The Great Race of 1908

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The Great Race of 1908
Only nine men had successfully crossed the United
States in an automobile at that time. 
The Around the World Auto Race would cover
22,000 miles in 169 days!
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Thomas Flyer National Automobile Museum

• Thomas Flyer - 4,000  
• Weighed 5,000 pounds loaded
• 4 cylinder 60 hp
• engine
• 60 mph

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Great Race by the Numbers

• 6 cars from 4 nations
• 250,000 spectators at start of the race
• 3 continents visited
• 169 days for Thomas Flyer to win race
• 13,341 miles by land, 8,600 by water
• 22,000 miles total

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Buffalo, NY
Chicago, IL
Cheyenne, WY
Omaha, Nb
Iowa 1908
Out west ??
Julesburg, CO
Kendallville, IN
Tonapah, NV
New York City Feb 12, 1908
Valdez, AK
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The Start Feb. 12, 1908Location New York City
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Crowds begin to gather at the Times Square
starting line in NYC. Over 250,000 spectators
were on hand for the start of the 1908 New York
to Paris Race. 
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Feb. 16, 1908Location Buffalo, New York
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The Flyer with the 45 star flag flying approaches
Buffalo, NY where it was built. Often spectator
cars would join in, following the competitors or
acting as guide cars breaking the way through
snow
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Location Kendallville, IndianaFebruary 19, 1908

• Long before snowplows, hand shoveling or
  dragging the Flyer with teams of horses was often
  the only way through. With little protection from
  the elements, the American built Thomas Flyer
  with George Schuster as driver becomes the first
  automobile to ever cross the US in winter. 
• Mar. 24,1908-First auto to ever cross the US
  during winter in 41 days, 8 hours and 15 minutes,
  a total of 3.836 miles from Times Square, New
  York City.

Return to map
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Location Outside Chicago, IllinoisFebruary
26/27, 1908
Where there were no rails, the Thomas was often
forced to go "cross country", long before the
days of 4WD.  Here, the car mired in quicksand,
has broken the pinion gear.  It was repaired in
the creek bed.
Return to map
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Location Iowa Countryside1908
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"Thomas Flyer" rolling through the snowy Iowa
countryside. In 1908, there were no paved roads
and the problems of driving in the snow and mud
cannot be fully understood today.
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Location Omaha, NebraskaMarch 4, 1908
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Often with no roads, the Flyer would go
"cross-country" finding torturous obstacles along
the 22,000 mile course
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Location Julesburg, Colorado

• The Flyer up to the axles in mud near Julesburg,
  Colorado.

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Location Cheyenne, Wyoming March 8, 1908
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The Flyer drew crowds as it passed through
cities, towns and villages. In Cheyenne, Wyoming
cowboys (shooting their guns in the air) escorted
the Thomas. 
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Location Somewhere out west!!!!
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Location Tonapah, NevadaMarch 20, 1908

• I recalled that we had sold several cars to
  owners near Tonopah, Nevada which was 75 miles
  south of Twin Springs. I reasoned I might be able
  to take what we needed from one of those cars? It
  was after dark now and I walked to a ranch house
  where I hired a horse for 20 starting off toward
  Tonopah. It was a little after 4 A.M. the next
  morning, and both the flea-bitten gray and I were
  exhausted. I saw an adobe ranch house, and
  knocked on the door. A womans voice responded. I
  asked for some food and a fresh horse in the
  morning. Her response Dont try to come in here
  mister I have a scatter gun and Ill shoot! My
  people have gone to Tonopah and there are no
  horses. You can find hay for your horse, and
  theres a lean-to for you. quick sand mired
  Flyer to make the repairs.

Return to map
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Location Valdez, AKApril 8, 1908
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The Thomas Flyer arrives on the pier at Valdez,
Alaska. Impossible conditions prevented using
Bering Straits as a "bridge" to drive across.
George Schuster-driver (right front), George
Miller-mechanic (left front), George MacAdam-New
York Times reporter (seated right rear fur
collar), Hans Hansen-crew (standing left rear)
April 8, 1908 
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• Crowds begin to gather at the Times Square
  starting line in NYC. Over 250,000 spectators
  were on hand for the start of the 1908 New York
  to Paris Race. 

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Websites/ Sources used

• http//www.thegreatautorace.com/
• http//maps.google.com/maps/ms?ieUTF8hlenmsa0
  msid117047155625108364832.000001130ded1a80b9c6b
  ll47.293449,8.599892spn146.38849,360z2om1
• http//www.thegreatestautorace.com/
• http//becpldigital.cdmhost.oclc.org/site-template
  s/nyparis-bib.html
• http//www.flickr.com/photos/7148462_at_N03/421331850
  /

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Midlatitude, forest
Mid-West
Northeast
Humid, mixed forest
Rocky Mts
Southeast
High Altitude, Mountains
Grassland, cold winds, flat
Great Plains
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