At the greatest speed, Lynch, Patrick

James Gordon Bennett Jr. (1841-1918) was the spoiled only son of the millionaire founder and publisher of the New York Herald. In addition to taking over publishing duties from his father, Bennett led a dynamic and daring life. He was a tireless supporter of the pioneering fields of technology and sports, always with speed in mind. In 1899, fascinated by new motor cars, he founded the Gordon Bennett Cup. The inaugural race took place in 1900, and though only three countries entered the inaugural race in 1900, it was the beginning of a massive phenomenon. Despite challenges of widespread anti-car sentiment, bureaucracy, speed limits, safety, and design challenges, over the next few years, Bennett grew spectatorship from less than one hundred to eighty thousand.