
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.
"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
"The great-grandson of George Schuster, gave a
spellbinding presentation depicting the obstacles overcome by the winning
team exactly one century ago." Ken Gross -
AutoWeek
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.
2007 - Special Events!
July 20-21, 2007: The
York County
Heritage Trust Concours d'Elegance will feature Jeff Mahl as guest speaker.
A 1907 Model 35 Thomas (same year and model as the winning Flyer) owned by
Harold Coker, is also planned to be on site for this very special event!
(Click images to enlarge)
August 4, 2007: The
Buffalo & Erie County Historical
Museum
will present "Bandits, Guns and Automobiles" in a feature program starting
at 10:30 AM in the Museum auditorium.
Included will be numerous original photographs
of the New York to Paris Race with comments from the winning driver's
perspective!
August 8-19, 2007: The
168th Erie
County Fair (second largest fair in the US) will host an historical exhibit
commemorating the 1908 New York to Paris Race and hometown son George Schuster.
The exhibit will be sponsored by the Concord Historical Society. A special
presentation is also scheduled for Slade Park on Tuesday August 14!

October 8, 2007:
Lamar University will
present "Bandits, Guns and Automobiles" in a
feature program in the auditorium of the John Gray Center at 7 PM. Several
vintage automobiles including a 1903 Ford, 1910 Bianchi, and 1913 Locomobile are
also expected to be on hand for viewing. For additional program information see
the Lamar University
Press Release
November 7, 2007: The
National Automobile Museum
opens a year long special exhibit featuring the 1907 Thomas Flyer, the only
American entry and winner of the 1908 New York to Paris Automobile Race.
Jeff Mahl will be speaker at the opening ceremonies in Reno.
December 19, 2007: The Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving & Chowder
Society 50th annual Christmas Party at Sardi's restaurant will include a special program by Jeff,
describing the epic 1908 New York to Paris Race and the Centennial Celebration
in 2008!
2008 - The Centennial Year Special Events!
February 9, 2008: The AACA
Annual Meeting presents Jeff Mahl in Philadelphia. Members will have a
special opportunity to hear the story of George Schuster the American victory in
the 1908 Race, and the events celebrating the 2008 Centennial.
February 10, 2008: The
New York Times features the story of the 1908 NY to Paris Race which
included an "embedded" Times reported in the back seat of the Thomas Flyer!
The Sunday issue of the NY Times Automotive section (and detailed online on
their website), also
includes information on the Great Race 2008 - New York to Paris.
February 11, 2008: The
Explorers Club hosts a
special Public Lecture in New York City. This is a unique opportunity for
members of the general public to share in the incredible saga of the 1908 New
York to Paris Race. The presentation is on the eve of the Centennial
start in Times Square February 12, 1908. Join in the celebration of this
historic moment and the NYC events of 2008!
February
12, 2008: Great
Race 2008: New York to Paris hosts a media event in New York City,
on the 100th anniversary of the start in Times Square announcing details for the
start of the globe circling Great Race 2008 May 30!

March 7, 2008: The 13th Annual
Amelia Island Concours
d'Elegance will feature Jeff Mahl with the original 1907 Thomas Flyer, the car
that won the Great New York to Paris Automobile Race of 1908! Jeff will be
reliving the events of that
epic Race with original photos and a first person
account of the international competition which reshaped automotive history.
For additional coverage of this extraordinary event see:
Old Cars Weekly and
AutoWeek
April 9-10,
2008: The National
Automobile Museum features Jeff presenting "Bandits,
Guns and Automobiles" as part of a special educator
symposium. The Museum is home to the historic 1907 Thomas Flyer, the only
American entry and winner of the New York to Paris Race.
May 14, 2008: The
Northern New Jersey
Region Porsche Club of America presents Jeff Mahl in a special member's
program. The story of George Schuster and the 1908 New York to Paris Race
will once again come alive!
May 15, 2008:
The AACA Ankokas Chapter
will feature Jeff in a special meeting. Join in this event to Celebrate
the Centennial of the 1908 New York to Paris Race.
May 24, 2008: The 38th annual "Jim Butler Days" with the "Great Race" as its
theme, is sponsored by the
Tonopah
Chamber of Commerce. Jeff Mahl will be the Grand Marshall for this years
celebration!
May 27, 2008: The
Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum presents Jeff Mahl and "Bandits,
Guns and Automobiles". The presentation will tell of Buffalo's
role in building the winning Thomas Flyer, and the determination of the Buffalo
factory men who made history!

July 25-27, 2008: The
Concord Historical Society celebrates the Centennial (July 30, 1908) of the
New York to Paris win by George Schuster, Sr. of
Springville, NY with several hometown events. Tours with a Buffalo
gala at the
Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum , exhibits, an antique car rally, Springville NYS historic marker dedication, BBQ,
parade down village streets lined with commemorative banners, a world class 1908 Race photo exhibit, Centennial
Collectible Items
, a new documentary film screening and a special presentation with Jeff Mahl
telling the epic story behind the Race are just some of the events planned for this
<BroadBand>
Very Special Weekend!
Join In the Western New York Centennial Celebration Weekend July 25-27!
1)
1908 NY-Paris Centennial Celebration (.pdf 48kb)
2) General
Information Sheet (.pdf 106kb)
3) Early Bird Bonus-Hurry Limited
Offer (.pdf 14kb)
4) Registration Form (.pdf
13kb)

August 20, 2008:
Chautauqua Institution presents Jeff Mahl with a special evening program
"Bandits, Guns and Automobiles" in the Amphitheater. This extraordinary
venue will transport the audience back to a time when the automobile was
considered "fragile and capricious", with man's knowledge of the world limited
at best. Join us for the epic journey!
August 22-24, 2008: The
Geneva Concours
d'Elegance will feature Jeff with the incredible story of George
Schuster and the 1908 New York to Paris Race. The setting includes a show
of splendid classic automobiles!
September 6-7, 2008: The Henry Ford
Museum Old Car Festival at Greenfield Village planned events include
Jeff Mahl as guest speaker telling the story of the New York to Paris Race, as
he heard it from the winner George Schuster Sr. (his Great Grandfather).
September 8, 2008:
The University Commons, adjacent to The
University of Michigan North Campus is presenting Jeff as guest speaker.
The history of the 1908 New York to Paris Race will will once again come alive.
September 13 - October 4, 2008:
A "Longest Auto Race Centennial" caravan of vintage cars will leave NYC headed for San Francisco, along the
same route followed by the winning American Thomas Flyer and George Schuster in
1908. Click the icon to the left to see the US route as drawn by George
Schuster on this circa 1930's map. This planned charity benefit will include a 1918 Chevy V8 driven by
Luke Rizzuto.
October 22, 2008: The
National HCCA and
AACA
"Reliability Tour" - Chattanooga, TN will include Jeff presenting
"Bandits, Guns and Automobiles" during the fall tour
of beautiful Tennessee!
December 5, 2008: The Ocean Reef Club presents an evening at the Cultural
Center where the history of the 1908 New York to Paris Race will come alive.
2008
Centennial Celebrations!
February 14
Canastota, NY
Historic Marker Dedication at the Village Hall on the New York to Paris route
February 17
Concord Historical Society Springville, NY (George's hometown) Grand
Opening of "The Great Automobile Race", an inspiring collection
of 10 themed exhibits with numerous historic photos (some never before
published). It graphically traces the grueling Race, as well as the life
of George Schuster, driver of the Thomas Flyer and winner of the 1908 New York
to Paris Race!
March 22
Tonopah - Goldfield, NV Celebrate the passing of the Thomas Flyer 100
years ago
June 14-15
Reynolds-Alberta Museum
presents the 10th annual "History Road", with a planned
special exhibit of the American Thomas Flyer and German Protos film cars. These full
size, running automobiles were those used in the production of the new upcoming
2-hour TV documentary
"The Greatest Auto Race on Earth"!
July 25-27
Concord Historical Society Springville, NY (George's hometown)
Centennial Weekend Celebration!
2009 - Special Commemorative Events!
April 25 - June 28, 2009: Great
Race 2009: New York to Paris will retrace portions of the original 22,000 mile
route taken 100 years ago in an attempt to break the century old world record!
The Race was rescheduled from 2008, due to the withdrawal of travel permits by
the Chinese government for foreign travelers following demonstrations in Tibet
and surrounding the Olympic Torch Run.
This major event will have the world cheering on
their favorite teams. They will compete to write a new chapter in automotive racing history.
For a map of the original route, visit:
Google Map - Greatest Race of 1908 and the 2009 updated route will be
available soon!
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.
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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