Camille Jenatzy facts for kids
Camille Jenatzy (born in 1868 in Schaerbeek, Belgium – died on 8 December 1913 in Habay la Neuve, Belgium) was a famous Belgian race car driver. He is best known for being the first person to drive a car faster than 100 kilometers per hour (about 62 miles per hour).
He broke the land speed record three times! People called him Le Diable Rouge, which means "The Red Devil." This was because of the color of his beard.
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Breaking Speed Records
Camille Jenatzy was a true pioneer in car racing. He loved to go fast and set new records.
First Records
On January 17, 1899, near Paris, France, Jenatzy drove his CGA Dogcart car. He reached a speed of 66.66 kilometers per hour (about 41.42 mph) over one kilometer. This was a new land speed record!
However, another driver named Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat broke his record on the very same day. Jenatzy didn't give up. On January 27, 1899, he set a new record of 80.35 km/h (about 49.93 mph).
The 100 km/h Barrier
Chasseloup-Laubat broke the record again soon after. He made his car more aerodynamic to go faster. Jenatzy wanted to be the fastest.
On April 29, 1899, Jenatzy made history. He drove an electric car called the CITA Nº 25 La Jamais Contente. This car was special because it was built just for breaking speed records. He reached an amazing speed of 105.88 km/h (about 65.79 mph). This made him the first person ever to drive a car over 100 kilometers per hour!
In 1902, another driver named Léon Serpollet took the land speed record from Jenatzy.
Winning the Gordon Bennett Cup
Camille Jenatzy was also a great race car driver. In 1903, he won the important Gordon Bennett Cup race. He won this race in Athy, Ireland, while driving a Mercedes car.
Car racing was quite dangerous back then. Jenatzy once said that he believed he would die in a Mercedes car.
How Camille Jenatzy Died
Camille Jenatzy died in 1913 in a sad accident. He was out hunting with some friends. As a joke, he hid behind a bush and made animal noises.
One of his friends, Alfred Madoux, heard the noises. He thought it was a wild animal and fired his gun. Sadly, he shot Jenatzy by mistake.
His friends quickly put him in a car to rush him to the hospital. But Jenatzy bled too much on the way and passed away. He died in a Mercedes car, just as he had predicted. He is buried in the Laeken Cemetery in Brussels, Belgium.
