1924 Durant/Star Dealer Promotion

[f.f.jones]

  

George Keith March was born in Litchfield, Minnesota, around 1868 and was raised in Pierre, South Dakota, where he started in the grocery business and the cattle business. In 1900 he moved to Winnipeg, Canada, and in 1912, he moved to Spokane. He became a partner in the March-Strickle Automotive firm and was on the board of the Old National Bank.The March-Strickle Motor Co. sold Federal brand trucks and autos built by Durant Motors, a new entrant in a crowded car market.

In Spokane, March-Strickle Motor Co. had picked up the Durant line of cars and was looking for a way to catch the public’s eye with the Star line of automobiles. They announced a 100-hour, non-stop challenge in October of 1924. That month, Wells Chevrolet in Spokane announced their own 100-hour, non-stop endurance run.

“We announced faithfully the results obtained, namely: 2,694 miles in the 100 hours, an average of 29.28 to a gallon of gas,” said James Whitelaw, assistant manager of the Wells Chevrolet company. He added that seven quarts of oil and a quart of water were added during the run.

As for March-Strickle’s 100-hour challenge, they said the Star touring car averaged 40 miles per gallon, and the company claimed that no oil or water was added during the drive.

March left the dealership in 1932 and turned to road contracting. He died in 1941.

 

Here is the same newspaper building today. It was built in 1891, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, and continues to be the headquarters of the Spokane Spokesman-Review.

 

 

 

Edited January 12, 2023 by f.f.jones (see edit history)