Vanderbilt Cup Races

Born in France in 1875, Caillois was a racing bicyclist at the age of 18. Reflecting his parents' objection to his competing, he raced under the name Siolliac, his name spelled backwards. He soon became interested in automobiles and worked in 1900 to 1901 as an engineer and designer for Peugeot. After working for Serpollet, a maker of French steam-driven vehicles, Caillois joined the Brasier company. In 1905, he finished second in the elimination race for the Gordon Bennett Cup and finished a strong fourth in the final. As an enticement to race the Thomas in 1906, he was offered a six year contract as the French agent for the Thomas Flyer when he returned home.

Prior to the American Elimation Race to determine the five cars that would compete in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race, Caillois could be seen driving the #4 Thomas at the company's headquarters at Krug's Hotel in Mineola As reported in the September 13, 1906 issue of The Automobile, Caillois predicted the winner of the Elimination Race:

"The car that averages sixty miles per hour will finish first or second. In all, there are eleven turns. At every one of these it will be necessary to slow down. Time will be lost not only in approaching the curves, but in accelerating the speed afterward, since no matter how powerful a car may be, time is lost in regaining the maximum."