From the archives of Bob Montgomery, motoring historian
THE FIRST ROADBOOK? Among the extensive selection of material relating to the 1903 Irish Gordon Bennett Race that is kept in the archive of the Royal Irish Automobile Club at Dawson Street, Dublin, is one particularly intriguing item. It's quite probably the first "roadbook" produced for a motoring event anywhere in the world.
Most of us are familiar with rally "pace-notes", the method of noting in advance the speed with which the various corners on a rally stage can be taken. Universally used on international rallies, pace-notes were introduced into Ireland on the Donegal International Rally in the early 1970s but the many drivers who have used them might be surprised to learn that a form of pace-notes was available to the drivers in the 1903 Irish race.
For the Irish race a small seven-inch square booklet entitled The Driver's Route Book was produced for use by the 12 entries. It consisted of a set of maps of the Gordon Bennett circuit breaking the route up into short sections. Each page, beautifully printed in colour, graded all the most difficult corners as well as drawing attention to any danger points. Practising on the course was officially not allowed, so it was undoubtedly intended to be a safety aid for competitors.
However, there is ample evidence to show that practising on the course did take place. S F Edge was said to have traversed the course 40 times while Charles Jarrott recounted how he and Edge were confronted on one practice run by a burly constable who informed them that they were exceeding the speed limit.
"In view of the many recent complaints about speeding, he would," Jarrott was informed, "have no choice but to take his particulars." However, upon learning Jarrott's identity, the good constable apologised profusely, and sent Jarrott on his way, urging him at all costs to "go as fast as you like as long as you beat them furriners!"
SPEED EXEMPTION: It was the Honourable J W Douglas Scott-Montagu, father of the present Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, who introduced the necessary legislation into the British parliament to enable the Gordon Bennett Race to take place in Ireland.
The main points of the Light Locomotives (Ireland) Bill were exemption for competing cars from any statutory speed limits - then 14 mph in Ireland - on the day of the race itself, and the absolution of the county councils from any responsibility for expenses they might incur in undertaking necessary road improvements to the course.
For once, all shades of Irish political opinion came together and supported the Bill which was passed in a record seven days, getting royal assent on March 27th, 1903. Among the many who supported the Bill were MPs of such diverse political persuasion as Sir Edward Carson, John Redmond and Tim Healy.
FOUNDING THE AA: An interesting aspect of the career of Charles Jarrott was his operation, with a friend, William Letts, of a private warning system on the Brighton Road in 1905, when the police speed trap menace in Britain was at its height. This was to form the beginning of the Automobile Association, of which Jarrott, in later years, became chairman.
Incidentally, it was R J Mecredy, the father of Irish motoring, who persuaded the AA to come to Ireland and set up a branch.