The Automobile Industry was Born on this day, November 28, 1895.
The
first recorded US automobile race was held- not in Indy or Daytona or even
Detroit but rather Chicago IL. The 50
mile Thanksgiving Day race was sponsored by the Chicago Times-Herald and was intended
to raise publicity for the newspaper and awareness for the embryonic American
car industry. Historians generally agree the little known event advanced the auto
industry by five years and positioned the Duryeas as the early industry leader,
selling 13 of their Motor Wagons that year.
From that day on, automobile manufacturing was a business.
The
race course was originally supposed to loop from Chicago to Waukegan, Illinois,
but was reduced to just 50 miles when only 6 of the original 89 entrants arrived
at the starting line. The racers drove from
Chicago to Evanston, Illinois, and back again. The rules were simple- vehicles
had to have at least three wheels, all wrapped in rope to give traction in the
snow, and they also had to be able to carry at least two people, the driver and
a race-appointed umpire who would ride along.
Besides
the Duryea there were three Benz cars, one sponsored by Macy’s in New York; and
two electrics whose batteries died almost immediately after the race began.
About
10 hours after the race began, the Duryea crossed the finish line after making a
55 minute steering repair at a local blacksmith shop. The race leader averaged
an astounding 7.5 MPH in near blizzard conditions. The Mueller Benz was the only other machine
to finish, but was driven across the line about two hours later by the umpire
due to Mr. Mueller having collapsed from fatigue.
Never underestimate the importance of what you are doing today and the impact it can have on tomorrow.
