The race called for a flight over the
Pyrenees Mountains, and Vedrines, the winner, had to rise
to a height of more than 7,000 feet to pass the mountain
barrier near Somosierra Pass. Both Vedrines and Gibert, another
competitor, were attacked by eagles during the latter
stages of the flight. Vedrines, who started from Paris on
Monday, May 22, finished the long and perilous race at 8:06
a. m. Friday, May 26. Vedrines net flying time, all controls
and enforced stops subtracted, was 14h. 55m. 18s. The various
prizes to the winner aggregated $30,000.
The Paris-Rome-Turin Race.--The conditions of this race
called for a flight between the cities of Paris, Rome and
Turin, covering a distance of 1,300 miles. The aviators were
permitted by the rules to alight whenever and wherever they
desired and the time limit was set from May 28 to June 15.
A prize of $100,000 was offered the winner, but the contest
was never finished, as one after another the aviators dropped
out until Frey fell near Roncigilione, France, breaking both
arms and legs and unofficially ending the contest. There
were twenty-one entries and twelve actual starters.
International Speed Cup Race.--The third annual international
James Gordon Bennett speed cup race was held at
Eastchurch, England, on July 1, 1911, and for the second
time was won by an American aviator, C.
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