Georges Boillot and the Pits

Georges Boillot stopped in the pits in his 1912 French Grand Prix-winning Peugeot L76. This Peugeot was a 7.6 liter, 4 cylinder machine. The race was held on the public roads in and around Dieppe, France. Note that in 1912 "pits" were actual pits, trenches approximately five feet deep. The theory was that the crews did not block the views of the spectators. Typically only the driver and the riding mechanic were allowed to work on the cars. The crew merely handed them tools and gas/water cans or tires.