Sir, – Further to Frank McNally's Irishman's Diary tribute (December 5th) to Camille Jenatzy, the 1903 Irish Gordon Bennett Cup winner should also be remembered for his contribution to electric-powered cars. It was in an electric machine that the "Red Devil" became the first person to drive at a mile a minute (100km/h) in 1899.
A similar machine – named after the Belgian’s car – reached 495km/h (307mph) in 2010. Had manufacturers followed Jenatzy’s example and not concentrated on the internal combustion engine, the earth would have been a cleaner planet. And there would have been no oil wars, nor kowtowing to oil-rich despots.
Frank McNally commented on the irony of the retired racer’s death in a hunting accident on December 7th 1913. Jenatzy’s shooting may not, however, have been due to a practical joke that miscarried. It’s been recently suggested that he had a mistress – the wife of Alfred Madoux, the magazine editor who shot him. The “Red Devil” should have stuck to his motor racing. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN LYNCH,
Mid Mountjoy Street,
Dublin 7.