1912 Belgian Grand Prix

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.

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

unbelievable that you find in austria information about this race


In France and Belgium I find no data

Thanks Vitesse2