes participated.

The only information I found in Internet is - http://www.les24heur...-mathis-au-mans As I understood, the only three-cars teams could participate in the event. The Hermes team took the "Coupe du Roi". It is also stated the date - 21 July and Hermes' drivers - Esser #5, Simon #17 and Sauvenière #24.

In this forum I found only one post, mention this race - http://forums.autosp...w...st&p=524973

20 juni 1912 The first Grand Prix du RACB (Belgische GP) in Spa
for tour car and with petrol consumption formule
classe ? - 1° Riechen – Miverva
classe ? - 1° Biessoux - Hermes Mathis

Another date is stated.

Can anybody provide more information about this event. If it is allowed, I can provide photos from Georgano's book.

[Rob Semmeling]

The Grand Prix du Royal Automobile Club de Belgique / Coupe du Roi des Belges took place on the Circuit d'Anseremme-Dinant, which ran via Dinant - Ardenne - Vignée - Beauraing - Anseremme - Dinant, or perhaps vice versa, on 20-21 July 1912.

The second edition of the event was originally scheduled for 19-20 July 1913, but ultimately moved to 24-25 August and a circuit near Spa instead, where it took place as the first Grand Prix de Belgique.

Edited by Rob Semmeling, 09 March 2012 - 12:13.

[Boniver]

The Grand Prix du Royal Automobile Club de Belgique / Coupe du Roi des Belges took place on the Circuit d'Anseremme-Dinant, which ran via Dinant - Ardenne - Vignée - Beauraing - Anseremme - Dinant, or perhaps vice versa, on 20-21 July 1912.

The second edition of the event was originally scheduled for 19-20 July 1913, but ultimately moved to 24-25 August and a circuit near Spa instead, where it took place as the first Grand Prix de Belgique.

21 juli 1912 - first Grand Prix du Royal Automobile Club Belgique
Circuit des Ardenne
Dinant - Ardenne - Vignse - Beaurang - Anseremme
2 days
1200km (???)
1. Rene Croquet - Th Schneider 16 Hp sport - 17H30 80 km/h
2. Dragutin Esser - Mathis Hermes

start (?) :Sava - Ford - Minerve - Miesse - FAB - Mercedes


21 juni 1913 no race

24 augustus 1913 - 2° Grand Prix du Royal Autimobile Club Belgique
Circuit Des Ardenne
Spa - Franchorchamp - Sart - Tiege - Spa (lac Warfoaz)= 21.2 km
2 days
756 km (???) or 756 miles (???)
Race cars
1. Leon Derny - Springuel Imperia 13 hp
2. Leon Elskamp - Mercedes GP 4100
3. Berger - Sava

Jean de Woelmont - Sava - fatal crass

[Vitesse2]

Very comprehensive report of 1912 in the Austrian AAZ starts here:

http://anno.onb.ac.a...d...=12&zoom=33

1913 starts here:

http://anno.onb.ac.a...d...=52&zoom=33

[Boniver]

The Grand Prix du Royal Automobile Club de Belgique / Coupe du Roi des Belges took place on the Circuit d'Anseremme-Dinant, which ran via Dinant - Ardenne - Vignée - Beauraing - Anseremme - Dinant, or perhaps vice versa, on 20-21 July 1912.

The second edition of the event was originally scheduled for 19-20 July 1913, but ultimately moved to 24-25 August and a circuit near Spa instead, where it took place as the first Grand Prix de Belgique.

28 juli 1914 - start first World War

the last race in Belgium was 13 juli 1914 Meeting d Oostende

in 30 aug 1921 there was the first race after the War in Belgium - Cote de Malchamp - Hill race

in 12 aug 1922 there was the 3° GP du RACB
circuit Francorchamp (!!)
for sport cars
1. Raymond de Tornaco - Imperia (= father of Charles de Tornaco 1953 - 1954 4 GP)

[David McKinney]

in 30 aug 1921 there was the first race after the War in Belgium - Cote de Malchamp - Hill race

... and another fatality

Incidentally, I have the date for that as 21 August, as a replacement for the cancelled Belgian GP. There was also apparently a straight-line sprint as part of the meeting

[VDP]

David

27/31 august 1921

The first race in Belgium after the war Battlefield rally in 1919.

After in 1920 Coupe Flamand (speed trial)

Robert

[David McKinney]

Probably a historical typo on my part (21 for 31)

And Robert, in English we do not use the term "race" for hillclimbs, sprints, speed trials or rallies

[Boniver]

unbelievable that you find in austria information about this race


In France and Belgium I find no data

Thanks Vitesse2