The History of the Great Race

The New York to Paris, Great Race of 1908 for automobiles was conceived by a group of newspaper businessmen, who felt sponsoring a race around the world would increase circulation for the Le Matin of Paris, the Times of New York and the Chicago Tribune. They justified their world idea on the basis that the recently completed Peking to Paris run had received great publicity and had been successful in selling newspapers for them. Also, it was hoped that this trip would prove cars could go anywhere thus boosting the automobile industry.

On February 12, 1908, in Times Square, over fifty thousand people gathered to watch six automobiles leave new York to travel around the world to Paris. These cars from four countries lined up on 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue. They were regular road automobiles of the day that had been especially prepared and equipped for the long and challenging race that they were about to begin.

France entered three cars: the DeDion, the Motobloc and the Sizaire. Germany's entry was a large automobile, the Protos. The United States entered a 1907 Thomas Flyer. Italy's car was the Zust.

The Greatest Auto Race on Earth is a two-hour documentary that tells the story of these men and machines. George Schuster, Antonio Scarfoglio, Hans Koeppen, St. Chaffray, Hans Hansen, Sirtoria, Haaga … all characters whose lives were changed by this great event…an event now being told on film for the first time. “I like people who do something, not the good safe man who stays at home,” said Teddy Roosevelt.  The Greatest Auto Race on Earth captures that enthusiasm … and reminds the world to dream …dream big!

*Click to view The Greatest Auto Race on Earth Video Trailer

*The movie trailer of The Greatest Auto Race on Earth appears on this website by permission from Frame 30 Productions Ltd. -

More information about the Film " The Greatest Auto Race on Earth " can be found at www.thegreatestautorace.com or at www.superchannel.ca

Pictures from the 2008 Vancouver Auto Show of the 1906 Zust ( click on Pic to see blow-up )