100 years ago some 250,000 people jammed into New York's Times Square to cheer on the contestants in what was then, and still is, regarded as "the toughest race in motoring history". The destination was Paris, via Asia and Europe, the route was 35,000 kilometers (roughly 21,700 miles) in length, and six cars from France, Germany, Italy and America participated. Considering the roads of the time, or lack of same, merely to finish would be an incredible feat. Certainly the organisers, the New York Times, must have had a devious mind, for in spite of the endless hazards facing those brave crews, the race started in mid-winter. Aboard were 17 men, eager to represent their countries and prove that they and their machines were tough enough to endure the ultimate automotive adventure. Plowing into a fierce northeast snowstorm, one of the two French entries only made it to Peekskill, New York. The other got as far as Iowa.

The sneaky German team traveled by train from Ogden, Utah to Seattle and were penalised 15 days, plus another 15 days for not catching a ship to Anchorage from where it would drive across the Bering Strait to Vladivostok. Which would have been a waste of time, as it happened, since 10-foot Alaskan snowdrifts blocked the way. Nevertheless the winning Thomas Flyer from the USA did make the trip, only to be sent back to Seattle. Eventually the contestants sailed to Japan, from where they took another ship to Russia to continue their arduous struggle across Europe to Paris. Three cars finished, one each from America, Germany and Italy - in that order - proving the viability of the automobile for reliable, everyday transportation. Now that epic journey will be repeated by two groups of cars, one consisting of classics, the other of cars powered by renewable fuels, in the 2008 Great Race. Be sure to read more about this remarkable event after the break:

Reflecting the same sense of adventure as the 1907 participants, teams in "the 2008 Great Race" will travel a similar route (see map above), with a few rules to make things more difficult. They must carry on board everything they need; every mile must be driven; portions of the route are not allowed to include support vehicles although teams will be permitted to pre-position supplies along the way. Participants are required to follow a specific route at speeds prescribed by the organizing committee and will be timed using state-of-the-art GPS communications transmitters installed in each car. The GPS will also be used for tracking purposes, which should discourage anyone with thoughts of sneaking a few miles on a train.

The route includes four stages, the first mostly across Canada. The second stage will see them traverse 2700 miles in China, while the third sends the contestants through Kazakhstan, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland before finishing in Berlin, Germany. The final stage is a scenic route along some of the best driving roads in the world: 1,700 kilometers (1050 miles), with stops in Prague, Czech Republic; Salzburg, Austria; Zurich and Lausanne, Switzerland; then Troyes and Paris, France. Hybrid cars are included, some competing in a separate category called "The Great Race North America MPG Challenge" , a 4,000 mile competition from New York to Vancouver, running parallel to the round-the-world event.

There is still time to enter the 2008 Great Race and by the way, you can participate in all the stages, or one or more. Private teams, manufacturers, and educational institutions from any nation are welcome to apply. As a student of automotive history I'm envious of the participants although, with more than a little luck, I might make it into the MPG Challenge, having competed in economy runs back in my sports car club days. Downhill in neutral? Slipstreaming (drafting) a tractor-trailer? I remember all the tricks! By the way, the Canadian portion of The Great Race is sponsored by Gross Point Media, based in Ottawa. Congratulations to them from our many north-of-the-border enthusiasts.

[Graphic: Great Race Sports Inc.]