July 22, 1894: The 1st Auto Race

Albert Lemaitre, furthest to the left

July 22, 1894: The Parisian magazine Le Petit Journal organized what is considered to be the world's first motoring competition, from Paris to Rouen.

Sporting events were a tried and tested form of publicity stunt and circulation booster. Pierre Giffard, the paper's editor, promoted it as a Concours des Voitures sans Chevaux (Competition for Horseless Carriages) that was "not dangerous, easy to drive, and cheap during the journey." Thus, it blurred the distinctions between a reliability trial, a general event, and a race. One hundred and two competitors paid a 10-franc entrance fee.

There were 69 cars starting the 50-kilometer (31-mile) selection event that would show which entrants would be allowed to start the main event, the 127-kilometer (79-mile) race from Paris to Rouen. The entrants ranged from serious manufacturers like Peugeot, Panhard, or De Dion to amateur owners. Only 25 were selected for the main race.

The race started from Porte Maillot, and went through the Bois de Boulogne. Count Jules-Albert de Dion was first into Rouen, after 6 hours and 48 minutes at an average speed of 19 kilometers (12 miles) per hour. He finished 3 minutes and 30 seconds ahead of Albert Lemaître of Peugeot. However, Lemaître was declared the official winner, as cars were judged on their speed, handling and safety characteristics. De Dion's steam car needed a stoker, which was forbidden.

Lemaître was then 30 years old. He continued to drive in events for Peugeot until 1900, when Mercedes-Benz hired him away. In 1906, he murdered his wife after she asked for a divorce. He was acquitted. Male privilege, I suppose. He died in 1912, and should not be confused with a Belgian painter of the same name (1886-1975).

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July 22, 1894 was a Sunday. At the time, the only major professional team sport in America was baseball, and some States still did not permit games to be played on Sundays.

There were 2 National League games played on this day. The Cincinnati Reds beat the Louisville Colonels, 4-0 at Eclipse Park in Louisville. And the Chicago Colts beat their arch-rivals, the St. Louis Browns, 11-9 at an early version of Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. By 1903, these teams would be known as the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals, respectively.