Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat
Encyclopedia
Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat (1867 - November 20, 1903, Paris
) was a French
race car driver
. He is known for setting the first recognised automobile land speed record
on December 18, 1898 in Achères, Yvelines
, using a Jeantaud
electric car
.
The record was set as part of a competition organised by the French automobile magazine La France Automobile. He completed a single flying 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) run in 57 seconds to give an average speed of 63.13 kilometre per hour
He further improved this record to 66.65 kilometre per hour one month later on January 17, 1899 also at Achères in the first of a series of record setting duels with Camille Jenatzy
. Ten days later Jenatzy managed to break this record although it would revert back to de Chasseloup-Laubat on March 4, 1899 when he increased it to 92.69 kilometre per hour. Jenatzy finally took the record on April 29, 1899 with the first run over 100 kilometre per hour with an average speed of 105 kilometre per hour, a record that was to last 3 years.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
) was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
race car driver
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
. He is known for setting the first recognised automobile land speed record
Land speed record
The land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a wheeled vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C flying start regulations are used, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the Fédération...
on December 18, 1898 in Achères, Yvelines
Achères, Yvelines
Achères is a commune in the Yvelines department in north-central France. It is located from the center of Paris.The commune of Achères lies on the south bank of the Seine in a loop of the river, on the edge of the Forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye...
, using a Jeantaud
Jeantaud
The Jeantaud was a French automobile manufactured in Paris from 1893 until 1906. It was the brainchild of Charles Jeantaud, a coachbuilder who built his first electric carriage in 1881. Among the vehicles he constructed was the first car to set a land speed record , as well as coupes and hansom...
electric car
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...
.
The record was set as part of a competition organised by the French automobile magazine La France Automobile. He completed a single flying 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) run in 57 seconds to give an average speed of 63.13 kilometre per hour
He further improved this record to 66.65 kilometre per hour one month later on January 17, 1899 also at Achères in the first of a series of record setting duels with Camille Jenatzy
Camille Jenatzy
Camille Jenatzy was a Belgian race car driver. He is known for breaking the land speed record three times and being the first man to break the 100 km/h barrier....
. Ten days later Jenatzy managed to break this record although it would revert back to de Chasseloup-Laubat on March 4, 1899 when he increased it to 92.69 kilometre per hour. Jenatzy finally took the record on April 29, 1899 with the first run over 100 kilometre per hour with an average speed of 105 kilometre per hour, a record that was to last 3 years.