Camille Jenatzy

Camille Jenatzy (* 1868 in Schaerbeek, † December 8, 1913 at Habay la Neuve, in the Belgian Ardennes ) was a Belgian racing driver and constructor of electric cars.

As a driver, he was a three-time holder of the land speed record, of his third record, which he won as a constructor, also on April 29, 1899 as the first man with a land vehicle -. The electric car " La Jamais Contente " - over 100 km / h drove

World speed records

But his first record he learned on 17 January 1899, 66.66 km / h on a CGA dog-cart, which made him the second record holder after Erstrekord of Gaston de Chasseloup - Laubat. After he was again exceeded by Chasseloup - Laubat, he won again with the electric car CGA Dogcart his second record on January 27, 1899 80.35 km / h He was even so the fourth owner of the land speed record.

Jenatzy, named because of his red beard and his daring driving style of the " Red Devils ", the late 19th century began the construction of their own vehicles, with whom he wanted to achieve, especially the world speed record. In April 1899, he had improved his home-made cigar- shaped electric car " Jamais Contente La " on the record 105.88 km / h, a record that would have three years inventory. He lost him only on 13 April 1902 Leon Serpollet with his steam car Oeuf de Pâques.

Racer

In Mors

His racing career began on Mors, he was ninth at the Tour de France Automobile 1899. His claims were reflected in the fact that he went through a night without break to make up for lost time for repairs.

At Mercedes

In 1903 he came to Mercedes, he was 14 when broken race Paris -Madrid in 1903 and gave his victory in the Gordon Bennett Cup in 1903 the German mark her first international victory. When Gordon Bennett race in 1904 in Homburg, he finished second, but was very lucky as him a train by inches missed at a railroad crossing.

After this shock, his driving skills was never as good as before. With Mors and Mercedes he tried to 1910 auto racing, success did not stand on.

Death

On December 8, 1913 Camille Jenatzy died in a tragic hunting accident by a shot of Alfred Madoux, the director of the journal L' Etoile Belge.