the front straight, his mechanic got out to try and manually steer the wheels, but was knocked over by his own car. Harry Knight just avoided him, swerving into the pitlane and crashing into Herbert Lytle’s stationary car. Amazingly, despite the mayhem, no-one was killed in the accident. Meanwhile, Harroun had been leading since the 200-mile mark, and with the assistance of a 35-lap relief drive by Cyrus Patschke, went on to win the race. Ralph Mulford in a Lozier was second, although he protested that he had not been scored a lap in the confusion during the big accident and was in fact ahead of Harroun. However this was rejected by the stewards. Third was David Bruce-Brown in one of the few European cars in the field – a 10-litre FIAT S61. However, the race had been a great success with 77000 spectators filling the stands. Initial enthusiasm to revive the Grand Prix was high, but as manufacturers cancelled their entries, the French Automobile Club (ACF) had to cancel its plans. It did, however, support the AC de la Sarthe et de l’Ouest (forerunner of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest) who offered to hold an event in its stead. They had organised the original Grand Prix in 1906, outside of Le Mans. This alternative “Grand Prix de France” used a new 55km triangular circuit to the south of Le Mans. But after this race too was postponed a fortnight more entries drifted away leaving only fourteen starters, the media cynically tagged it as Grand Prix des Vieux Tacots (The Old Crocks’ Grand Prix). Only FIAT (Victor Hémery) and Rolland-Pilain (3 cars, led by Fernand Gabriel) brought works cars. Run over twelve laps (650km) Maurice Fournier (Corre La Licorne) led initially from Arthur Duray (1906 Lorraine-Dietrich) until he had to pit with over-heating to add water. He had just been overtaken by Hémery, back to third, when his front suspension collapsed when approaching Mulsanne village. The car rolled, crashed and burst into flames. Fournier was thrown out and killed instantly while Louvel, his riding mechanic, had burns and broken bones. When Duray then had gearbox problems and retired, it left Hémery an easy drive to victory (despite being stuck in top gear) after seven hours. Ernest Friderich driving the first racing Bugatti (the small 1.3-litre Type 13) finished second two laps behind and Gabriel was third, a further lap back.