1908 Centennial Page

Centennial Celebration 1908 - 2008

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

World Race 2011

Film Documentary

2011 Blog

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 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 joined automotive legends including Ford, Andretti, Benz, Ferrari, Olds, and Shelby when he 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!

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.

"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 75th Jubilee Anniversary Banquet at the Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

"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.

2012 - 2013 Special Commemorative Events!

October 12, 2010: George Schuster Sr. was Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, the Highest Place of Honor in the International Motor Vehicle Industry. Induction is the single greatest honor, intended to recognize a career and/or lifetime achievement. George will take his place among other Inductees including Ford, Andretti, Benz, Ferrari, Olds, and Shelby.

April 14 - July 21, 2011: A Race combining the future with the past. World Race 2011 commemorates the 1908 epic, and made history of its own! With a start in New York City, participants circled the globe with their automobiles to the finish line in Paris. For the unfolding story around the world 103 years later visit: 2011 World Race Blog For video see: World Race 2011 Video-KREX

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.

HCCA Logo
February 18, 2012: The HCCA 75th Diamond Jubilee Convention kicks off in Los Angeles, CA. The birthplace of HCCA will be the location, celebrating 75 years of collecting Brass Era Vehicles. The inspiring story of Bandits, Guns and Automobiles with a special feature comparing the 1908 epic New York to Paris Race with World Race 2011 takes you on a wild ride through this amazing period! The winning Thomas Flyer will be on stage for this truly memorable evening!

June 29, 2012: The Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum celebrates the opening of its new addition with the arrival on Thursday June 28 of the Great Race on their journey from Travers City, MI through Canada then around the Great Lakes to finish in Dearborn, MI. The story of the original "Great Race" of 1908 will highlight the festivities on Friday evening, with a Car Show rounding out an exciting weekend on Saturday.

July 28, 2012: Join us for the Town of Concord Bicentennial in Springville, NY. The hometown of George Schuster celebrates its 200th Anniversary with a special Lyceum Speaker Series featuring it's famous "favorite sons", including football legend Pop Warner, popular Hollywood composer Jack Yellen, and the 1908 New York to Paris Race winner George Schuster. Check out all of the events which are sure to please everyone in the family, in beautiful upstate New York.

August 15, 2012: The 2012 AACA Founders Tour celebrates the early days of the AACA and the beauty of Altoona, PA with the story of Bandits, Guns and Automobiles. Join in for the memorable event, and some great automobiles!

HCCA Logo
June 23, 2013: New England Brass & Gas Tour 2013 HCCA tour in Rutland, VT. Enjoy the views and flavors of historic Vermont, and the inspiring story of Bandits, Guns and Automobiles with a special feature comparing the 1908 epic with World Race 2011 ! Join us for tour you will long remember!

Want a Good Book?

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 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

Thomas Flyer Stamp issued by Grenada

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.

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You Asked For It - hosted by Jack Smith

[ Home ] [ The Race ] [ Thomas Restored ] [ Updates ] [ Centennial-2008 ] [ Information ]T[ World Race 2011 ] [ 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.
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