Grand Prix Racer

On July 4, 1914, 14 manufacturers representing six different countries lined up on the start line for the French Automobile Club's first-ever Grand Prix de Lyon. The race was held on closed public roads near Lyon, 20 laps around a 23.5-mile circuit. Among the manufacturers was Opel, who entered the race with three slightly different Grand Prix cars. All three still exist, but this is the only example to have finished the race. It was driven by Carl Jorns to tenth place. It has a 4.5-liter engine with four valves per cylinder, a vertical drive shaft, and an overhead camshaft; it had a top speed of just over 100 mph. Jorns's race began badly when he had a stone go through the radiator, and he made an unplanned pit stop. Changing it in 12 minutes, he returned to the race to finish over an hour behind the winning Mercedes.