IMAGINE the world’s fastest cars racing down O’Connell Street up William Street out Roxboro Road down Carey’s Road to Punches Cross back up O’Connell Avenue onto the home straight of O’Connell Street!
In 1935, Limerick didn’t have to imagine it, as 50,000 spectators were treated to the inaugural Limerick Grand Prix, attended by the world’s greatest racing drivers.
Limerick Classic and Vintage Club are now set to bring some of the models of Bugatti, Maseratti, MG, Ford and Austin cars which would have competed in the race back to Limerick to complete the route this August.
“The 2.78 mile street circuit is one of only two in the world still intact, along with Monte Carlo, the home of the Monaco GP,” said Colin Williams of Limerick Classic and Vintage Car Club.
This circuit took an average around two minutes and thirty five seconds to complete, at an average speed of 65mph.
Following the success of the first event, the Limerick Grand Prix was held again in 1936, when one driver was killed, and 1938.
Club member, Martin Bourke, explained the background.
“Street races were banned in the UK at the time but not in Ireland, and the lack of racing circuits brought races to the Phoenix Park, Cork and Limerick”.
This brought the World’s best cars and drivers to Limerick’s streets… “It wasn’t just international participants, we had local entrants too, and the Doherty family in Adare entered their own special cut up saloon”.
James Doherty of W.W. Doherty & Sons Limited, spoke about his family’s participation: “My father Walter built his own car and raced it. It was DRA Doherty Racing Automobile) and it was built along the lines of the ERA English Racing Automobile), the popular car of the time”.
The organisers claim that the winning Alfa Romeo 8C car of 1935 was the launch pad of the Ferrari. Martin added: “It was auctioned in 1999 in California and sold for over $3million”.
In the second Grand Prix in 1936, the 22-year old Duke of Grafton was killed on his birthday after he crashed on the first lap and his car went on fire.
The Bugatti Type 59 was saved and rebuilt by his mechanic and was auctioned in 2005 for $1.2million.
Another famous entrant in the race was Prince Bira of Siam, who was one of the top drivers of the time.
Martin continued: “It is well documented how the Prince travelled to Limerick and arrived at the Dunraven Arms Hotel in his Bentley”.
The Classic and Vintage Car Club have compiled a lot of information on the race from various sources, including posters, programmes and photographs.
Martin concluded: “We discovered sponsorship letters, posters and a locally produced programme on the Limerick Museum website. Thanks to the work of Sean Curtin, we also have some fantastic photographs”.
Other sources of information include detailed articles in The Irish Motor News magazine.
Links to spectacular video footage of the 1935 and 1936 Limerick Grand Prix are available on the event website, www.limerickgrandprix.com.
