Léon Théry
Encyclopedia
Gordon Bennett Cup in auto racing
As one of three Gordon Bennett Cups established by James Gordon Bennett, Jr., millionaire owner of the New York Herald, the automobile racing award was first given in 1900 in France....
, twice in 1904 and 1905.
Career
Théry started out as a mechanic which gave him an understanding of the need to drive according to the car's abilities, and nurse it home to victory. His nickname was 'chronometer' and he became one of the top drivers in the early 1900s.He competed 'respectably' up until 1903 driving a Decauville automobile
Décauville automobile
Decauville was a French automobile maker, a subsidiary of a company already famous for producing locomotives.The company was registered as Société des Voitures Automobiles Decauville in 1897 and the factory started producing automobiles in 1898. The first car was designed by Messrs Joseph Guédon...
and became a Voiturettes Champion. He is regarded as winning 'one of the first Voiturette races, if not the very first'.
1899
His first appearance was the Paris-Bordeaux 'City to city' race in 1899. His 'tillerTiller
A tiller or till is a lever attached to a rudder post or rudder stock of a boat that provides leverage for the helmsman to turn the rudder...
' steered Decauville
Décauville automobile
Decauville was a French automobile maker, a subsidiary of a company already famous for producing locomotives.The company was registered as Société des Voitures Automobiles Decauville in 1897 and the factory started producing automobiles in 1898. The first car was designed by Messrs Joseph Guédon...
had a maximum speed of less than 30 kph for the 565 km race, thus when he reached Bordeaux, he was totally exhausted, struck by amnesia and was heard repeating: “Do not stop me, I have to arrive at Bordeaux!”.
1901
In 1901 Théry drove a 'Decauville Voiturelle'(http://www.histomobile.com/dvd_histomobile/usa/479/1897_Decauville_Voiturelle.htm) in the 'Paris-Rouen-Paris' race on 11/03/1900, winning the 'Coupe des Voiturettes'Théry became renowned for his methodical documentation in a 'race log' of circuit details, road conditions, tyres, engine reliability, and car performance. He then drove scrupulously to the speed he had calculated in the race log.
1902
1902 was a year of trauma. He entered his Decauville in the 'Paris-Vienna' race on 26–29 June, accompanied by his mechanic Muller, unfortunately a brake failure on the Arlberg passArlberg
Arlberg is a mountain range or massif between Vorarlberg and Tyrol in Austria.The highest peak is the "Valluga" at . The name Arlberg derives from the tradition of the "Arlenburg," who are said to have once established themselves on the Tyrolean side of the Arlberg passes . Another story derives...
(1,793 m (5,883 ft)) in Austria tested all his skills avoid disaster. In the Ardennes Cup race on the 31 July they hit of a cow at full speed.
1904
On 20 May 1904 Théry won the Gordon Bennett Elimination Trial at ArgonneForest of Argonne
The Forest of Argonne is a long strip of rocky mountain and wild woodland in north-eastern France.In 1792 Charles François Dumouriez outmaneuvered the invading forces of the Duke of Brunswick in the forest before the Battle of Valmy....
, France, driving an 80Hp Richard-Brasier.
On 17 June 1904 he won the Gordon Bennett Cup at Homburg
Homburg, Saarland
Homburg is a town in Saarland, Germany, the administrative seat of the Saarpfalz district. With a population of c. 44,000 inhabitants, is the third city in its federal state. The medical department of the University of Saarland is situated here. The city is also home to the Karlsberg beer brewery...
in the Taunus mountains
Taunus
The Taunus is a low mountain range in Hesse, Germany that composes part of the Rhenish Slate Mountains. It is bounded by the river valleys of Rhine, Main and Lahn. On the opposite side of the Rhine, the mountains are continued by the Hunsrück...
of Germany. The event drew entries from eight countries and was considered the single most important race in Europe. Théry's Richard-Brasier 80Hp, triumphed over 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....
's Mercedes
Mercedes (car)
Mercedes was a brand of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft . DMG which began to develop in 1900, after the death of its co-founder, Gottlieb Daimler...
. Each lap was 128 km of primitive roads, but all his lap times were within a 3 minute range.
Théry's victory meant instant fame such that when he and Henri Brasier arrived in Paris they received an enthusiastic reception at the ACF premises, appearing on the balcony to acknowledge thousands of cheering Parisians. A series of banquets and festivities followed, whence - during one of them - Fernand Charron
Fernand Charron
Fernand Charron was a French pioneer of motor racing. He started his sporting career as a successful cyclist.Between 1897 and 1903 he took part in 18 car races, 4 of which he won: Fernand Charron (1866 – 13 August 1928) was a French pioneer of motor racing. He started his sporting career as a...
announced that the subscription that he had started had raised 12,200 FF (circa €34,000 Euro in 2006). Théry was awarded the interest of a lifetime bond, and another subscription was opened for the three mechanics that had accompanied him, including Muller his riding mechanic. Brasier presented Théry with the winning car that he took to America, earning a big purse, but little racing success.
1905
As an honorific to the previous years winner, the Gordon Bennett Cup was held in France.On 16 June 1905 Théry won the Gordon Bennett Elimination Trial in the Auvergne
Auvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
, France, driving an 96Hp Richard-Brasier.
On 5 July 1905 Théry, and his riding mechanic Mueller, won their second Gordon Bennett Cup, driving an eleven litre 96Hp Richard-Brasier over 4 laps (548 km) of a circuit in the Auvergne
Auvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
mountains of France. Théry and Charles-Henri Brasier received a hero's welcome on the streets of Paris, before being received in the Elysée Palace
Élysée Palace
The Élysée Palace is the official residence of the President of the French Republic, containing his office, and is where the Council of Ministers meets. It is located near the Champs-Élysées in Paris....
by the President of France, Émile Loubet
Émile Loubet
Émile François Loubet was a French politician and the 8th President of France.-Early life:He was born the son of a peasant proprietor and mayor of Marsanne . Admitted to the Parisian bar in 1862, he took his doctorate in law the next year...
.
1906 onwards
Although his success in the 1904 and 1905 Gordon Bennett Cup events had contributed to the Automobile Club de France (ACF) organising the 1906 Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France1906 French Grand Prix
The 1906 Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France, commonly known as the 1906 French Grand Prix, was a motor race held on 26 and 27 June 1906, on closed public roads outside the city of Le Mans...
, he did not enter the 1906 or 1907 French Grand Prix. He tried to build his own racing car, a financial enterprise that failed completely, and forced him to work as chauffeur for the La Vie au Grand Air reporter at the 'Bordeaux-Paris' bicycle race in May 1908.
In 1908 he returned to driving for Brasier
Brasier
Brasier was the successor of the early French Richard-Brasier automobile maker that had been in business since 1902. The name of the make was simplified to Brasier when Georges Richard left in 1905 to found Unic. Before World War I, several twin, four and six-cylinder models were offered...
and entered the Grand Prix of France, but he retired on the last lap of the 10 lap race with a collapsed wheel. He was running fourth overall and first of the French cars. This was the last race of his career.
Michelin
Théry worked for MichelinMichelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
. Some sources report him as responsible for naming Bibendum
Bibendum
For the restaurant of the same name, see Michelin HouseBibendum, commonly referred to as the Michelin Man, is the symbol of the Michelin tyre company. Introduced at the Lyon Exhibition of 1894 where the Michelin brothers had a stand, Bibendum is one of the world's oldest trademarks...
, the Michelin Man. The rubber-man had had been popular with the French public since the Michelin brothers introduced it at Lyon in 1894, and had acquired a variety of nicknames. At the 1898 'Paris-Amsterdam-Paris' motor race, Léon greeted André Michelin with a shout of "Here comes Bibendum!". Michelin immediately adopted the name (Latin for "time to drink") to show that his tyres could 'drink' spikes, nails, glass, etc.
Death and Commemoration
He died of TuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
at the age of 29. His tomb is in the Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris, France , though there are larger cemeteries in the city's suburbs.Père Lachaise is in the 20th arrondissement, and is reputed to be the world's most-visited cemetery, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the...
in Paris.
In 2005, the hundredth anniversary of his Gordon Bennett victory in France, many events were organized. The Post Office issued a stamp and the Paris Mint struck a commemorative medal representing Théry driving his Brasier
Brasier
Brasier was the successor of the early French Richard-Brasier automobile maker that had been in business since 1902. The name of the make was simplified to Brasier when Georges Richard left in 1905 to found Unic. Before World War I, several twin, four and six-cylinder models were offered...
.
Background sources
- Autosport.com, The Nostalgia Forum, - Leon Thery - When? 11/03/1900; Coupe des Voiturettes
- Autosport.com, The Nostalgia Forum, - Leon Thery - 1900 Paris-Rouen-Paris
- Autosport.com, The Nostalgia Forum, - Leon Thery - Heroic Age drivers - Thery and Velghe
External links
- http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_259048/Ernest-Montaut/The-Richard-Brasier-car-driven-by-Leon-Thery-during-the-Gordon-Bennett-race-in-the-Auvergne-in-1905-1910The Richard-Brasier car driven by Leon Thery during the Gordon Bennett race in the Auvergne in 1905. Painted by Ernest MontautErnest MontautErnest Montaut was a French poster artist who died at an early age. He is credited with the invention of various artistic techniques, such as speed lines and distorting perspective by foreshortening to create the impression of speed. These techniques are still in use.Montaut's printmaking career...
] - Gallery of Léon Théry images