THE GORDON BENNETT AUTOMOBILE CUP

Official translation of the 1900 French rules:      

      I - All foreign automobile clubs recognized by the Automobile Club of France are entitled to challenge and compete against the club who holds the cup.

      II - The recognized clubs are: The Automobile Club of America, the Automobile Club of Austria, the Automobile Club of Belgium, the Automobile Club of Germany, the Automobile Club of Great Britain, the Automobile Club of Switzerland, the Automobile Club of Turin. Any club not appearing on this list and desirous of challenging will have to be unanimously accepted by the above clubs. Its name would then be added to the list to judge the validity of the subsequent challenges. It is nevertheless understood that on the proposition of one of the clubs to erase the name of another club this could be done if all other clubs were unanimous.

      III - Any qualified club wishing to challenge the club holding the cup should give notice before the 1st of January of each year by registered letter addressed to the President, giving the number of automobiles which will compete for the cup. The amount of 3,000 francs should be deposited with the club holding the cup, this amount to be returned if one of the automobiles engaged is present at the start. The President of the Automobile Club of France should also be informed by a registered letter even if this club were not to be one of the competitors.

      IV- The cup can be competed for every year between May 15 and August 15. If two or more clubs of the same country were accepted in the list of challengers, it is understood that this country could only be represented by three automobiles at the most and in such case the clubs of the said country would have to choose the automobiles. In case they could not agree, the automobiles would be chosen in order of entry. The exact date of the race to be fixed of a common accord between the clubs interested.

      V - Each club can be represented by one, two or three automobiles at will, but the fact that only one or two automobiles of a club should start cannot deter the other clubs from their right to have three cars to compete.

      VI - In case of the club holding the cup should receive in time the challenge of several clubs, it could chose to hold one race only, in which each club would be represented by three automobiles at the most.

      VII - The automobiles qualified for the races are those coming under the description given in the Racing Rules of the Automobile Club of France, published in 1899, as follows:

The automobile must weight more than 400 kilos and carry at least two passengers, seated side by side, of an average weight of 70 kilos each, it is understood that in case the average weight should not reach 70 kilos the deficiency would be made up of ballast.

The 400 kilos are counted for the weight of the automobile when empty, this being without passengers or supplies (such as coal, petroleum, water, accumulators) or tools spare fittings, luggage, clothing or provisions (Chap. I, Rule 9)

      VIII - The automobiles must be constructed entirely and in every part in the respective countries of the competitors.

      IX - The automobiles must be constructed by members of the competing clubs and the two seats occupied during the whole time of the cace.

      X - Each automobile competing to send one delegate to form the Committee, Mr. Gordon Bennett to be member of this Committee and also the Automobile Club of France, even when not taking part in the race, to be represented by one delagate. The delagate to name a President, chosen outside their own body, who in case of the votes being equally divided, would have the casting vote. If they could not agree on the choice of a President, he would be named by Mr. Gordon Bennett, or in his absence, by the President of the Automobile Club of France. The Committee to name, not necessarily from among themselves, a starter, a judge, and the timekeepers. The Committee to see that the rules are strictly adhered to and judge all the incidents which might take place.

      XI - The race, which would be a "go-as-you-please" race, without any stipulated stoppage, to take place on the road, and the distance to be from 550 kiloms. minimum to 650 kiloms. maximum. This distance to be chosen between two towns or apportioned into several outward and homeward journeys, but in the latter case the minimum distance of each part not to be less than 150 kiloms.

      XII - The race to take place in the country of the club holding the cup, with option for this club to hold it in France.

      XIII - The start to be given at the same time all the automobiles, which would be placed in the following order: In front one of the automobiles belonging to the club holding the cup, then one automobile of each of the clubs taking part in the race, beginning by the club whose challenge was first received; after these automobiles, the second automobile of the holders, followed again in the same order by the second automobiles of the other clubs, and again after these the third automobiles in the same order.

      XIV - The automobile passing the post first to be declared the winner, entitling its club to the cup, even if it were the only automobile of this club to cover the full distance.

      XV - In case of a dead-heat between the club holder of the cup and one of the challengers the former would keep the cup.

      XVI - In case of a dead-heat between two of the challengers, these two clubs, would have to race again together under the present rules before the expiration of two months from the date of the first race, it being understood that in such case the race could be held after the period fixed under Rule III. In case the two clubs could not agree on the choise of a road for the race, a draw would decide. If one of the clubs should refuse to take part in the second race, the other club would, ipso facto, take the cup.

      XVII - The cup to be left with the previous holder until the two clubs who have mede the deat-heat meeta gain.

      XVIII - In the event of one of the clubs who had challenged being alone represented at the start, one of his automobiles would have to cover the distance stipulated in the maximum time of 24 hours, failing which the cup would be kept by the club challenged.

      XIX - It is undertood that no club can ever become owner of the cup, but only hold it on the conditions fixed by the present rules.

      XX - Should the club holding the cup become extinct, the cup to be returned to Mr. Gordon Bennett, or in default to the Automobile Club of France.

      XXI - All races for the cup, either taking place in France or in any other country, to be run under the racing rules of the Automobile Club of France, published 1899.

      XXII - Any club becoming holder of the cup, or challenging for it, undertakes to abide absolutely by the present rules and also by the rules of the Automobile Club of France on road racing published in 1899.


Special thanks to:
Robert Dick



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© 2024 Leif Snellman, Hans Etzrodt - Last updated: 05.07.2024