Great American Race....Stories & Pics...

Hi you all...

For a start, I hope that my English is ok...so just be a little patient with my writing....

Here in Canada, well at least in my region of Gatineau-Québec, Ottawa-Ontario, we dont have the chance to see in person those beautiful cars that have participated in all those races in the past...

I do not even know today, if it his, still an activiy yearly in force. But something very special happen for us, in this region....for the year 1995, the Great American Race was the run from Ottawa, Ontario to Mexico City. So you can imagine that I made sure to not miss that activity that was schedule for two days before the start. I have taken photos of the even, well at least 30 of them that I never posted on the internet before. So this is going to be the first time, that they are presented.

Dont be afraid to respond to the post on any way you can...by stories, pics you got, or maybe even some H.A.M.B. friends that have participate in those races...

The first day that was available for us to see the cars and meet the owners & drivers of those magnificient machine was at the Science & Technilogy Museum in Ottawa...here are some pics of that first day...

Réjean

 

Indy racer...years & make...Unknowne to me...



Réjean

 

A beautiful Buick, maybe 1929...



Réjean

 

Two others racers...year & make..




Réjean

 

A very nice Packard Convertible...




Réjean

 

Help with this one...




Réjean

 

A very nice Chevrolet, year...




Réjean

 

Nice Chevrolet...guest which states it come from...




Rejean

 

From Charleston, S.C. a 28 Ford...Nice Lady owner to talk to...




Rejean

 

Very nice one from Texas...Year & Make...




Rejean

 

A Hispano Suza, Year.... What a big car...




Rejean

 

A fine big Yellow Automobile...Year & Make...




Rejean

 

From the State of New-York...Beautiful...Year & Make...




Rejean

 

Thanks for sharing the photos. About the time you took those pictures, a friend of mine, Bob King, called me and said that if I'd restore my 1932 Plymouth Model PB coupe, he'd pay the entry fee to the Great Race and be my navigator. I restored the car and we ended up doing the event 5 times -- in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006. It was the best way I know to enjoy driving an antique car and to see America from the back roads. I have a Web site covering our experience in 5 Great Races at http://sites.google.com/site/gr8racers/

The event died out for a few years after it got into some financial trouble, but recently Corky Coker of Coker Tires has acquired the rights to the Great Race and is planning a comeback. Check out www.greatrace.com. If Corky succeeds, it will be interesting to see what the rules are for including hot rods...

 

Hi Ezdusit...

Thanks for the comeback & infos on your participation....I will have lots of hours of reading on you Web site....

Will keep me busy, for those long days of Winter to come...

Rejean

 

Happy participants in there 1916 Marmon...




Rejean

 

Day of the start of the race....Ottawa, Ontario to Mexico City...A croud of more than 10,000 on Sus*** Drive to say goodbuy and good luck to all of them...quite a site to see...

One of the first one to go....A Packard Speedster, year




Rejean

 

Year & make...



Rejean

 

No. 100...



Rejean

 

Rejean

 

Rejean

 

Rejean

 

The great race use to stop here in the springs for the pikes peak hill climb race. That was always cool to see.

 

The first pic of the little yellow racer, The rad shell looks very similar to a late 20's Willys Whippet
or even a 25ish Duesenburg
but seeing that it's a cut down racer God only knows what's under the hood
or what was used to make up the body..

Pic number 5, the blue car, looks like a 36 Plymouth


Car 26 has a lighting bolt on the rad that is almost identical to a '30 Isotta Fraschini but the rest of the car doesn't match a 1930 and I have no reference pics of later years to go by.


Car number 21, "the fine yellow auto" looks like a 1920 Hudson with solid wheels as opposed to wooden spoke.



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Great old cars! My oldest son's knows a few people that have raced the great american race. looks like tons of fun! Thanks for posting...

 

1914...Overland...



Rejean

 

A few weeks after the race was over I went into a value village in Ottawa and bought a participant jacket for $10.00 still have it it was never worn.

 

Can you imagine in a rainy day....



Rejean

 

Rejean

 

Very sharp Buick...



Rejean