The Thomas Flyer - 1908 New York to Paris Auto Race

From the old Speed Channel series "Behind the Headlights". The story of the 1907 Thomas stock car that won the "Around the World" New York to Paris motor race in 1908.

[gaildimick]

Great challenge both of journey and drivers to restoration. Thanks for the documentation.. great story.

[theoriginalt-paine]

George Schuster is a personal hero. It would be grueling, most likely grueling beyond my comprehension, but I'd give almost anything to spend a few days on that journey with him, trying to help him keep that thing going.

[osagejon]

The Thomas Flyer also competed in the 1986 Great American Race and was driven by Ginni Withers. The car has some serious provenance.

[steveolive]

From what I read in the 1908 newspapers covering this race: When the racers were traveling through northern Indiana, the snow was so deep that at times they would travel only several yards per day; stop the car, shovel the snow, get back into the car then drive a few yards and repeat. Persistence and hard physical work paid off.

[SwineBrothers]

yes! i've been looking for this on yt for years!!!! you got yourself a sub!!!

[SaidHead]

If anybody could tell a story, it's Bob Varsha.

[franciscobenites]

idk why they didn't mention this but the American car drove to Alaska as it was apart of the race but since you couldn't drive across the ocean they changed the track so you could just sail across the ocean from Seattle to Japan so the American car had the lead but had to go back down while the other cars where able to just go to Seattle and sail across by passing the whole Alaskan track all together making it unfair for the american so they gave them a 15 say head start for the rest of the race meaning if any other car passed the finish line less than 15 days before the American car the American car would automatically win out if default since they had lost their lead due to the tract having to change course and do to the fact the other cars never had to reach Alaska like the Americans did witch actually did happen the German car was the first to reach Paris but only won second place cuz they did not reach Paris with in the 15 day lead being only I think like 8 days in front and mind you the American car was only 12 days in front orginaly so techanicly the American car still would have won even with out the extra 3 day bonus from having to make the trip to Alaska and back down to Seattle witch was like a week or 2 week trip in its self crazy how amazing that American car the Thomas flyer truly was

[SS-whfs]

26 days ahead after Germans penalty. But over 3200 more miles traveled. Seems the Protos traveled on rail longer than Idaho to Seattle.

[jeffj]

In a time most of the world haven't seen a car. They had enough gas to drive this race. Lol

[kae]

this is what inspired blake edwards move " the great race".

[franciscobenites]

is thomas flyer the same grand we know and love for flyer bikes and wagons??

[noviranger]

George Schuster reminds me of Scott Speed.

[frame]

Take a look at the doc that was made on the race www.thegreatestautorace.com . Full scale running replicas of the Thomas, Protos, and Zust. And lots of original photos.

[michaelhiggs]

Right-hand drive cars. The way it should still

[toml.]

The Wright Brother's first flight was made i Dayton. THEN, they went to North Carolina. They even went to France.

[franciscobenites]

I love how the only 3 people to leave and no finish where the 3 French and it was half their idea and even more so that they tried to arrest the winners for not having a headlight lmao like it was your idea and you had 3 chances while everyone else just had 1 each lmao what a joke maybe that's why we still have Italy German and American cars and not French haha

[Reelworthy]

Great documentary... and then the most unfitting music at the end.