The Hardest, Longest Race

In 1909, America was home to 253 automakers, a landscape of visionaries and would-be barons of the new century. But when millionaire M. Robert Guggenheim announced an 'Ocean to Ocean' contest from New York City to the Seattle World's Fair, only three companies were brassy enough to show up at the starting line: Acme, Ford, and Shawmut. Many didn't believe any of the cars would reach Seattle at all, as they would need to forge a 4,106-mile course of mountain ranges, mud bogs, washed-out wagon bri