Gordon Bennett Classic Car Run

Gordon Bennet Classic’s History

GORDON BENNETT CUP RACE IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE RACE THAT SAVED MOTORSPORT AND WAS THE FIRST TO BE HELD ON A CLOSED CIRCUIT.

On Thursday, 2 July 1903 the Gordon Bennett Cup was the first international motor race to be held in Ireland, an honorific to Selwyn Edge who had won the 1902 event in the Paris-Vienna race driving a Napier. The Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland wanted the race to be hosted in the British Isles, and their secretary, Claude Johnson, suggested Ireland as the venue because racing was illegal on British public roads. The editor of the Dublin Motor News, Richard J. Mecredy, suggested an area in County Kildare, and letters were sent to 102 Irish MPs, 90 Irish peers, 300 newspapers, 34 chairmen of county and local councils, 34 County secretaries, 26 mayors, 41 railway companies, 460 hoteliers, 13 PPs, plus the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Patrick Foley, who pronounced himself in favour.

Why not try the race route for yourself? Stage 5 of the route goes through The Heath to Athy and the map with local attractions is HERE