This Car Matters: Thomas Flyer, winner of the New York to Paris Race

The HVA takes a close look at the Thomas Flyer, winner of the grueling New York to Paris Race.

[AfroMyrdal]

The fact that "only" 17000 people have seen this video is heartbreaking. I teared up watching this, absolutely amazing restoration and absolutely insane story! Glad I ended up here today.

[loritavares]

WOW! Go USA!!! That's a great story!! We are making a set of 10 1/2 inch connecting rods for the 1911 Thomas flyer and I came upon this video, to see what the car looks like. Really inspiring victory to say the least.

[chrisbradshaw]

I was very interested to discover very recently that a Great-Uncle of mine, Charles Mancini, who was born and raised in Japan, assisted and guided the Thomas Flyer team as a passenger on their journey from Kobe to Kyoto. He is mentioned a few times in "Across Japan in a Motor Car, A Picturesque Narrative of the Journey made by the New York to Paris Racers" by George Macadam who was the New York Times Correspondent aboard Thomas Flyer at the time. I hope, one day, to see the Thomas Flyer in Reno.

[kwiklathe]

Thank you for putting this video together. I work for a museum in Belle Plaine, Iowa and the cars all passed through the town in 1908. We have photos of the German team and one of the French cars. The Thomas Flyer spent the night in Belle Plaine, but we do not have a photo of the car. (too bad). Amazing what they had to go through to get across the infamous Iowa spring mud roads back then !

[SansCages]

George Schuster was my great uncle - the brother of my grandmother Anna Mary Schuster. ♥ Thanks for this video!

[stephenkrambeck]

This is honestly the most amazing story I’ve ever heard. If you asked me today to take a brand new stock car across the bearing straight and Siberia, in the dead of winter, I’d be very weary of success. Yet these gentleman did it with now ancient technology in an age without satellite phones or even planes. It’s absolutely incredible anyone survived that race.

[herchelleonwood]

my grandfather Leonard Davis owned 1 of the 3 1907 model 35's, , he sold it off in the late 60's and often regretted it.. granddad had come across the Thomas Flyer while working at the Henry Ford Museum after the war in the late 40's..Last time i was at the museum, they still had 2 cars granddad had restored on display..

[ningster]

Saw this car at the Reno museum with my sons and what a fascinating story!

[MartinBettler]

A great story, wonderfully narrated! 🙌🏻

[nilesfuller]

Fantastic. Mr. Schuster (Grandpa Schuster) built the house I grew up in as a kid. We had the first swimming pool in Springville and a 6-car garage: 2 wide and 3-deep. No doubt the Flyer was parked there for awhile but I can’t verify that. Years later when I lived in Reno my first assignment for Bud Fischer Photography in Sparks, NV was to photograph the Harrah’s Car Collection for a brochure. I threw the museum curator for a loop when I told him my Thomas Flyer story. Small world. Thanks Matty. Good show.

[mylifeisJDM]

The Dollop's podcast of this amazing race and car brought me here. Much respect. When men were men.

[Hogger]

Interesting to note that the cars in the race would not have completed the trip without the aid(on many occasions) of horses.

[alanreynolds]

I remember reading a story about the race and the Thomas Flyer in 'Boys Life' Magazine!!

[dalewykoff]

My grandfather and great grandfather had a small role to play in the race. According to the family story, the deep snow had stopped two of the race cars in front of the Wykoff farm, just west of New Carlisle, Indiana. This was probably Thursday, February 27. Edwin Wykoff, age 48, and his son, 22 year old Howard Wykoff, hitched a four horse team to each car and pulled them to Michigan City. Howard said that he pulled the German Protos car, and they spent the night at the store in Rolling Prairie, a distance of about 6-7 miles. They didn't mention the name of the car that Edwin pulled, but it was probably the French Motobloc since it and the Protos were well behind the Americans, Italians, and the other French car, the DeDoin. The next day the Wykoff men continued the 17 mile trip to Michigan City. The total trip was 20 - 21 miles. - Dale Wykoff

[russellmcdonald]

I must have watched the movie at least 10 times, and it is great to hear the real story. One of the funniest comedies Ever!

[travelingfool]

the museum in Reno is great. exceeded my expectation by a long shot. this car is why I came and there is so much more

[philking]

There is a movie loosely based on this race called " The Great Race ". It started Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood. The car was a good reproduction of the flyer and although it was a comedy it still touches on the hardships faced by the drivers.

[jbanfai]

Just saw Jeff Mahl's presentation at the Pierce Arrow Museum in Buffalo... AWESOME!!!

[Griffinmc]

Wish you had included a clip from Schuster's appearance on I'VE GOT A SECRET in 1958. It was a fun and educational segment!

[kae]

this race inspired the great race and the leslie special.