The Great Race 2008

In 1908 a handful of racing teams from around the world took part in the first truly international auto race, The Great Race of 1908.  Only one American team entered the contest, which took drivers from New York City to San Francisco  then across the Pacific Ocean (on a sailboat, of course) to Japan, to Vladivostok, across Asia and Europe, finally ending in Paris.  The American team won the race and finished in 169 days!

This year marks the centennial of the race and organizers have been working hard to re-create the race for 2008!  The Great Race 2008 will begin on May 30, 2008 from New York and again head across the USA, but then will go to Shanghai, through China, Mongolia, Eastern Siberia, Moscow, and down into Eastern Europe through Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and finally will end in Paris, France.  Organizers anticipate that this year's race will take about 80 days.  In 1908, there were six teams...in 2008 there are already over 30 teams signed up!