Around the turn of the century a series of rallies and races took place in France which were designed to promote alcohol as a fuel. The idea, by no means a new one, was born out of economic necessity. With few domestic oil reserves, France was eager to encourage the development of a fuel which could be readily distilled from domestic farm products. The French Ministry of Agriculture was certain that, when tested, alcohol would prove to be a viable – as well as cheaper – alternative to petrol.
Accordingly, in 1899 four alcohol-fuelled cars raced from Paris to Chantilly. The fact that only one completed the distance – and slowly – might have deterred some politicians from persevering with the experiment but within two years an assortment of 50 vehicles, ranging from lightweight quadricycles to heavy trucks, took part in a 167 mile (269km) run from Paris to Roubaix, an event sponsored by the Automobile Club of Paris. Fuels varied from pure alcohol to a mix of 50 per cent alcohol and 50 per cent petrol. Most drivers stated categorically that they preferred the 50-50 blend. Given the choice, they would undoubtedly have chosen pure petrol.
Undaunted, Minister of Agriculture Jean Dupuy organised his most ambitious project to date, the 537 mile (864km) Circuit du Nord, or the ‘Alcohol Race’ as it became known. The race was run in two heats – the first from Champigny to Arras on day one; the second from Arras to St Germain (via Boulogne and Dieppe) on day two. A strict condition of the race was that all competitors used only fuel of pure alcohol – no mixers. However, enforcing this regulation proved well nigh impossible once the cars were out in the country and many drivers are believed to have used as little alcohol fuel as possible because it gave their vehicles reduced power. Instead they would sneak in supplies of petrol and hope to fool the scrutineers. Reports were rife of strange odours coming from behind certain cars … A total of 85 had put their names down for the race but at the roll-call there were 20 absentees, among them Henri Fournier, winner of the Paris-Bordeaux and Paris-Berlin events of 1901. The competitors were split into three categories – heavy cars, light cars and voiturettes. The first man was away at 4a.m. sharp, the remainder following at respectful three-minute intervals. The first to reach Arras – and in the fastest time of 4hr 48min 5sec – was Frenchman Maurice Farman in a Panhard. The second arrival was fellow countryman Marcellin Javott in a Darracq. They were met by the enthusiastic M. Dupuy, who had travelled by special train to greet the victors and proceeded to deliver an optimistic speech on the virtues of alcohol which, he claimed, had proved its capacity to rival petrol. Little did he know of the skulduggery that was afoot.
The next day Farman left Arras at 4a.m. and reached St Germain at 1p.m., thereby winning the second heat as well. He was followed 58 minutes later by Englishman Charles Jarrott in another Panhard. When the results of the two heats were added together, Farman was declared the winner of the heavy car section at an average speed of 44⅘mph (72.1km/h), with Jarrott second. Javott’s Darracq won the light car group at a speed of 41⅕mph (66.3km/h) and M. Grus’s Renault was the quickest voiturette at 33⅔mph (54.7km/h).
The speeds – albeit enhanced by petrol – stood up reasonably well, and M. Dupuy remained convinced that alcohol fuel was the way forward. History would prove him wrong.