The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-09
HozU the American Automobile
Won the NeqU York-Pars Race
Those Whose Stock Car Beat Europes Especially
Prepared Machines by Twenty-six DAYS.

cars start from New York city on Lin
coins Birthday on their trip around the
world bars.y a handful expected the
cars TO reach Paris.
Those who knew the West in its win
ter mood declared the maahines would
not be able TO cross this country. The
larger undertaking of crossing Alaska
and northern Siberia few thought pos
sible. but the achievement OF the two
cars that have completed the Tace-and
the third which will complete IL in the
course of another month at most-is
Sufficiently remarkable TO be worthy OF
the highest admiration.
AS an endurance contest the New
YOrk-to-Paris race takes precedence
over any event ever organized IN the
world. From the instant that the cars
started from Times square until the
finish interest was unfiaSging. The
eyes of the world followed the cars
IN their struggles with billiards. and
sanostorms in the United States in the
unsuccessful attempt 10 penetrate
Alaska. in their crossing Of the Pacific.
and the long. remarkable contest
through Asia and Europe.
$4,000 Miles of Road.
The course originally planned called
Tor $500 miles Of travel The course
eventually followed required 21.O
miles. More than 1900 miles Of road
were covered by the German and Amer
ican machines, and they finished that
course able TO make creditable time in
spite OF untold hardships. In retrospect
there is scarcely a part OF this entire
distance that lacks its dramatic inter
est, while rviewing the whole journey in
its entirety 1t seems Incredible When
the race was conceived in Paris its
hardships We're little appreciated.
The almost insurmountable obstacles
to be overcome, the dangers that beset
The contestants. and the elements Of ad-
venture and hardy daring, invested the
event with an attractiveness that ap-
pealed to seekers after excitement and
admirers Of pluck and courage.
The Contestants.
At 10 a. m. February u, 1905, the con-
testants lined up in the parking space
assigned them in FOrty-third street. be-
tween Broadway aad Seventh avenue,
facing the north end of the Times build
ing ready for the start
The contestants were: De Dion
IFreneh). G. Boucher de Saint Chaffray,
Capt. Hans Hansen and NJ. Autran;
Motto Bloc (Freuch), NJ. GODDARD, NJ.
Hue and NJ Liver: SiZaiTe ct Faudin
(French), August POns. NJ. DesChamps
and Nj Berthe; Zust UtaHsnJ, Antonio
ScarfogliO. EmeIo Sitori. and Henri
Haaga: Protos German, Lieutenant
Koeppen, Engineer Hans Knape, and
Engineer Ernest Mas; Thomas (Amer-
ican), George Schuster, Montague Rob
erts. Harold Brinker. and Linn Mathe-
son.
American Common Stock Car.
There was much disappointment ex-
pressed at the non-appearance Of tie
Thomas car. which arrived too late for
exhibition. The hope Of the American
automobile industry, "a common stock
car" selected six days before the race
absolutely without any mechanical
changes or preliminary tests, except
such as all Thomas cars are subjected
10. arrived i'm New York on the morn
ing of the race, and after a thorough
inspection and severe test, was found
70 answer all requirements.
The entering Of a common stock car,
without a particle of preparation,
gainst the finished product Of the great
.oreign manufactures who devoted
months Of time and preparation TO the
project, and the wonderful showing Of
the American car in this endurance
contest. the longest I'm the worlds his
tory, blowing through snow across the
American continent swamps and mud
across Siberia and Russia, almost two
thirds of the entire distance, and over
coming obstacles. real and otherwise.
Tording streams. climbing mountains.
threading sandy, tTacllless deserts.
often off the track losing DAYS through
Tuisdirecton, through partially civilized
countries thousands Of miles from
repair shop, where the only means Of
communication was by signs.
4 feat unparalleled in history, risking
money. prestige. and reputation. prov
ing more than anything else the conf
dence of the f. r. Thomas Motor Com
pauy i'm the reliability of their product.
For in winning this they have accom-
pIishcd mechanical feats of endurance
unheard Of In the history of mechanics,
and exploded the legend that Made in
Europe" necessarily means the best on
the market.
Started II A. N. February "a, 1908.
At promptly II a. m. the contestants
started on their great race.
When il started I'm New York It was
looked upon as being more Of an en-
durance contest TO last over "A q. 600
mile course under severe conditions
than a speeding contest between New
York and any given point. but through
& series OF misunderstanding it de-
ve3Cped into a brealzneCk race to Chi
Cago. which the Thomas wen. The
Sizaire e. Naudin dropping out at Red
Hook. on the Hudson. through inability
10 replace a broken part in time to
continue the race.
The progress OF the cars through New
York, Ohio, and Indiana to Chicago was
q series OF unheaTd-Of experiences,
buclIing billiards and other incidents Of
a character that were unexpected. but
which repetition at various stages OF
the race caused the Thomas drivers to
be more cautious-a caution which prof
tied them TO the extent that they won
the race TO Frisco
Hardly had the six set out from New
York city when they were caught in the
grasp of a snowstorm which increased
in violence as they moved farther west,
until in Indiana 1t threatened TO over
Whelm them.