Page 19 - All About History - Issue 16-14

Transport

4 RACING
How not to… drive safely
As long as automobiles have existed, accidents have quickly followed. The PIONEERS
very first fatal car accident involved Mary Ward, an Anglo-Irish scientist.
On 31 August 1869, Ward was travelling in a steam-powered car built by COUNT JULES-
her cousins. When the car reached a sharp bend in the road, Mary was
thrown from the car, falling under its wheel. She died almost instantly from ALBERT DE DION
a broken neck. As technology developed and higher speeds were reached, 1856-1946, FRANCE
car accidents became more catastrophic. The worst accident in the history
He won the world’s first motor race,
of motorsport occurred during the 1955 Le Mans race, when a terrifying
from Paris to Rouen, completing it
high-speed crash sent large fragments of blazing debris into the crowd. The
in six hours and 48 minutes.
driver, Pierre Levegh, and 83 spectators died at the scene, with a further
120 injured. This led to a lengthy ban on motorsports in Spain, France,
Switzerland, Germany and a host of other nations, which lasted until higher
safety standards were ultimately introduced.

GEORGE SCHUSTER
1873-1972, USA
Schuster drove for the US in
the longest automobile race in
history, the 1908 New York to
Paris Race. He won the 35,400km
(22,000mi) race in 169 days.

Make a long-distance trip Avoid hills
Automobiles aren’t just playthings; they’re designed to The Benz Patent automobile has no gears and reaches
03 travel over long distances. Bertha Benz, married to Karl 04 a maximum of a meek 0.9hp (0.67 kW). Therefore,
Benz, publicised the car by driving it 194 kilometres (121 miles) steep ascents are not advised. If you find yourself in a situation FERENC SZISZ
from Mannheim to Pforzheim, the first long-distance petrol where you do have to climb a hill, you will have to enlist the 1873-1944, HUNGARY
car journey. However, do take care to not scare the locals – on help of a friendly local or two to give you a push, or perhaps
Szisz was the winner of the very
Bertha’s trip many people were frightened by the vehicle. employ the use of actual ‘horse power.’ first Grand Prix motor-racing
event. It was held in 1906 and
Szisz drove a custom-built
Renault Grand Prix 90CV.

GIUSEPPE FARINA
1906-1966, ITALY
With a trademark ‘straight-arm’
driving style, Farina was the
first-ever Formula One world
champion in 1950.
Find a pharmacy to fuel up Watch your speed
As this is the very first petrol car, petrol stations won’t Make sure you stick to the speed limit, or you might get
05 be commonplace for a while. You’ll need ligroin, a 06 punished – like Walter Arnold, the first person fined for
substance similar to petroleum, to fuel your automobile, which speeding in Britain. He was fined a shilling for speeding at 13
is only available at apothecary shops. It is advisable to purchase kilometres (eight miles) per hour in 1896. Also remember that to
the fuel whenever you pass a pharmacy. The city pharmacy in ensure pedestrians’ safety, your car must be accompanied by a
© Edward Crooks
Wiesloch, Germany, was the first to sell petrol as a side business. man on foot waving a red flag and blowing a horn.

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