James Gordon Bennett Cup

1905
By 1905, the James Gordon Bennett Cup was the biggest race in the world. It was also its final running. The French, far and away the leaders of the global automotive industry, did not like the rules of this international race which restricted countries to but three entries. France, with more high quality automobile manufacturers than the rest of the world combined, felt this was an unfair restriction. By 1906, they introduced the Grand Prix and changed history. This folder contains comprehensive information about the last running of this classic race and highlights great European road racers such as winner Leon Thery (Richard-Brasier); Ferenc Szisz (Renault); Fernand Gabriel (De Dietrich) and George Heath (Panhard). American entries included Joe Tracy (Locomobile); Herb Lytle (Pope-Toledo) and Bert Dingley (Pope-Toledo).

1905 Gordon Bennett Cup

This articile was originally published in the July 20, 1905 issue of The Automobile, an industry trade newspaper. This is a 20 page (PDF) report on the running of the 1905 James Gordon Bennett Cup held in France. This was the biggest race in the world in 1904 and 1905, but destined for oblivion the following year in 1906. This was because the Gordon Bennett Cup restricted each industrialized nation to only three cars.
Gordon Bennett Cup Course (1905)

This article originally appeared in one of the automotive trade publications of the day. It is only one PDF page and is an interesting read as it describes the Auvergne course in France that was used for the 1905 (and final) James Gordon Bennett Cup auto race. Note that the course was "discovered" by Michelin Tire Company founder Edouard Michelin. The area is a mountainous region and the roads were underdeveloped. The result was a course that stressed durability and driving skill, not speed.
Prep for 1905 Gordon Bennett Cup

This content was originally published in the March 25, 1905 issue of the Automobile. This is an interesting digest of activities leading up to the running of the 1905 James Gordon Bennett Cup auto race. There are three items rolled up into one PDF page.
Joe Tracy Interviewed

This article was originally published in the August 3, 1905 issue of The Automobile. This is a nice piece that provides a great of the 1905 James Gordon Bennett Cup race from the point-of-view of one of America's adopted sons, Irish-born Joe Tracy. Tracy immigrated to the United States at 19 and proved himself as a talented mechanical engineer and race car driver.
Gordon Bennett Course 1905

This six page PDF article was originally published in the July 6, 1905 issue of The Automobile. It is another description of the Auvergne course for the 1905 James Gordon Bennett Cup race near Clermont, France - but this story has a special twist.
Auvergne Circuit 1905

This one page PDF article was originally published in the May 13, 1905 issue of The Automobile. It is one of several written about the layout and terrain of the Auvergne circuit near Clermont, France developed for the 1905 James Gordon Bennett Cup auto race. The prevailing theme across all descriptions is the omnipresent danager throughout the mountainous, serpentine 85.35-mile course.
Gordon Bennett Cup Prep

This article originally appeared in the April 15, 1905 edition of The Automobile. This is less than one PDF page of content and offers some interesting insights to events leading up to the 1905 (and final) James Gordon Bennett Cup auto race. This was published prior to the American manufacturers filing entries, but a list of French, Italian and German cars and drivers is provided.
1905 Gordon Bennett Cup Teams

This article orginally appeared in a June 1905 issue of Motor Age. It is a very nice summary providing the backgrounds of the drivers representing the various teams entered in the the 1905 James Gordon Bennett Cup auto race, held in France. The race, designed by the millionaire James Gordon Bennett Jr., defined teams as entries from manufacturers of a given nation.

James Gordon Bennett History

This article was originally published in Motor Age, probably in May 1905, but unfortunately, I do not have the exact date. This is an excellent (two PDF pages) executive summary of the history of the James Gordon Bennett Cup (1900-1905) leading up to the final edition of that classic motor race June 16, 1905. The article provides the dates and locations of the races as well as the names of the cars and drivers involved.
American Gordon Bennett Experience

This one-page PDF article in an August 1905 issue of Motor Age. This report was compiled through interviews with the members of the American contingent in the 1905 James Gordon Bennett Cup race upon their return to New York from France. Chief interview subjects were driver Bert Dingley of the Pope-Toledo team, as well as Orlando Weber, an executive with the firm. Also providing insights was driver Joe Tracy of Locomobile.