THE GREAT MOTOR RACE.
START AND FINISH AT NAAS.
The Committee of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland
have decided to hold the race for the Gordon-Bennett Cup in Ireland,
provided they can obtain the necessary authorisation from Parliament.
The first race was run in France, and was won by a Frenchman. The same
result occurred in 1901, but in 1902 Mr. Edge an Englishman, won the
coveted trophy. There can be no question but that the success of the
French cars gave a great stimulus to the motor car industry in France.
In 1900 the value of exported motor cars from France was 290,360; in
1902 the figure had reached the sum of 1,062,040. It is calculated
that 180,000 workmen are engaged in France in this industry. From these
figures it will be easily understood why English motorists are anxious
that the next race should be run in the United Kingdom. They have selected
Ireland because an open course was more easy to be found. The course
suggested forms a rough isosceles triangle, with Naas at the apex, and
Maryborough and Carlow at the base angles... The race will start at
3 a.m., and end about 1 oclock in the afternoon. Elaborate precautions
we understand will be taken to prevent accidents.
THE GREAT MOTOR RACE.
LETTERS FROM MOST REV. DR. FOLEY AND MR. S. J. BROWN.
In connection with the great motor race for the Gordon-Bennett
Cup, proposed to be held in Ireland (starting and finishing at Naas)
there is much correspondence in the current issue of the Automobile
Club Journal. A Bill must be obtained to enable the race to be held
in Ireland, and the Automobile Club are seeking support for a petition
in its favour. This they are absolutely certain of obtaining from almost
every public body and representative public man in the country. Already
almost all the Irish members of Parliament have promised their hearty
co-operation whilst numbers of the County and District Councils follow
suit.
The Most Rev. Patrick Foley, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin,
writes:- In response to your circular, I have much pleasure
in declaring myself an ardent advocate of the proposed route for
the Gordon-Bennett Cup Race, 1903. As all the towns and most of
the rural districts through which it passes are situated within
my diocese, I am well acquainted with their inhabitants, and have
no hesitation in stating that with the proviso respecting proper
precautions contained in your circular, the proposal will be received
with acclimation alone the whole line of route. Wishing the project
every success.
Mr. S. J. Brown (chairman of the Kildare Co. Council) writes:-
In response to your circular of 24th inst., I can safely
promise, on behalf of my Council, that your committee may count upon
their support for the proposed Bill to enable the Automobile Race
to be held in Ireland and that they will do everything in their power
to have the roads in good order for the occasion. There will be no
meeting of the Council until the 9th prox., but I shall then bring
the matter formally before them. If I might make a suggestion, it
would be that it would be hardly necessary to begin the race at such
an early hour as 3 a.m.
The Early of Mayo, Sir Algernon Coote, Sir A. A. Weldon,
Mr.. J. L. Carew, M.P., Mr. Wm. Delaney, M.P., Mr. M. J. Minch, M.P.,
County Court Judge Fitzgerald, Colonel R. Cosby, the Queens County
Council, etc., have also promised their support.
CARLOW TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE.
DUTIES OF LOCAL COMMITTEES.
THE MOTOR RACE.
The Chairman said that in connection with the above race, which
was proposed to be held in this country, he had received a
communication from the Secretary of the Auto Mobile Club. It might seem
strange that such a letter was addressed to him - [laughter]- but he
saw by the chart before him that the course ran almost altogether through
his diocese. He was glad to see that the project was supported by their
worthy Member of Parliament Mr. Hammond. [Hear, hear]. What we are asked
is to declare that we are prepared to petition Parliament that the race
may be permitted on the course laid out. He did not think there was
any objection save that of danger to the public which he believed could
be obviated. The race would bring a great deal of money into the country.
On the motion of Mr. Engledow a resolution was passed expressing
the willingness of the Committee to petition Parliament for
permission to have the race run on the track indicated by the
Secretary of the Automobile Club, the starting and finishing point being
at Naas.