The racer had a special 183 cubic inch motor, to stay just under the 3 liter classification. However, the car was not allowed to compete in the 3 liter Grand Prix held in June 1911 because it was too light.
The racer did compete in the 1 km and 1/2 km trials for the event, scoring 2nd in both, and reaching 69 mph in the 1 km trial. This racer could go!
Next, the racer prepared for the French Grand Prix, practicing the route with agent Depasse driving. However, the racer wrecked a week before the Grand Prix, killing the mechanician and injuring Depasse.
One month later, one of the last major French racing events was held, the Mont Ventoux climb. Mont Ventoux remarkably resembles Pikes Peak in many ways, with a slightly longer run and slightly higher grade. It was a major European hill climb event since the first run in 1902.
Depasse was able to reconstruct the racer, and entered it at the last moment in Europes most prestigious hill climb event, a grueling 13 mile ascent into the clouds. Click on the link below to see cars that participated in the event, including a Ford Special racer:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ftx9gzf71s0lo ... 0.mp4?dl=0
