1913 GP Madrid - R.A.C.E.
From Gran Vida - June 1913
For the first time in Spain, a motor race of the importance of the "Guadarrama Circuit" has run, and for sure the organisers are proud of the success and satisfied to see their hard labours were not in vain.
The animation in the circuit, since the 14th of June, was great. There were many motorists from Madrid, and many fans of these sporting races, using the train, motorbike or bicycle they took themselves to win a strategic spot from which they might enjoy the race the most; from Villalba to San Rafael there were enough people; in the Port of Navacerrada there were yet more spectators counted; we encountered a small group in las Siete Revueltas and in la Venta de los Mosquitos; and from this point to La Granja the number of people increased significantly along the roads, enjoying the pleasant shade of the incomparable pine forests of Valsain.
In La Venta de los Mosquitos they witnessed the S.A.R. race between (Miss) Isabel, (Miss) Luisa and (Mr) Carlos.
In several car trucks the soldiers of Engineers were transferred from Madrid, and from Segovia, the site of the regiment, those who had to take care that nobody used the roads from 8:30 in the morning; the National Guard also provided a service for this purpose, enforcing public order and order on the public roads.
They set up three radio telegraph stations, in Villalba, San Rafael and La Granja, to communicate with Madrid and various telegraphs and telephones.
20 relief posts were set up by the Red Cross at several points around the circuit.
The final preparations in this complete organisation, the car pilots left La Granja and San Rafael, who, as they pass, close the roads to the movement of strangers in the way.
10:13am - the first car left... It was the Schneider, manned by Marques de Ugena.
Every 5 minutes after this the cars left ... in this order:
3. Rolls-Royce - manned by Plattford (as a passenger carrying the Count of los Llanos)
5. Humber - manned by Manuel San Roman.
6. Clement Talbot - driven by Hedge - who had an exciting start.
7. Mercedes - piloted by the Duke of Zaragoza.
8. Panhard - with Angel Santibanez
9. Opel - Juan R. Manzano.
10. Delaunay - Garcia Ocana.
11. Panhard - Leoncio Garnier.
12. Schneider - Jose Toda.
13. Panhard - without valves - Julio Lavayen.
14. Lorraine Dietrich - with Marques de Aulencia.
16. Rolls-Royce - Carlos Salamanca.
17. Dion Bouton - by the Marques d'Avaray.
18. Dion Bouton - by the Marques de San Carlos del Pedroso.
19. Dion Bouton - by Arsenio Cebrian.
20. Minerva - by the Count of la Patilla.
The passage of the cars through the place called las Siete Revueltas (the Seven Revolts) - resulted in extreme interest and was picturesque, where the curves are so close together that they hold the race at this point.. to the point that they form a broken line whose strokes are almost parallel. It was on these corners that the Humber, driven by San Roman, lost one of its rear wheels and retired from the race. At this difficult corner we observed in some of the drivers strange manouevres that were not well suited to this difficult turning point.
[omitted more about these curves...]
In the first lap, after the Humber, Jose Toda's Schneider retired after hitting a curbstone, and the Clement-Talbot retired due to not being able to reach the top of the Leon because of engine breakdown.
The second lap started without novelty at a little after 1:30pm. The first to arrive was Plattford, at 1:31pm, passing Cebrian in Segovia. Followed by Ugena at 1:43pm, Zaragoza - who refuelled - at 2:09pm, Santibanez - also refuelled - at 2:18pm, Labayen 2:21pm, Aulencia 2:25pm, D'Avaray 2:41pm, Manzano - refuelling - 2:50pm, and Garcia Ocana - refuelled - 3:02pm.
The Marques de San Carlos del Pedroso retired due to a breakdown. Also in this round, due to suffering important damages, the cars of Garnier and Arsenio Cebrian.
At about 3pm the first drivers finishing the 390km circuit began to arrive, applauded by the numerous and distinguished public. The first to arrive was Plattford in the Rolls-Royce at 3:09pm. He was followed in this order: Marques de Ugena 3:39pm; Marques de Aulencia 4:02pm; Carlos Salamanca 4:03pm; Duke of Zaragoza 4:09pm; Julio Labayen 4:10pm; Angel Santibanez 4:12pm; Marques d'Avaray 4:34pm; Juan R Manzano 4:55pm; Count of Patilla 4:57pm; Garcia Ocana 5:06pm.
The race ended at 5:06pm.
The definitive official classification established by the Jury: (times adjusted for when the cars left)
1. First Prize - Don Alfonso Cup - Grand Prize of R.A.C. (20,000 pesetas) - No.16 - Rolls-Royce - Carlos Salamanca.(3hrs 34m 11s 6/10)
2. Infant Isabela Cup - 2nd Prize of R.A.C. (5,000 pesetas) - No.14 - Lorraine Dietrich - Marques de Aulencia (3hrs 37m 3s 8/10)
3. Infant Don Carlos Cup - No.3 - Rolls-Royce - Mr Plattford (3hrs 39m 55s 6/10)
4. Mestre and Blatge Cup - No.17 - Dion Bouton - Marques d'Avaray (3hrs 49m 43s 4/10)
5. No.13 - Panhard - Julio Labayen (3h 50m 56s 8/10)
6. No.2 - Schneider - Marques de Ugena (4h 7m 50s 8/10)
7. No.20 - Minerva - Count Patilla (4h 8m 22s 4/10)
8. No.8 - Panhard - Santibanez (4h 18m 18s 8/10)
9. No.7 - Mercedes - Duke of Zaragoza (4h 19m 57s 4/10)
10. No.9 - Opel - Manzano (4h 57m 41s 8/10)
11. No.10 - Delaunay - Garcia Ocana (5h 4m 25s 6/10)
Categorised prizes judged in the following way:
Second Category: Cars from 21 to 31 HP
1st - Casino de Madrid Cup - No.9 - Opel - Manzano
Third Category: Cars 31 to 45 HP
1st - Ministry of Promotion Cup - No.13 - Pannhard - Labayen.
2nd - The German Prize - No.8 - Pannhard - Santibanez
Fourth Category: 45 to 60 HP
1st - Grand Pena Cup - No.17 - Dion Bouton - Marques d'Avaray
Fifth Category: 60 to 75 HP
1st - Madrid Council Cup - No.16 - Rolls Royce - Salamanca
Other prizes and more photos can be found here (Page 9-16 (171-179)) - there is also a chart containing the race statistics: