Gordon Bennett Races
The Gordon Bennett Cup auto races drew entrants from across Europe, including future aviator Henry Farman, and competitors from the United States such as Alexander Winton driving his Winton automobile. Under the rules, the races were hosted in the country of the previous year's winner. As the races were between national teams, it led to the reorganisation and standardisation of national racing colours. Reputedly as a concession to Ireland where the 1903 race was run (racing was illegal on British public roads), the British adopted shamrock green which became known as British racing green, although the winning Napier of 1902 had already been painted olive green. Britain had to choose a different colour to its usual national colours of red, white and blue, as these had already been taken by Italy, Germany, and France respectively.
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“But carpe diem, Juan, carpe, carpe!
To-morrow sees another race as gay
And transient, and devour’d by the same harpy.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
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Hidden by a minstrel-smile.”
—Gwendolyn B. Bennett (1902–1981)
“Behind every individual closes organization; before him opens liberty,—the Better, the Best. The first and worse races are dead. The second and imperfect races are dying out, or remain for the maturing of the higher. In the latest race, in man, every generosity, every new perception, the love and praise he extorts from his fellows, are certificates of advance out of fate into freedom.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)