Centennial Celebration
1908 - 2008
NY to Paris Car Race - an epic test of men and machines
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NY to Paris Car Race - an epic test of men and machines |
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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 impossible yet true adventure, just as he heard the saga from his great-grandfather George Schuster Sr., driver of the Thomas Flyer and winner of the 1908 Great Race. Schuster was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame on October 12, 2010**. The story now includes a special update of the remarkable saga comparing the 1908 New York to Paris Race with World Race 2011 . Join us for the wild ride through automotive history!
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< Click to enlarge "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.
January 28, 2012: The
Henry Ford Museum opens
Driving America "The World's Premier Automotive Exhibition" in Dearborn, MI.
Featured in the new collection is the 1908 New York to Paris Race exhibit
complete with
artifacts carried by George Schuster the winning driver of the American
built Thomas Flyer! George's
compass which he used to navigate the world route and the
medical kit from Dr. Shaw as they passed through Seattle with the wonder drugs of the
day, give a glimpse of what "horseless carriage" travel was like at the turn of
the last century.
The Great Automobile Race - New York to Paris 1908 From the original account of the race with forward written by Jeff Mahl (great-grandson of George Schuster), this limited edition book is still available. The 85 pages include details of the winning Thomas Flyer and the epic event, as well as numerous original photographs. "It shows the American car is on a par with the foreign machine and it marks the beginning of the end, in my opinion of the European supremacy." - American Automobile Association, 1908 "Original account of the greatest race ever... It's a must" Read the Antique Automobile review in the May/June 2008 issue of the Antique Automobile Club of America member's magazine. If you would like a copy of The Great Automobile Race - New York to Paris 1908 signed by the author, click: Request for copy of The Great Automobile Race
For a map of the original 1908 New York to Paris Race route, visit: Google Map - Greatest Race of 1908
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.
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 You Asked For It - hosted by Jack Smith |
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[ Copyright © 2001-2013 |
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Need a Speaker?
If you would like more information on a program for your group, or to request additional
general information via e-mail click:
"Highly anticipated
evening's program... most interesting presentation ever seen, bar none, and had
guests glued to their seats" AACA - National Antique Automobile Club of
America 
"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
April 14 - July 21, 2011: A Race combining the future with the past.
April
2, 2013: Students at 
August 1,
2013: Valdez Alaska was a turning point in the New York to Paris Race.
Arriving aboard the SS Santa Clara on April 8, 1908 the Thomas
Flyer and her crew were met by every resident and a brass band! With the
help of Dan Kennedy who operated the Valdez-Fairbanks mail stage, George
Schuster scouted the trail to Fairbanks. With snow still over 10', and
impossible conditions a plan to transport the 5,000 pound Flyer by dogsled was
devised. However, the $10,000 expense just to Fairbanks was overwhelming &
much more getting the Flyer to Nome. Today, you still can't drive to Nome
even in summer. 2013 
![[New!]](images/smallnew.gif){kind=small}
The Great Race
New York to Paris 1908 DVD is
now available! See the incredible story unfold in the words of the
winner George Schuster, as told by his Great Grandson Jeff Mahl.
Packed with original images from the epic 1908 Race, the saga of this
triumph of men and machines brings to life a turning point in automotive
history. For his accomplishments, George Schuster was inducted into
the Automotive Hall of Fame and the winning American built Thomas Flyer is
featured in the Harrah Collection of the National Automobile Museum in Reno,
NV. This professionally produced DVD is now available online at the
