No French GP - 1910

This brief article first appeared in the December 5, 1909 Indianapolis Star. It concerns the on-again, off-again status of the French Grand Prix. Established in 1906 the race was a response to the limitations of cars originating from any one country in its predecessor race, the James Gordon Bennett Cup. France was the dominant car producing nation in the world and expected to walk over all other countries in their own race. After winning in 1906 French teams were shut of victory the next two years. The Automobile Club of France (ACF) decided against hosting the event in 1909.
 
This article discusses the debate over resuming the event in 1910. Despite earlier optimisim reports by this publication date noted that new developments indicated yet another year of no major race in the country that was home to some of the most advanced automobiles in the world.
 
These developments rekindled the debate about stock cars and "freak racers," if not in Europe at least in America. This article reports that there were some in Europe that were considering the American trend of the day to race stock cars as opposed to purpose-built race cars referred to as "speed creations."
 
To this point read this excerpt:
 
"Several prominent European manufacturers refused point blank to enter a Grand Prix unless it was closed to stock cars. This means that the stock car slogan of the American delegates to the international rules conference will be accepted favorably by the Europeans. It is a known fact that it is the intention of the American racing bodies to promote international contests between stock models, instead of the unusually high-powered "speed monsters."
 
I am skeptical that there was a serious movement in Europe toward stock cars. It seems to me the continued focus on performance and craftsmanship in those countries over the ensuing decades makes this conclustion self-evident.
 
Apparently the ACF had issued a stimpulation that the race would only be sanctioned if there were 45 entries. An unnamed "private concern" had indicated that it would be possible to stage the race with just 30 entries and they were considering intervening to do so if the ACF balked. There was no French Grand Prix in 1910 and the event would not resume until 1914.