The Gordon Bennett Cup, held for cars between 1900 and 1905 was the first international racing series. Stemming from an idea by American newspaper magnate, James Gordon Bennett Jr., the Gordon Bennett Cup was set to champion the international auto industry – by allowing national automobile clubs representing France, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, the United States and Italy to nominate three entries each.

Naturally with the growth of the industry, it became more and more difficult to find the most suitable candidates. By 1905 the industry became so diverse that it was impossible to hold onto the rules of the Cup, so from 1906 the era of the Grand Prix started. This presentation will provide a short overview of each race, a look at the most important racers and their cars.

This episode is sponsored in part by: The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), The Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), The Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Argetsinger Family – and was recorded in front of a live studio audience. And has been Edited, Remastered and Produced in partnership with the Motoring Podcast Network.

Bio

Dr. Pál Négyesi is an award-winning automotive historian, publisher, editor and museum professional. He is currently the editor of Rare & Unique Vehicles magazine, which won the 2022 Richard Brigham Award from the Society of Automotive Historians, a consultant to the Institute for Digital Culture at the University of Leicester and a lecturer at the Óbuda University in Hungary. Over the years he authored many different books on the history of the Hungarian motoring industry. He’s also been the publisher of such books as Thomas Ulrich’s 1902 DeDietrich & The Paris-Vienna Race and Alles Mit Motor – Die Standard/Gutbrod Story, which won the 2023 Cugnot Award for books in language other than English from the SAH. He’s also an advisor to private collectors and museums in Hungary, Germany and The Netherlands.