46 replies to this topic

[ensign14]

Yes, it actually might have happened.

Albeit only in a technical sense.

The 1900 Games were a bit of a disaster, they were linked with the Paris World Fair and what amounted to an Olympic event is still something debated to this day. For example Devon Cricket Club won the Olympic cricket title, much to their astonishment, by beating a British Embassy team. They thought they were on a tour of France but apparently they were in the Olympic final. They didn't find out until 2 months after they got home.

However, as part of the World Fair there were apparently a number of motor sport events that are considered to have been "demonstration" sports. Have a look here.

Motor Sports (drivers with manufacturers in brackets)


Motor Cycle: ??? (Werner) FRA, ??? (Creanche) FRA, ??? (Renault) FRA
2 Seater Car (Under 400kg - 815km) A: ??? (Gladiator) FRA, ??? (Georges Richard) FRA
2 Seater Car (Under 400kg - 815km) B: 1 ??? (Renault) FRA, 2 ??? (Outhenin-Chalandre) FRA, 3= ??? (Fernandez) FRA & ??? (Hanzer) FRA
2 Seater Car (Over 400kg): 1 ??? (Peugeot) FRA, 2 ??? (Delahaye) FRA, 3= ??? (Rochet-Petit) FRA & ??? (Serpollet) FRA
4 Seater Car (Over 400kg): 1= ??? (de Dietrich) FRA & ??? (Delahaye) FRA, 3= ??? (Brouhot) FRA & ??? (Hurtu) FRA
6 Seater Car (Over 400kg): 1 ??? (Panhard-Levassor) FRA, 2 ??? (Brouhot) FRA, 3= ??? (Georges Richard) FRA & ??? (Serpollet) FRA
7+ Seater Car: 1 not awarded, 2 ??? (Panhard-Levassor) FRA
Taxi (Petrol - 300km): ??? (Peugeot) FRA, ??? (de Riancey) FRA, ??? (???) FRA
Taxi (Electric - 300km): ??? (Krieger) FRA, ??? (Jeantaud) FRA, ??? (???) FRA
Delivery Van (500kg-1200kg, Petrol - 300km): ??? (Brouhot) FRA, ??? (de Dietrich) FRA, ??? (???) FRA
Delivery Van (500kg-1200kg, Electric - 300km): ??? (Krieger) FRA, ??? (???) FRA (only 2 starters)
Small Truck (100kg+ - 300km): 1= ??? (de Dion-Bouton) FRA & ??? (Peugeot) FRA, 3 ??? (Riker Electric) USA
Truck: 1= ??? (de Dion-Bouton I) FRA, ??? (Panhard-Levassor) FRA, ??? (de Dion-Bouton II) FRA & ??? (Peugeot) FRA
Paris-Toulouse-Paris (Motor Cycle - 1347km): Georges Teste (de Dion-Bouton) FRA 23:54:01, ?. Collignon (de Dion-Bouton) FRA 27:28:32, ?. Bardin (de Dion-Bouton) FRA 28:00:26
Paris-Toulouse-Paris (Small Car - 1347km): Louis Renault (Renault) FRA 34:33:38, ?. Schrader (Renault-Aster) FRA 45:49:35, ?. Grus (Renault) FRA 57:24:43
Paris-Toulouse-Paris (Large Car - 1347km): Alfred Velghe "Levegh" (Mors) FRA 20:50:09, ?. Pinson (Panhard-Levassor) FRA 22:11:01, Carl Voight (Panhard-Levassor) GER 22:11:51

The Paris-Toulouse-Paris race seems to have been one event, but there are a number of other things listed, by class and including delivery van racing(!). Does anyone have any details of this at all? Were all those classes within the Paris-Toulouse-Paris? Has someone sold GBR Athletics a car-sized pup?

[David McKinney]

To go immediately OT -
When the Olympic Games were held in Melbourne in 1956 the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park was widely publicised as the "Olympic Grand Prix" though it not of course have any status with the Games authorities.
Right. That's out of the way. Let's get back to 1900

[Peter Morley]

At the risk of deviating slightly from the original query:

Apparently Betty Haig won the 1936 Olympic motoring event in a Singer.

Last time I looked none of the Olympics websites mentioned the motoring event, plenty of Singer websites do, but I've never found much about the event itself or the other entrants.

[fasttoes]

I love to deviate... and I was only thinking of motor racing at the Olympics the other day (as you do...!)

They should have Olympic motor racing for anyone without a Super-license and use Caterham R500s

It'll never happen but it was a nice day-dream

At least I am free to ignore the Olympics as things stand... have they started yet?

[kayemod]

Originally posted by fasttoes

At least I am free to ignore the Olympics as things stand... have they started yet?

If you'd seen that pic of Rebecca Romero naked on her bike, I think you might be a bit more enthusiastic, it certainly awakened my interest in the Games. You can keep the rest, but which day is the women's beach volleyball on?

[Vitesse2]

The Olympic Rally in Germany in 1936 was no more official than the Olympic GP in Melbourne.

The Paris-Toulouse-Paris results look okay, according to Rose. But he doesn't mention any subsidiary contests. Braunbeck's Sport-Lexikon doesn't even mention the Paris-Toulouse-Paris!

Given that the so-called Olympic Games of 1900 were merely a sideshow to the Paris Exhibition, perhaps these "contests" were merely reliability runs or concours d'élégance of some sort? I've been trawling through the reports of the exhibition in The Times but found nothing.

It's also worth noting that there was an International Automobile Congress in Paris between July 8th and 15th.

[ensign14]

Motor-boating at Southampton Water was included in the 1908 Games and, intriguingly, motor racing was proposed, presumably at Brooklands. The Olympic statutes have since been altered to exclude motors.

But anyone have any idea about these 1900 races? Or were they reliability trials or whatever?

[Sharman]

What about that putt-putt in the cycling thingy?

[Arjan de Roos]

Wasn't there a Lotus bike used once?

Ferrari entered this at the Torino winter games, didn't fit in the bobsleigh track though...

[ensign14]

Originally posted by Arjan de Roos
Wasn't there a Lotus bike used once?

1992, Chris Boardman won the pursuit gold on it.

[kris-kincaid]

Ya know, it could be neat if they used shifter carts. They are relatively inexpensive. I'd let anybody compete, even the pros. Who knows, maybe some unknown from a tiny country would clean house on the pros??

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by David McKinney
To go immediately OT -
When the Olympic Games were held in Melbourne in 1956 the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park was widely publicised as the "Olympic Grand Prix" though it not of course have any status with the Games authorities.
Right. That's out of the way. Let's get back to 1900

Not forgetting that the usual schedule of sharing the event around the various Australian states was altered specifically for this to happen...

It was actually Western Australia's turn that year.

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Arjan de Roos
Wasn't there a Lotus bike used once?

Originally posted by ensign14
1992, Chris Boardman won the pursuit gold on it.

For the record, it was officially a Lotus 108 (not a lot of people know that ....)

[fines]

Need another OT post?;)

The 1932 Los Angeles games had Sprint Car races at Legion Ascot Speedway in its programme:

The 50-km sprint was called the "Olympic Games Sweepstakes", with GOLD Les Spangler (USA), SILVER Mel McKee (USA), and BRONZE Wilbur Shaw (USA).

Two weeks later, the 100-km sprint was called the "Olympic 100" (how clever ), with GOLD Wilbur Shaw (USA), SILVER Ernie Triplett (USA), and BRONZE Chet Gardner (USA).

Italy (Kelly Petillo & Nick Martino), France (Leon Duray & Guy Deulin) and China (Mel Kenealy) won zilch, no other countries present.

Hey fasttoes, I ignore Olympics, too!

[fines]

Originally posted by Vitesse2


For the record, it was officially a Lotus 108 (not a lot of people know that ....)

... and there was a production version, the Lotus 110!;)

[Arjan de Roos]

Originally posted by Vitesse2


For the record, it was officially a Lotus 108 (not a lot of people know that ....)

Yeah, like the 119 was the soap box, not really 4 wheel cars. Wasnt the Workmate called the Lotus 13?

Sorry Ensign for all our OT posts

[LotusElise]

Lola built a bobsleigh for the British Winter Olympics team in either 2004 or 2000, can't remember which.

[kayemod]

Originally posted by Arjan de Roos


Wasnt the Workmate called the Lotus 13?

Ron Hickman just called it his goldmine.

But seriously, the Lotus numbers went from 12 to 14. I don't think Chapman was superstitious, but there never was a 13. Of course, I'm sure Arjan knows that.

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by kayemod


Ron Hickman just called it his goldmine.

But seriously, the Lotus numbers went from 12 to 14. I don't think Chapman was superstitious, but there never was a 13. Of course, I'm sure Arjan knows that.

According to this list, the Lotus 13 was the Eleven Series 2 ...

[Mark A]

Originally posted by fines

... and there was a production version, the Lotus 110!;)

Which won a stage of the Tour de France and was 1st & 2nd in the Word Championships.

So quite a successful Lotus Racing machine.

[Peter Morley]

Originally posted by Vitesse2
The Olympic Rally in Germany in 1936 was no more official than the Olympic GP in Melbourne.

But they did hand out medals for it!

[Arjan de Roos]

Originally posted by Vitesse2

According to this list, the Lotus 13 was the Eleven Series 2 ...

Now we are at it, is this list of Lotus Type any good?

Type 116 Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220 (produced 2000-2005)
Type 117 Elise S2 2004MY
Type 118 1999 M250 prototype
Type 119 Soapbox derby car, no engine, FoS Goodwood
Type 120 1998 Elise V6 code name M120, never produced or Elise 111R
Type 121 Elise USA Spec or 2006 Europa S ??
Type 122 Exige S2
Type 123 Exige US Specs
Type 124 Europa S 2006
Type 125 ?
Type 126 ?
Type 127 211
Type 128 Exige S Supercharger
Type 129 ?
Type 130 ?
Type 131 Elise S

Or should I start a separate thread?

[Doug Nye]

From a British perspective - when hugely-rewarded allegedly professional British soccer players can't even look like succeeding in world-class tournaments - it's really rather refreshing to see Olympic success for more committed natural sportsmen and sportswomen - many having made considerable personal sacrifices to be there - in all manner of disciplines.

Ah yes...perhaps the key lies in that last word...

DCN

[Frank Verplanken]

Originally posted by fines
China (Mel Kenealy)

How did the Californian racer come to represent China

[RTH]

Anyone noticed that the vast majority, nearly all the medals won by Britain at the current Olympics have been in sports which involve either sitting down or lying down.

So a motor vehicle is only one further remove from a bicycle.

[David Beard]

Originally posted by RTH
Anyone noticed that the vast majority, nearly all the medals won by Britain at the current Olympics have been in sports which involve either sitting down or lying down.

Strangely, I heard someone on Radio 4 (who sounded as if he thought himself important) refer to them as "the Formula 1 sports"

[David Beard]

Originally posted by kris-kincaid
Ya know, it could be neat if they used shifter carts.

With all those "k"s in your name I find that little mistake surprising!

[fines]

Originally posted by Frank Verplanken

How did the Californian racer come to represent China

;) Kenealy was nicknamed "The Chinaman", allegedly because of contacts in Chinatown, LA. Would love to elaborate, but alas I lack detail knowledge...

[Hieronymus]

Cheng Congfu, the international Chinese racing driver, was one of the Beijing Olympic torch carriers.

[Sharman]

Didn't he say something significant or was that Confucius?

[Frank Verplanken]

Originally posted by fines

;) Kenealy was nicknamed "The Chinaman", allegedly because of contacts in Chinatown, LA. Would love to elaborate, but alas I lack detail knowledge...

Thanks Michael . Fascinating place the pre-WWII LA Chinatown... Wonder what Mel was up to there ...

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by RTH
Anyone noticed that the vast majority, nearly all the medals won by Britain at the current Olympics have been in sports which involve either sitting down or lying down.....

Another thing that was pointed out to me was that the shooting medals are all going to people of 'white' ethnicity, the running medals are predominantly going to dark-skinned folk.

[ensign14]

The Koreans and Chinese are pretty ace at the shooting.

Anyhoo, Paris...

[WDH74]

Interesting column over at ESPN.com about including motorsports in the Olympics. Can be read here:

http://sports.espn.g...ryan&id=3545018

I always liked the Race Of Champions events-I'd like to see it included in the Olympics, not that it'll ever happen.

-William

[Ross Stonefeld]

That article completely misses the point, but nicely defines why people want to be in the Olympics. Mainly, feeling left out of the spotlight for 10 days.

Do Edwards and Earnhardt not realise that for the other 50 weeks of the year they have massive profiles in their home countries? Take out the Olympics and the World Cup/European championships and F1 is the biggest beast on the planet. Yes 'football' as a sport is bigger than 'racing' but as a single championship F1 has a TV audience and geographic spread bigger than anything. The better watched F1 races are regularly the most-watched sporting event year on year that isn't a league/championship final or playoff. But for 2 weeks every 4 years everyone in racing feels left out. They won't care about the Olympics by month's end once all the championships resume and the TV cameras go back to where the money and spectators are. Think of it this way. Every February I watch the Daytona 500 and think "what if", the rest of the time I don't care about NASCAR. Every June I think "oooh, Le Mans" but can't be bothered by anemic sportscar racing the rest of the year. Each May things are wonderful in Indycar land, the rest of the year it's a sad state of affairs. Etc.

If motorracing was allowed into the Olympics, and dear god I hope it's not; it wouldn't be a Race of Champions or IROC type series, everyone would want a version of the discipline they do. So Kyle Busch wouldn't be racing Lewis Hamilton, Marco Andretti, and Sebastien Loeb. They'd be off doing exhibition versions of their own series. And if we did have say, a karting race as the motor sport representative you wouldn't see those guys either. You'd see the current field of world championship level gokarters as since they are driving and racing in them constantly, they will be fractionally quicker on the day than someone who's had to step back into one having spent years driving formula cars or whatever. So the pros would still be watching on TV wishing they were there as Davide Fore skitters away to another victory.

[drivers71]

[quote]Originally posted by Hieronymus
Cheng Congfu, the international Chinese racing driver, was one of the Beijing Olympic torch carriers. [/quote]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sharman
Didn't he say something significant or was that Confucius?

I think you're getting confused Sharman.........Congfu invented a martial art.

[Michael Ferner]

How did the Californian racer come to represent China

;) Kenealy was nicknamed "The Chinaman", allegedly because of contacts in Chinatown, LA. Would love to elaborate, but alas I lack detail knowledge...

[Lee Nicolle]

As a matter of interest the V8 Supercar race in November is at the Homebush site where the Sydney Olypmics were held. It was held last year too. Another bloody street course.

[HistoryFan]

are there more details about the 1900 Olympic games races?

 

all drivers/cars competing?

[bill p]

are there more details about the 1900 Olympic games races?

all drivers/cars competing?

Do you use Google before posting? You will find answers to your questions............

Edited by bill p, 12 August 2016 - 15:00.

[HistoryFan]

yes but for most classes at least the winners are unknown...

[Geoff E]

I was wondering if there had been motor racing at the 1906 St Louis Olympics, but apparently not.

[john aston]

I read that, pre war, town planning was an Olympic event - bet that got the stands a buzz with excitement

Edited by john aston, 15 August 2016 - 06:00.

[Vitesse2]

I read that, pre war, town planning was an Olympic event - bet that got the stands a buzz with excitement

Not only town planning. Part of de Coubertin's grand (grandiose?) vision: List of Olympic medalists in art competitions

 

The 1936 Games seem to have devalued the artistic competitions somewhat and although they returned in 1948, they were dropped for 1952.

[Dipster]

 Mainly, feeling left out of the spotlight for 10 days.

 

 

Is it really only 10 days?

 

Not being interested by any of it I thought it was dragging on for about 3 weeks or more. And there is no escape. Every news service (TV, radio, even print) seems to drone on about it.....  I realise that filling TV screens 24/7 is not easy but channels grab on to the Olympics with both hands and do not let go.

 

The only upside to the Olympics is the interesting post mortem when organising countries realise how much it has all cost them and they wonder why they did it and what they are really going to do with all the left over facilities.

 

I do hope that motor racing in the Olympics is just someones idea of a joke.

[ensign14]

I was wondering if there had been motor racing at the 1906 St Louis Olympics, but apparently not.

 

In fact there wasn't anything at the 1906 St Louis Olympics.  Quite a few events there two years earlier. 

 

There was a Games in 1906, in Athens.  De Coubertin had the idea that Athens would hold Games every year ending in 6 that didn't have another Games taking place (the Intercalary Games), but it only happened the once.  In fact it was a good job that they did happen.  The 1900 and 1904 Games had been such complete, total and utter disasters that the 1906 celebration of the original Games probably saved the Olympic movement.  It was also the 1906 Games that saw national teams for the first time.

 

And then the controversies between the British and Americans in 1908 helped give a tang that kept momentum going for after WW1.

[Collombin]

I have never seen the word "intercalated" used in any other context than in reference to the 1906 Olympic games. It's a "grassy knoll" type of word.