Comments on: The Great Automobile Race of 1908

The Great Automobile Race of 1908

peacay — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:32:08 -0800

On 30th July 1908, after 169 days of competition, the 4-cylinder, 60-horsepower Thomas Flyer, driven by George Schuster from America, crossed the finish line to win the Great 1908 New York-to-Paris Automobile Race. After driving to the West Coast, the vehicles were shipped to Vladivostok from where only three teams managed to continue with the race across Asia and Europe.

[I wonder if Time will change their title to 'New York-to-Paris'?] See also: -The Great Auto Race 1908 -The Greatest Auto Race on Earth

By: Phanx

Phanx — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:36:35 -0800

Amazing. Especially when you think of what 1908 automobile technology (the tyres in particular come to mind) must have been like.

By: doctoryes

doctoryes — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:52:55 -0800

Also a subject of the Blake Edwards film The Great Race. Which also has the largest pie fight ever stagged. Brandy, Brandy, throw more Brandy.

By: peewinkle

peewinkle — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:16:16 -0800

Dom Deluise is NOT impressed

By: youthenrage

youthenrage — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:53:57 -0800

I could have done with some description of the siberia-paris leg of the trip. The article talks up the accomplishment of driving from NYC to SF in 22 days, what about the other 5 months (less after shipping time) spent driving across a place that EVEN NOW is a miserable proposition and the primary thoroughfare is nicknamed the "road of bones". Siberia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe must have been gnarly 100 years ago. I couldn't even find a map of the route that they took. Super interesting topic, but all the information out there is pretty shallow.

By: peacay

peacay — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:37:00 -0800

youtheenrage, you're essentially right: the photos are the mainstay of the post and web presence, although there is a google maps intinerary/route available.