That the Concours des Voitures sans Chevaux is widely recognised as the first motor race in history is something of a misnomer for prizemoney was awarded by committee to the car that was “not dangerous, easy to drive, and cheap during the journey” rather than speed alone. Organised on 22 July 1894 by editor of Le Petit Journal Pierre Giffard, this was the culmination of a four day exhibition promoting the new-fangled horseless carriage. Comte Jules de Dion was the first competitor to complete the 78.75-mile route from Porte Maillot in Paris to Champs de Mars in Rouen at an average speed of 11.6mph, despite running into a potato field at Igoville at an average speed of 11.6mph. However, he was not eligible for the 5,000 franc first prize as his steam-powered de Dion required a mechanic to stoke the engine. The top prize was shared by Peugeot and Panhard for “both employing the petrol motor invented by Herr Daimler.”
