115th Anniversary Celebration 1908 - 2023

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

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The Great Race of 1908 with unbroken car racing world records, stirs a century of interest and press coverage!

For video highlights of the Thomas Flyer and the New York to Paris Race, as well as the Glidden Tour (which George Schuster also participated in) click the following:
 

                  

 

 < Click for Preview 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 click: Request for DVD The Great Race - New York to Paris 1908

 

 

  <Click Video Clip - BroadBand Connection Recommended>  "The Greatest Auto Race on Earth" a 2 hour TV documentary is now available on DVD from the film creators  Frame 30 Production

           Videos <BroadBand> Larger files, please allow time to load:

WGRZ-TV Concord Historical Exhibit
George Schuster's Dodge Bothers car dealership recreated
"life-sized" in new Heritage Building - Springville, NY

  Thomas Flyer - World Champion

 Thomas Flyer inducted into the National Historic Vehicle

 Register by the US Dept. of Interior & Library of Congress
 

  A&E 10 Greatest American Cars

 The Thomas Flyer is named one of the top 10 American

 Automobiles

 

  WGRZ-TV news

 The Thomas Flyer and what it did for Buffalo, NY history
 

  I've Got a Secret-TV

 Host Garry Moore with Jane Mansfield, Betsy Palmer

 Bill Cullen, and Henry Morgan interview George

 

  WNED-TV (PBS)

 PBS reports on the 1908 New York to Paris Race

 

 

  WKBW-TV news

 Coverage of the return of the Thomas Flyer to Buffalo

 where it was built

 

  You Asked For It-TV

 Jack Smith interviews Ralph Dunwoodie of the Harrah

 Automobile Collection with the Thomas Flyer
 

 

  Speed-TV

 Behind The Headlights series looks at the legacy of

 the Thomas Flyer and its place in automotive history
 

 

    KREX-TV

  World Race 2011 commemorates the epic 1908 Race

  running the route from Times Square to the Eiffel Tower

 

 

Audio Delights <BroadBand> Please allow time to load:

           Classic Car Show Host Steve Rinaldo talks with Jeff about 2018 New York to Paris

           Old Cars Radio Host Brian Earnest explores the with Jeff the epic 1908 Race

           Classic Car Show  Host Steve Rinaldo talks with Jeff on 1620 Radio, Atlanta

           Thomas Flyer Running Sounds of the Flyer 60 hp. engine running

 WESB Race Interview University of Pittsburg at Bradford explores the Great Race

 

For insight into the race winner click:  George N. Schuster, Sr.

 

Winter Driving  Listen to George Schuster describe winter driving in 1908!

Interesting Images and Websites:

  The new Driving America Exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum opened in January 2012.  It features a larger than life image of the Thomas Flyer crew after leaving Buffalo, NY with Monty Roberts at the wheel, and George Schuster front right.  George Miller is back left, with T. Walter Williams (New York Times correspondent) standing in the rear.  Just below is a 1906 Thomas, as well as artifacts carried by George Schuster in the case below.  On display are George's sextant which he used to navigate the world route and the crude map he purchased in Vladivostok.
(Click images to enlarge)
 

  Poster by R. Cinkel with the Thomas Flyer exhibit National Automobile Museum
                          

   The restored Thomas Flyer on exhibit at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

  Actor Tony Curtis who starred in "The Great Race" movie, a comedy loosely based on this historic race.  Mr. Curtis gets in the driver's seat of the Thomas Flyer that won the "real" Great Race.

  Thomas Flyer Bronze sculpture by Stanley Wanlass on exhibit at the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum

  "I've Got a Secret" TV show with host Garry Moore and George Schuster who was a contestant, July 16, 1958.  The celebrity panel included Jane Mansfield, Betsy Palmer, Bill Cullen, and Henry Morgan.  This was the Thomas Flyer prior to its restoration.  Click the vintage video link from July 16, 1958 to see George stump the  I've Got A Secret celebrity panel

Books and other Coverage of The Great Auto Race:

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

  Profiles Volume II: Historic & Influential People from Buffalo & WNY - the Early 1900s
Author Rick Falkowski profiles 75 people that contributed to industry, business, politics, law, communications, sports, entertainment, and culture in Western New York during the early 1900s (1900 to 1950). The book differs from Volume I: Historic & Influential People from Buffalo & WNY - the 1800s as the biological sketches are more detailed and include information about family members and/or associates of the individual being profiled, along with the residences, buildings, and businesses they built.

PRIVACY: The Great Auto Race acknowledges the importance of protecting your privacy.  Any  information provided is never shared with any third party or organization.

 The Western New York Heritage Press Winter 2008 illustrated article by Alan Manchester "The Great Auto Race: Buffalo and The New York to Paris 1908 Automobile Race" tells the epic story from a hometown perspective.

  Horseless Carriage Gazette Jan. 1994  article by Jeff Mahl.

  For complete article click Was it the Men or the Machine?  

  NOTE: Please allow a minute or 2 article load time for slower dial-up connections.  This is an Adobe .pdf file, a common format for documents with PC or MAC compatibility.  You may click here for details on FREE Adobe Acrobat "Reader" if not already installed on your computer.

Books - Magazines - News Articles

*Titles suitable for younger student reading levels

 [  Home  ] [ The Race ] [ Thomas Restored ] [ Updates ] [ Centennial-2008 ] [ Information ]T[ 2018NYtoParis.com ] [ 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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