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Great American Race


nifty 6

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Crass commercialism at its worst. Our town went out of its way to "host" the GAM for an afternoon and were kicked in the teeth at the last minute by race organizers who, despite their prior approval, totally ignored our well laid plans. Ok I guess if you really enjoy hearing a sponsor's name every 20 seconds. Apparently their race announcers are prohibited by contract from saying "Welcome to the Great American Race" without adding "brought to you by...". Participating in the race itself might be fun.

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I got a note from Corky Coker saying that the rights to the Great Race have been purchased and an attempt to resurrect it is in the organizational stage.

The Great Race was originally organized and run by Tom McRae in 1983 as the Interstate Batteries Great American Race. Starting as a 3000 mile event done in 9 days it grew into a two week 4500 mile cross country controlled speed precision rally with a $250,000 + purse.

For antique car guys it was the dream of a lifetime. Restore it, drive it, compete in it, enjoy it and see America in your own handy work. Every year it

took a different route, competition was very intense and it brought the neatest 100 + antique car show to small towns all across America. Originally for pre WWII cars, it changed to 1936 and older for many years. Later it allowed a special class for newer antiques, but they all had to be stock. If your 1929 Model A had 1935 Ford wire wheels you had to run as a 1935 for scoring. Once you understood the requirements it was a very fair handicap system allowing the older cars to be responsible for less of their navigation and performance error.

It was always FREE to the public and built a tremendous good will for the Antique Car Hobby. While not cheap to enter it was a better deal than any two week tourist trip you could buy. Plus you were in your own antique car.

After 1995 is had some other sponsors than Interstate Batteries, but remained a major event.

In 2008 for the anniversary of the 1908 NY to Paris Around The World, Great Race planned and organized it's Around the World Race. Years of preparation and organization were in place when the Tibetan Monks protested the Chinese Olympics. Permitting for the Race to pass through China were canceled.

Because of the tremendous expense in involved in putting on such an event

the cancellation of the Chinese leg of the race caused the Great Race to be canceled to. The organizer's tried to resurrect it for 2009 but the world economy tanked and so did the Great Race organizers.

Over the 25 years that the Great Race crossed the country, I've heard some complaints, but mostly positive feedback by people who did it or were involved with it. Usually the big complaints were based on wrong or misinformation.

I did it in 1984 as "Once in a Lifetime Adventure". As it turned out I did ten more Great American Races and met some nicest antique car people I could ever hope to compete with. In 50,000 miles of Great Race events and practice

I saw America at it's best. Secondary roads, small towns, old car people at every stop, competition, unique cars (1902-1942).

I've met 1000's of guys that tell me it's their dream to do the Great Race, to them I say, "Don't Give Up The Dream!"

(Now for all those who say it's to expensive: The first race I did was with five (5) other guys in our local Antique Car Club. We all took turns driving and navigating. Cost, about $3000 each and none of us will ever forget or regret it)

The resurrection of the event is good news and with Coker Tire and Hemming's Motor News involved, I'm hoping for another world class event to return to our hobby.

Paul Dobbin, 11 Great Races as a Driver/Navigator

Edited by Paul Dobbin
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Thanks Paul for your info. My friend and I have talked alot about trying to enter the Great Race sometime in our future. I'm sure cost is a big factor. Any idea what we would be looking at with todays cost. Do you have a chase vehicle pulling a trailer with you. Did you motel it or have other arrangements. What other expenses do you have. I'm guessing the trip would cost $20,000 plus. Do any sponsors come forward to help with the cost. It is a dream for us but can the average guy afford it.

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Ricko 1937, don't give up the dream!

When the first Great American Race ran in 1983 for 9 days from Knott's Berry Farm near LA to end at the Indianapolis 500 Race on Memorial Day. I watched for everything I could find to read about it. Actually, I doubted that anything so exciting could actually become a reality for the hobbyist. When they pulled off the first one, with Tony Curtis waving the green flag, it was for real!

As soon as it finished at Indy, Don Lorrier and I formed a team over my kitchen counter and signed up for the second one. To make it affordable we brought in friends and had a total of 5 shares. All of us were members of the same car club and built the car together and shared the work. We ended up with two accountants splitting a share and the race. We all drove and we all navigated. We're still friends (4 survivors) and three us went again in 1987.

Our 5 shares were all owned by working people who took vacations for the adventure of a lifetime. Four of us towed the car to LA then took turns driving and navigating while the "pit crew" searched the junk yards along the way for good finds. At night we all serviced the car. Everyone of us loved it and will never forget it. It was truly the adventure of a lifetime. 1984 we raced from Universal Studio's in LA to the Indianapolis 500. We didn't win a dime of the $250,000, but we had a ball and drove our 1934 Ford around the Indianapolis Speedway, then watched the Indianapolis 500. We also learned how to rally in a controlled speed time/speed rally. It was everything we expected and more.

Because the 1983 Race had a group of guys, in a Army drab Cadillac sedan wearing Army uniforms (WWII), calling themselves "The Generals" who drew a lot of publicity, we had to have a theme. We became the "Wrinkle City Racer's" after Johnny Carson dubbed St Petersburg, FL as Wrinkle City. To add a little class to a our team driving a 34 Ford Tudor V8, we wore swallow tail tuxedos and top hats. (The Wrinkle City Racers appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, thanks to our local TV station's connections) At each stop we stood on the running boards and topped our hats to the crowd when we were introduced.

Total cost was about $15,000 plus the car preparation costs. That includes the hotels, gas, tow vehicle, trailer, entrance fee of $5000, and incidental expenses. (That's $3000 per share) Still a good figure in today's dollars, but you must be careful. My next ten races proved that to be true, but we had to cut a lot of extra expenses. A large part of the expense is a pit crew. After few years in a 35 Chrysler Airflow, we did away with he pit crew, and I was it. Navigator/Pit Crew. (After all we did it because we loved the challenge)

Now, about the comment about too much advertising. Can you imagine seeing Jimmy Johnson without knowing that Lowe's was his sponsor or that Sprint was the sponsor of the Sprint Cup? Even Jimmy Johnson doesn't win enough money to support his race team, try to get sponsors. (start now) I had Brawny Paper Towels (Big Tough Towel, Big Tough Car) and it was great while it lasted, but I was no Jimmy Johnson. It's a mighty expensive event for the sponsors to stage, so expect their interest is going to be them first. I can't blame them, so we have to be promoters too.

Now the Great Race is reforming and a lot will probably change from what I experienced, so get interested now and be in on the ground floor. I hear the initial races will be shorter. There will be competition classes for beginner's and a handicap system. Knowledge is key to winning and money if that's your wish. In my 11 races we never won enough to fund all the efforts, but it helped. You will find that experienced racers are usually willing to help teach you how to compete. It's worth learning.

Good luck to all who aspire to take the challenge, life is short and the opportunity may not come again.

Paul

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I remember the Great American Race cars coming through San Diego once a long, long time ago. Can't remember what year. Seems to me the guys with the Chrysler Airflow broke down there and I believe my friend Russ Parker had a water pump or whatever they needed. I would LOVE to be a part of that race.

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Guest oldbill

My Wife and I went to Jefferson City MO. to watch the race several years ago. We loved it! I would love to take my Grandson in my old car and try it one year. I hope that Coker or some of the owners can get it back on track, as it seems there are lots of us who would like to give it a try. Judging from the cost I guess I better find a couple of other like minded folks to go along, if there ever is another Great Race.

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For an insight to the New Great Race, look at Corky Coker's note at Great Race - Letter from Corky Coker. I think we're about to regain one of the

treasures of our hobby. Get involved before you're to old or it's gone

again. What could be better than seeing you USA in your antique car

and having a chance to win money & fame?

Jimmy Johnson doesn't see what we'll see on the Great Race, or meet

the other old car people we'll meet. Probably won't have the fun either.

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I note the letter is undated, and the e-mail link does not gop through, so I hope the interested noted on this forum will help the organizers to get out some more information such as probable dates and location.

Seems like the event is to finish in Bennington, and there does not seem to be info on the Hemmings site either. We can all dream, but I would like to see some details.

John

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John,

I too would like more information. Remember this is Breaking News

and I'm sure that lots of behind the scenes stuff has to happen before they announce the new event.

I shared the breaking news because the question came up about the

Great American Race. Like the first time I heard about it in 1983, I too await more information and details.

For all those that missed out on the first 25 years, stay tuned for details.

I'm glad to see it come back and I'm sure I'll get involved again in some form.

One thing to remember, it's not a tour as we think of like the Glidden Tour or Sentimental Tour, it's a competition. We covered a lot of miles and competed for the fraction of a second advantage, all while driving 60 to 100 year old cars.

It was truly a test of man and machine like the original Great Race in 1908.

Have patience, more information will come.

Paul

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Paul,

Thanks for all your great background and insight. Many of us dream of being able to participate. Cy Tortorich and his "Cajun Connection" friends from here in the Donaldsonville, Louisiana area did the race for a few years, throwing Mardi Gras Beads as they passed through the many towns along the way - wish I had been able to join them, but job responsibilities and family obligations -- you know the story.

See you down the road -

Edited by Marty Roth
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Marty,

Cy Tortorich and his "Cajun Connection" came to the Great American Race with the idea that they would have fun and enjoy the experience and make it fun for all they came in contact with. Great participants! Cy was a joy to know and made everybody else's Great Race more fun.

No, they didn't win a lot of money. They drove and navigated and asked for help and got better each day. They had a lot of fun and hosted us for "Cajun" cooking in the pits. They made friends and enjoyed the competition, while enjoying the adventure of a lifetime. That's what I remember about most of the characters I met during my mid life career as a Great Racer.

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In 1995 The Great American Race route was from the east coast to the west coast. July 4th they spent the night in Staunton, Virginia. I worked the day shift that day at Westvaco in Covington. I had my wife bring the children or at least part of them to Covington to meet me when my shift was over and we drove to Staunton. We were waiting when the cars arrived. For some reason I'm only finding photos of two cars; a 1927 Hispano-Suiza tourer and a 1930 Packard roadster. Tried to find out the route for the next day so I could situate myself somewhere and get some daylight photos but they would not tell me how they would travel so no more photos.

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That same year we organized a car show/fund raiser for their overnight stop in York, PA. The organizeds had approved of our plans beforehand. Race participants were to enter the fairgrounds, make a lap of the track then stop to pick up one of the major charity donors as a passenger and proceed to the special area in the show field where the race cars would be displayed. We were promised about 75 cars and like I said, all this was approved by the race organizers. At the appointed time there were about 500 people in the grandstands waiting for the cars to enter the fairground and make their lap as their individual local sponsors were announced. About 15 race cars actually showed up, none made the approved lap around the track and none carried the passengers/donors who had paid for the privilege. Imagine having 500 people and an announcer at the grandstands, all of whom paid an entry fee and seeing the cars straggle into a different area of the fairgrounds where the organizeds proceeded to set up their marquee, totally oblivious to what they had promised the local organizing committee. I believe the race announcer set a Guiness recognized World Record by using "Brought to you by Interstate Battery" at least 7 times in one sentence. Sorry, but it was not a fun experience. Another stop in York a few year ago went far better but that's another story. Great fun for the participants I'm sure. Local experiences vary.

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When the "Interstate Battery - Great American Race" scheduled an overnight in New Orleans (can't remember what year), our local clubs hosted several locations based around the Downtown Hilton Riverfront and Towers Hotel, as well as their Ballroom, where several of us had our own cars on display for participants and any others.

My 1917 Franklin 9-A Touring, and Al Tinney's 1917 Marmon Touring were two of the cars in the main ballroom which got a lot of attention, as well as my yellow and black 1927 Chevy Capitol AA Roadster.

While a great many of the teams did visit our hospitality area, many others were just trying to keep their own cars maintained, or were determined to visit the French Quarter - some did get to enjoy our hospitality as well as our city.

All in all, it was a delightful experience for us to be among the hosts, and to meet so many really interesting people.

One of the people I especially recall is a Texan by the name of Dick Burdick (?). On a Louisiana Region Thanksgiving week tour, we visited his museum outside of San Antonio, which as I recall was huge and exotic, but that was back in 1988.

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Guest windjamer
:) One of our club members who was a participant a few years back told us about the race starting again back in Oct. Could be as a former entrant he got an early notice. I understand they will stop in Binghamton again this year.
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For those of you thinking of someday trying an event like the Great American Race, there is a current way to enjoy the sport. The VCRA (Vintage Car Rally Association) is alive and well. It's a group of volunteers who

put on rallies like the Hemming's Challenge. Very similar to the type rally that the old Great Race was but on a smaller scale and cost.

Started by Rex Gardner (Former Great Race Champion and all around gentleman), the VCRA holds rally's to raise money for the fight against Autism. They are 4 years old and are a great place to learn to rally and compete in your vintage vehicles without the hoopla and the big costs.

Check them out a www.vintagecarrally.com

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Guest Silverghost

Any chance this new race route will swing by Philadelphia or Eastern Pennsylvania ?

We have quite a few old car folks around here that would be thrilled to see it come our way !

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This sounds like our sort of event. Any chance of some assistance to bring our 1934 Lagonda Rapier from Australia. Sorry we do not need the services of a chase car or a trailer, no not even a crew of mechanics in white coveralls and baseball caps.

oldcar

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 3 weeks later...

I received this email today.

Prospective Great Race Entrants:

We would like to remind you that the discounted entry fee deadline is February 28. For those of you who have already entered, thank you for your entry. We will be assigning Car Numbers on March 7. Veteran Racers who would like to retain their Car Number should register by February 28; after that date Car Numbers will be assigned on an as-requested basis.

The entry form is posted on The Hemming's Motor News Great Race presented by Coker Tire .

We have added an optional pre-race Warm-up Rally for you on Friday, June 10. We recommend that you arrive in Chattanooga on Wednesday or Thursday so that you can Register and have your vehicle inspected on Thursday, to be ready for Rally School Friday morning and the Warm-up Rally Friday afternoon. Don Currie is returning to be Chief Technical Inspector.

A preliminary Event Schedule is also posted on The Hemming's Motor News Great Race presented by Coker Tire .

We have a great Great Race planned for you this year. Here are some of this year’s features:

Relatively short days: The longest day is less than 270 miles, and the average day’s run is about 225 miles. No 450-mile days this year.

Relatively late starts: The preliminary schedule has only one morning start earlier than 7:30, with the majority of start times at 8:00 or later. This applies to your Support Crew also.. No early starts for them either; they can depart each morning any time they want.

Hosted lunch for racers every day, a Great Race tradition.

Hosted dinners every evening: This is new. We have arranged a hosted dinner each evening for your entire team, including your Support Crew.. These dinners include a pre-race dinner at Coker Tire Headquarters Friday evening, and an Awards Banquet at a country club in Bennington, Vermont, hosted by Hemmings Motor News.

Beautiful scenery: We follow the Appalachian Mountains from Tennessee to Vermont, finishing in…

A new state: Great Race has never been to Vermont before. This will be the 45th state in our 26-year history. Vermont is the epitome of scenic New England, with its small-town charm, white-steepled churches, and covered bridges.

Great roads: With relatively short days, there is no need for long stretches on Interstate Highways. Other than the Speedometer Calibration Run each morning, most of each day’s run is on local roads and County and State highways.

Automobile Museums: Five of our hosted stops are at Automobile Museums.

A hosted lunch in Cooperstown, New York: Racers will have extra time to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame.

A hosted lunch at Stratton Mountain, Vermont: Racers will have extra time to enjoy a gondola ride from the Base Lodge to the top of the famed ski resort, with a spectacular view of Vermont’s Green Mountains.

Convenient hotels: In all cities, Racers are in either one or two hotels. In each city where we are in two hotels, they are within ½ mile of each other. We have negotiated great reduced rates and all of the savings have been passed on to you. You can now register for your event hotels by using the on-line registration web site of our Travel Agent, ADTRAV: http://events.signup4.com/greatrace2011 .

The Event Regulations are currently posted on The Hemming's Motor News Great Race presented by Coker Tire . If you have any questions, fell free to contact any of us.

Corky Coker, Director corkyc@coker.com

Jeff Stumb, Director of Cities/Entries jeffstumb@comcast.net

256-509-6397 Central Time

John Classen, Director of Competition johnclassen17@yahoo.com 818-768-6217 Pacific Time

Wes R. Kliner, Assistant Director wesk@coker.com 1-800-251-6336 x209 Eastern Time

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