The Around the World Auto Race would cover 22,000 miles in 169 days! Only nine men had successfully crossed the United States in an automobile at that time.

Thomas Flyer - $4,000 Weighed 5,000 pounds loaded 4 cylinder 60 hp engine 60 mph

Great Race by the Numbers: 9,000,000 total competitive miles 3 continents visited 43 states and 900 communities visited $6,000,000 in prize money awarded 17,200 competitors, crew and staff Reached more than 200 million people

Click Exactly on the stars in order to travel across America Start

The Start: Feb. 12, 1908 Location: New York City Crowds begin to gather at the Times Square starting line in NYC. Over 250,000 spectators were on hand for the start of the 1908 New York to Paris Race. Return to map

Feb. 16, 1908 Location: Buffalo, New York Return to map The Flyer with the 45 star flag flying approaches Buffalo, NY where it was built. Often spectator cars would join in, following the competitors or acting as guide cars breaking the way through snow

Location: Kendallville, Indiana February 19, 1908 Long before snowplows, hand shoveling or dragging the Flyer with teams of horses was often the only way through. With little protection from the elements, the American built Thomas Flyer with George Schuster as driver becomes the first automobile to ever cross the US in winter. Long before snowplows, hand shoveling or dragging the Flyer with teams of horses was often the only way through. With little protection from the elements, the American built Thomas Flyer with George Schuster as driver becomes the first automobile to ever cross the US in winter. Mar. 24,1908-First auto to ever cross the US during winter in 41 days, 8 hours and 15 minutes, a total of miles from Times Square, New York City. Return to map

Location: Outside Chicago, Illinois February 26/27, 1908 Where there were no rails, the Thomas was often forced to go "cross country", long before the days of 4WD. Here, the car mired in quicksand, has broken the pinion gear. It was repaired in the creek bed. Return to map

Location: Iowa Countryside 1908 Return to map "Thomas Flyer" rolling through the snowy Iowa countryside. In 1908, there were no paved roads and the problems of driving in the snow and mud cannot be fully understood today.

Location: Omaha, Nebraska March 4, 1908 Return to map Often with no roads, the Flyer would go "cross-country" finding torturous obstacles along the 22,000 mile course