In 1895, the world's first major car race replaced a bizarre spectator obsession.
In short: Before motor racing became a global phenomenon, audiences were captivated by competitive walking. This video explores the 1895 Paris–Bordeaux–Paris race, an event designed to prove the commercial viability of the automobile by pitting vehicles against each other over a grueling 1,178-kilometer journey.
On June 11, 1895, a group of French enthusiasts and journalists organized the Paris–Bordeaux–Paris race to test the limits of early automotive technology. Covering 732 miles, the event marked the first time a large group of automobiles competed in a first-to-finish contest.
The race sought to establish motor racing as a legitimate spectator sport, a challenge given that the public was then obsessed with competitive walking. These walking matches, which involved people strolling in circles for days, regularly drew tens of thousands of spectators, setting a low bar for what audiences found entertaining at the time.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Saga of the First Major Car Race
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