Four Nations Unite in a 1908 Race Where Endurance and Machines are Pushed to the Edge
This world-class event brought together national teams from France, Italy, Germany, and the United States. The New York to Paris Automobile Race was planned to cross the frozen Bering Strait in the depths of winter 1908, at a time when horses were still considered more reliable than automobiles.
World Champion Thomas Flyer inducted into the National Historic Vehicle Register
Jay Leno's Garage episode explores the incredible history of the Great Race and Thomas Flyer
Widely known as “The Great Race,” the event was sponsored by The New York Times and Le Matin, a Paris-based newspaper. The demanding New York to Paris route stretched across NYC, Albany, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Valdez (Alaska), Japan, Vladivostok, Omsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Berlin—and ultimately, Paris.
The Thomas Flyer Team traveled across three continents, covering more than 22,000 miles in just 169 days. The 1908 race was ultimately won by the American Thomas Flyer, driven by George Schuster Sr. of Buffalo, New York. This extraordinary achievement has never been matched and the record still stands over a century later.
Route Maps - The Asia/Europe map is an original purchased in Vladivostok in May 1908.
The buttons to the left or below guide you through the historic New York to Paris Race of 1908, featuring the drivers and their automobiles. You will also explore the restoration of the Thomas Flyer with the involvement of the winning driver, George Schuster*. Additional updates and further information are available as well.
*George Schuster was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame on October 12, 2010. He joins automotive legends including Ford, Andretti, Benz, Ferrari, Olds, and Shelby.
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