1908 Centennial Page

Centennial Celebration 1908 - 2008

NY to Paris Car Race - an epic test of men and machines

1908 Diary

1908 Route

Does Your Organization Need a Speaker?

A live, first person presentation "Bandits, Guns and Automobiles" is available for your organization. Jeff Mahl takes you back to the turn of the last century for this incredible adventure, just as he heard the saga from his great-grandfather George Schuster Sr., driver and winner of the Great Race.

Special Events: Announced Schedule with Jeff Mahl as guest speaker

"Jaw dropping moments... mesmerized the dinner crowd" S. Selvaggio, Events Manager - York Concours d'Elegance. See the York Heritage Trust Program Review for additional information on "Bandits, Guns and Automobiles", and how it can benefit your organization.

"Incredible... an emotional, spellbinding performance... extremely rare standing ovation!" Bruce Wennerstrom, President - Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving & Chowder Society at Sardi's NYC, December 2007.

"Absolutely brilliant storyteller... kept the audience enthralled and thrilled. A terrific performance that attained a very high level of inspiration and genuine emotional impact" Marty W. Merkley Vice President & Director of Programming Chautauqua Institution For the full review click: Chautauqua Review

"Magical evening... compelling story" J. Frady, Director - National Automobile Museum. See the National Automobile Museum Program Review Jeff Mahl at the starting crank of the winning Thomas Flyer, for the grand opening the 2008 Centennial New York to Paris Race Exhibit at the National Automobile Museum (Harrah Collection) in Reno, NV

If you would like more information on a program for your group, or to request additional general information via e-mail click: Request for additional speaker information

PRIVACY: The Great Auto Race acknowledges the importance of protecting your privacy. Information which you may provide is never shared with any third party or organization.

"The Greatest Auto Race on Earth" a new 2 hour TV documentary is now available on DVD from Frame 30 Productions

2008 - Special Centennial Year Events!

October 18 - November 8, 2008: The Longest Auto Race Centennial Tour of vintage cars left NYC Times Square headed for San Francisco, along essentially the same route followed by the winning American Thomas Flyer and George Schuster in 1908. Click the map to the left to see the US route as drawn by George Schuster on this circa 1930's map.

For additional details on the Centennial event visit: New York to San Francisco - Longest Auto Race Centennial Image to the left (click to enlarge) was taken during the US crossing by photographer Jim Galli, using a vintage Kodak 2D 8x10 with a Petzval 24" lens. The location is Twin Springs Ranch, NV in front of the stone stage house which was standing in 1908, as the Thomas Flyer passed it on the way to Paris. The result is a striking similarity to those photos taken in 1908....

October 20, 2008: Springville, NY was the site of a special tribute to it's hometown hero George Schuster hosted by the Concord Historical Society . Participants in the Longest Auto Race Centennial Tour made a brief stop in Springville on Monday morning, as they trekked from NYC Times Square to San Francisco to honor George Schuster the winner of the 1908 NY to Paris Race.

A commemorative wreath was presented at the Elementary School with flag waving students greeting the drivers (just as school children did 100 years ago). Then a drive past George Schuster's home on East Ave., and the new mural on Main Street (click image to the left for full view). A "Photo/Refreshment Stop" at Fiddler's Green Gazebo was made at the site of Schuster's 1920 Dodge Dealership Historic Marker, and on to Maplewood Cemetery for the wreath laying ceremony with gun salute.

2010 - 2011 Special Commemorative Events!

May 8, 2010: The McPherson, KS campus of McPherson College presents Jeff with the saga of "Bandits, Guns and Automobiles" at the Restoration Technology Department's 11th Annual CARS Club Show. Hear the story of the Race that changed automotive history!

July 2, 2010: The Diamond Anniversary of the Antique Automobile Club of America will be celebrated in Louisville, KY with a special Friday evening 75th Anniversary Banquet presentation of "Bandits, Guns and Automobiles". Plan now to join in all the events, with details at AACA 75th Anniversary

July 30, 2010: The Seal Cove Auto Museum near Bar Harbor, Maine presents "Bandits, Guns and Automobiles". The Museum collection includes a French 1899 DeDion Bouton with an American 1912 Thomas Flyer, sister automobiles of those that participated in the New York to Paris Race of 1908. Join us for the extraordinary opportunity to hear the saga of the Race that made these early automobile manufactures famous!

June 19, 2011: HCCA National New England Tour presents "Bandits, Guns & Automobiles" as part of the Brass & Gas Tour in beautiful New England! Join in for all the events.

For a map of the original 1908 New York to Paris Race route, visit: Google Map - Greatest Race of 1908

The medical kit given by Doctor Shaw in Seattle with all the wonder drugs of the day, including boric acid, nitroglycerine, and morphine. Dysentery was a common problem. George's remedy was often exercise, running behind the car, and a shot of brandy.

The handmade sextant George used to navigate much of Asia. Detailed maps were nonexistent, and with the language barriers often sign language, the sextant and instinct were their only resources.

The compass George used to circumnavigate the world. The solid brass device was often carried in his coat pocket. It was especially useful at night or on overcast days when there was no sun for reference.

The .32 caliber pistol George carried in his coat pocket around the world. He later used the same pistol to guard the Winfield Smith machine manufacturing plant during World War II.

Halfway To Tonopah by R. Cinkel on exhibit National Automobile Museum

Very special thanks and credit to the following for important historical references:

Paintings by artists Peter Helck and Robert Cinkel

Additional photos from the National Automobile Museum - Harrah Collection; Reno, NV.

A&E-TV A&E Network Video New York, NY

SPEED-TV The Speed Channel Inc.

WATV Los Angles, CA

WNED-TV Buffalo, NY

WKBW-TV Buffalo, NY

KUHF-Radio Houston, TX by John H. Lienhard - University of Houston College of Engineering

You Asked For It - hosted by Jack Smith

[ Home ] [ The Race ] [ Thomas Restored ] [ Updates ] [ Centennial-2008 ] [ Information ]T[ The Film ]he New York to Paris Race was an epic International Competition. It was won by George Schuster driving the Thomas Flyer in 1908.
Links to other websites are not under our control, and are provided for your convenience. We cannot make any warranty or representation concerning the content of these sites, or secondary sites from the pages to which they link.