5 replies to this topic

[Chico Landi]

Since I’ve bought and read (at least, the years pre-F1) Cimarosti’s History of GP book, I’ve became more and more interested for the very beggining of motor racing. Reading Egon’s “1900” threads, I’ve noticed that is interest is even bigger among TNF members than I’ve first thought. Therefore, I wanted to share with you some of the (very small) history of the first (official) race in South American. It was in São Paulo, in July 26th, 1908.

FIRST “UNOFFICIAL” RACES:
Before we start, it is important to notice that certainly there had been races in Brazil before the date above. The only problem is that it is probably impossible to find much data about them, as they were not officials. It was just a meeting of enthusiastic drivers to test their skills, maybe betting money as a prize for the winner, but certainly not under rules made by any official automobile organisation, as they haven’t been founded by then.
What is known about these unofficial races is that, by request from the drivers – all of them members of the society elite – the city tramways used to be turned off. The audience, instead of protesting against the lack of public transport, gathered round the streets in excitement to see the car races. Certainly one of them took place in 1902 at the Mooca hipodrome, in São Paulo. And another one happened in Rio de Janeiro in 1905, starting from the Largo do Machado. A few known drivers that took part in these competition were Willy Borghof, Humberto de Lima e Berogin and Primo Fioresi. The late one was probably the most important witness of the dawn of motorsports in Brazil. He also raced at the Gávea circuit in the 30’s and, incredibly, took part of the first Brazilian 1000 Miles race, in 1956, with 73 years of age. Unfortunately, I’ve never found so far any kind of interview with him.

BACKGROUND OF AUTOMOBILES IN BRAZIL IN 1908
The first automobile imported to Brazil was a Peugeot. It was brought in 1891 by no less than Alberto Santos-Dumont, the aviation pioneer and inventor of the wrist watch. Then he was still young, just a son of a wealthy farmer and railway engineer and about to start his first experiments with baloons in Paris, where he studied. Until 1907, approximately 600 cars entered the country, according to the Foreign Relations Ministry. At the following year, it was 297 cars entering the brazilian ports – a big improvement.
The reason for this “boom” in 1908 was the beggining (official, at least) of motor racing in Brazil. It all began in march, when frenchman Count Lesdain arrived in Rio de Jarneiro, bringing his brand new Brasier. He was an adventurer, who became famous by crossing with a car through inospit paths in Africa and Asia.
His first goal in Brazil was to climb the Corcovado mountain. Driving over the existent train tracks, it was no big problem for him. With his reputation at it’s high, he soon fell into the grace of rich and important people of the city, who were, not by coincidence, those who had found the Automóvel Clube do Brasil the year before. With their help, he gathered information enough to make a much more daring crossing, that between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil’s two most important cities (then, and now too).
With the help of three french Rio chaffeurs (Henri Trotet, Gaston Conte and Albert Vivès), who could speak portuguese perfectly, Lesdain began the 700 km crossing. The first day was troubleless, but soon the four bravemen lost direction between Bananal and Mendes. They were saved by the Major Luís Barbosa da Silva, an important farmer and political chief of the region, who not only helped them to get out of there but also insisted to scort them until São Paulo, which proved very valuable assistance. After 36 days crossing thousands of seas of mud, sleeping under the stars and facing the most unexpected situations, the five gentlemen arrived in São Paulo as heros.
Now it was the time of the Paulista’s high society to make the honours to Lesdain. In a reception at a mansion of a wealthy family, Lesdain already announced his next adventure: to make the first car trip from São Paulo to the port of Santos, 63 kilometres down the mountain. It was not the apropriated place to tell this, as some of the presents, all car enthusiasts, decided to make this before the French, “in honour of the paulistas”. Lesdain was invited in name of sportiviness, but declined, as he did not wantes to share his glories. In two days, a group composed by Paulo Prado, Antonio Prado Júnior, Clóvis Glicério, Bento Canabarro, the journalist Mário Cardim and the french mechanic Malet prepared a Sizaure-Naudin and a Motobloc for the crossing, which was completed after 36 and a half hours. It was April 17th.

THE FIRST RACE
After all these adventures and its impact on the media and in the society, grew the enthusiasm around the automobile. With the support of the Minister of Justice Washington Luís (himself a big fan of cars), the Automóvel Clube de São Paulo was founded on June 11th by Prado Júnior, Glicério and Sílvio Álvares Penteado. Their first act was to set a race, initially for July 14th (french indepence day, to honour the importance of that country in motorsport), but later postponed to July 26th.
Washington Luís himself traced the Itapecerica circuit, using 75 kilometres of road, with a poligonal design. It started and finished in the Parque Antártica stadium, heading to the Itapecerica da Serra city through Pinheiros district, and returning through the Santo Amaro district. Some parts of the track were in awful conditions, but were improved before the race by the city mayor, who gave total assistance to the ACSP.
The format of the competition was a raid, with drivers departing in intervals of 8 minutes, the winner being the one to cover the distance in less time. Count Lesdain was also invited. The competitors were divided in 5 categories, as below:
Class A - Motorcycles
Procópio Ferraz (Griffon); João Rosas (Griffon); Eduardo Nielsen (Griffon)
Class B – Voiturettes:
Antonio Prado Júnior (Delage); José Prates (Lion-Peugeot); Luís Prado (Sizaure-Naudin); Ferrucio Olivieri (Lion-Peugeot)
Class C – Cars (20 to 30 HP) :
Alípio Borba (Diatto-Clément); Jordano Laport (Renault); Paulo Prado (Berliet); Luís Moraes (Bayard-Clément); Count Lesdain (Herald); Fúlvio Bassi (Clément); Frederico Otto (NAG)
Class D – Cars (40 HP) :
Gastão de Almeida (Lorraine-Dietrich); Sílvio Álvares Penteado (Fiat); Ricardo Vilela (Brown); Osvaldo Sampaio (Fiat)
Class E – Cars (over 45 HP) :
Jorge Haentjens (Lorraine-Dietrich)


Despite crashing his Brasier days before the race and having to compete with a borrowed Herald, Count Lesdain was the natural favourite to the victory. The french Consul, Jacques Dupas, was so sure of the success of his compatriot that had brought a journalist from the news agency Havas specially for the event.
But the dream of “Le Bleus” was finished already before the start. When trying to avoid the immense crowd that gathered around the Parque Antártica, Lesdain crashed his car into the entrance wall, having no option as withdrawn. Another competitor who haven’t made the start was Luís Prado, who banged the wheels of his Sizaure-Naudin into the sidewalk after slipping in a tramway track when driving to the stadium.
At 12h55, Haetjens got the sign to start. As he was the only driver in his category, he was considered hors-concours. Then the other drivers were allowed to go after every eight minutes, for the dust raised by the previous competitor to set down. The crowd praised everyone of them with enthusiasm, specially those with the Fiats, as italian immigrants in São Paulo were the majority.
Even before the departure of the last car, Haetjens was back. He completed the round in 1h31m55, with na average of 48,9 km/h. News arrived from the official stands in Santo Amaro (after 2/3rds of the track) stated that Gastão de Almeida had an intermediate time even better than Haetjens. But Almeida got an oil leak in his Dietrich, loosing precious time and the victory.
In the end, the winner was Silvio Álvares Penteado in a Fiat, who covered the 75km in 1h30m05, with 50 km/h average.Only two cars haven’t finished the distance: Ricardo Vilela suffered na oil leak, and Fulvio Bassi had engine trouble. José Prates overturned his car, injuring his nose, but went back to the race. Luís Moraes and Frederico Otto finished the distance with a tyre punctured.
Penteado, member of a wealthy family of the rural aristocracy of São Paulo, received a beautiful silver trophy, which can be located today at the ACSP building (now called Automóvel Clube Paulista – ACP). A few months later, he also got a letter from FIAT, full of compliments and with a golden medal, which is still kept at the family farm in Araras, São Paulo state.
A year later, the first official race in Rio de Janeiro took place, at São Gonçalo district. The winner was Gastão de Almeida (sorry, but I have no further info about this event).

RESULTS:
Class A – motorcycles:
1) Eduardo Nielsen (Griffon) – 1h54m48
2) Procópio Ferraz (Griffon) – 2h42m00
Class B – Voiturettes:
1) Antonio Prado Júnior (Delage) – 2h00m48
2) Ferrucio Olivieri (Lion-Peugeot) – 2h05m15
3) José Prates (Lion-Peugeot) – 2h30m33
DNS) Luís Prado (Sizaure-Naudin)
Class C – Cars (20 to 30 HP) :
1) Jordano Laport (Renault) – 1h45m04
2) Paulo Prado (Berliet) – 1h51m28
3) Alípio Borba (Diatto-Clément) – 2h05m53
4) Frederico Otto (NAG) – 2h18m55
5) Luís Moraes (Bayard-Clément) – 2h49m23
DNF) Fúlvio Bassi (Clément) - engine
DNS) Count Lesdain (Herald)
Class D – Cars (40 HP) :
1) Sílvio Álvares Penteado (Fiat) – 1h30m05
2) Gastão de Almeida (Lorraine-Dietrich) – 1h57m45s
3) Osvaldo Sampaio (Fiat) – 2h41m54
DNF) Ricardo Vilela (Brown) – Oil Leak
Class E – Cars (over 45 HP) :
1) Jorge Haentjens (Lorraine-Dietrich) – 1h31m55

SOURCES:
GONÇALVES, Vergniaud Calazans. A primeira corrida na América do Sul. São Paulo, Empresa das Artes, 1988.
LEME, Reginaldo. História do Automobilismo Brasileiro. Rio de Janeiro, Sextante Artes, 1999.
SCALI, Paulo. Circuito da Gávea. São Paulo, Tempo & Memória, 2001.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Chico,
I always thought racing had started there in the thirties. How ignorant a thought. Thank you for not only a very nice story but also for sharing this rather interesting subject. I did not know any of that.

[Michael Müller]

Very interesting report, indeed.
I think racing started all over the world the day when the 2nd automobile was sold ...!

[quintin cloud]

Well Done Chico

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Hans Etzrodt
Chico,
I always thought racing had started there in the thirties. How ignorant a thought. Thank you for not only a very nice story but also for sharing this rather interesting subject. I did not know any of that.

Any time Hans can say something like that it's worth a second look... collectively, TNF members must hold more knowledge on the subject of racing than any other group in the world, so bright little revelations like this are indeed a treasure.

[Udo K.]

Chico,

thanks very much for this very interesting report containing so much unknown information.

Looking forward to hear more about the Brazilian "early years".

Udo