History always finds a way to repeat itself.

This April, one of the greatest automotive feats of all-time will repeat itself, and it will all start at the crossroads of the world; Times Square!

On February 12^th 1908 over a quarter of a million spectators gathered in Times Square, or the Great White Way as it was often called, to witness the start of the automobile race which would circle the globe from New York to Paris. The Race was sponsored by the New York Times and the Le Matin (a Parisian newspaper). The historic event became the most ambitious auto competition in history. The itinerary had already been laid out; NYC, Albany, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Valdez Alaska, Japan, Vladivostok, Omsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Berlin and finally; the French capital, Paris.

Six "horseless carriages" from Italy, Germany, France, and the United States left Times Square on that frosty winter day, and headed up Broadway.  The American built Thomas Flyer took the lead, followed by the Italian Zust, a German Protos, a Montobloc, a DeDion, and a Sizaire-Naudin; all from France.

In an era where most parts of the world had no roads at all, this adventure was considered by many to be ludicrous.  The London Daily Mail wrote " ...such a journey is possible? Theoretically it is, but it must be borne in mind that the motor car, after a woman, is the most fragile and capricious thing on earth."

The Great Auto Race covered 22,000 miles in 169 days, and was won by the 1907 Thomas Flyer driven by George Schuster Sr. of Buffalo, NY.  The Flyer was powered by a four cylinder engine which produced seventy horsepower.

This race proved that the newly invented automobile was a reliable means of transportation.  This gave way to America’s first transcontinental highway, the Lincoln Highway, built in 1913.

The Thomas Motor Car Company would eventually end up closing its doors in 1919, as would many of the other competing car manufacturers, however the record would stand for more than 100 years.  The journey from Times Square to the Eifel Tower has never again been attempted since 1908… that is not until this year.

On April 14^th, the 2011 edition of the New York-Paris race will kick off where it all started more than a century ago, Times Square.  The cars will depart from the Crowne Plaza Hotel and travel west.  The cars are scheduled to reach San Francisco on April 26^th.  The automobiles will be loaded onto a ship bound for China for the Asia-Europe leg of the Race. The competitors will rejoin their cars on June 4^th in Beijing and continue driving through China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

Finally, if all goes well, on July 21, the competitors will make their way towards the finish line at the Eifel Tower in Paris.

Jerry Price is the Executive Director World of the  Race 2011
, and Owner of Price Team Racing.  Price had originally learned of the original transcontinental journey from the 1965 Tony Curtis movie, The Great Race.  The film follows the professional daredevil The Great Leslie, who convinces turn-of-the-century automakers that a race from New York to Paris will help to promote automobile sales.

Price’s family has been in the alternate fuel business since 1953, his father built AmeriGas and Empire Gas.   Price believes that much like the 1908 race paved the road for the automobile as a reliable means of long distance transit, the 2011 race will prove that technology will improve the human race.  He believes this voyage will act as a showcase for alternate fuels.

Price will be racing a 2007 Chevy Corvette, modified to burn six different types of fuel; propane, butane, gasoline, ethanol, methane, and alcohol.  Interestingly enough, Price’s Vette will be running on Smirnoff Vodka during the Russian portion of the race!

Leaving Times Square is very symbolic for Price. "It’s huge, that’s where it all started.  We’re trying to keep this [race] as original as we possibly can. "

This adventure will without a doubt go down in history.  However, of the 65 day journey, I can not help but think that the most daunting part of it all will be leaving New York City during rush hour traffic!

www.world-race.net

To join the adventure please contact

Jerry Price

920-207-1293

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