Page:Motors and motor-driving (1902).djvu/448

402

under the stress of competition are the weak points of a motor-car most strikingly revealed, and, per contra, its strong ones emphasised. Whatever opinions may be held as to the propriety of continuing the Continental races now that cars are capable of tremendous speeds, there is no gainsaying the fact that, without the influence which the early competitions in France exerted upon the public mind, and the lessons learned by makers themselves from the success or non-success of particular vehicles, the industry in France would not have arrived at the position it now holds; nor, for that matter, would the English or German cars have attained their present degree of mechanical excellence.

Even with the aid of racing, however, the development of the motor-car has been a matter of slow growth, and by many new recruits to the pastime it may be learned with surprise that a competition was held in France so long ago as 1894, from Paris to Rouen, when the cars of Panhard et Levassor and Peugeot Freres shared the leading honours, with motors of 3$1⁄2$ h.-p. The times are not recorded. It was not until June 1895, however, that the foundation of a series of classic events was laid by a race from Paris to Bordeaux and back, 732 miles, when a 3$1⁄2$-h.-p. Panhard et Levassor car accomplished the journey in 48 h. 48 m. at the rate of nearly fifteen miles per hour. The good effects of racing have been abundantly displayed since that memorable event, for even M. Panhard himself was satisfied with the results, and progress might have been stayed for an indefinite period but for the stimulus of competition. The story is vouched for that at a banquet following this event an enthusiastic, yet prescient, speaker expressed the belief that the journey to Bordeaux would eventually be covered not at fifteen, but at fifty, miles an hour. Thereupon M. Panhard leaned over to the chairman, the Baron de