1908 Auto Race From New York to Paris Is An Unbelievable Story

[@Firestar9]

When you get in a argument so badly with your fellow countrymen that you declare alligence to another country

[@david17500]

then that guy musta lost the argument lol

[@billharris1847]

Allegiance?

[@Glord-vv]

Mustive been a pretty crazy argument.

[@ponraul1221]

And almost have duel... 1908 in the Midwest was still basically the Wild West. It didn't really end until 1912 when all the continental lower 48 territories became states.

[@JJ-xe2gr]

Im not saying the French are dramatic, however..

[@jacksongatens2419]

Damn they need to redo this with modern cars

[@DR-54]

Offroading in multiple cars that only offroading capability is their tire and their 4-wheel drive going through the deep south, the midwest, the great basin, the mohave, going up through highway 1 (In california and this will be one of the only roaded place since it is actually impossible to drive a car through their, going up into the san francisco bay going straight through crescent city into oregon where they will be met by a shit ton of trees and then eventually into central washington being met by interesting cycles of water (like california floods weren't bad enough) into canada where they would have to go trek into alaska meeting some roads in the more mountainous areas north into the area where denali lies and then south towards anchorage (Denali of course is just for publicity) and taking a plane into a russian city then driving north into siberia and driving west until they meet mongolia where they have to trek through the dangerous mongolian mountains then back to china and then kazakhstan up into russia and then to the baltics meeting into poland then germany where they'll go straight into france ending in paris, or is it? Nah they then are flown to chile and they have to drive north eventually going into america and then they go to the east ending off where they started, New York. That is a fucking movie there. Oh by the way here's a map of what I'm talking about imgur.com/gallery/DcmOsd9

[@pijafinocchio]

There;s something similar but not in America, Paris-Dakar.

[@bxdanny]

Well, you can't drive through the Darien Gap from South America into North America. Whether any other part of your route is equally impassable, I don't know. Maybe let it end in Paris like the original, or perhaps London by carrying the cars through the Chunnel.

[@TheNFSJacob]

I guess the Gumball rally is kinda.

[@manilafixedgear2312]

Not the same but similar is the Mongol Rally, London to Mongolia.. Nothing says you need to stop there however and the road of bones in far Eastern Russia is drivable.. The major ball ache is getting to Alaska, Charley Boorman and Ewan MacGregor did it in the Long way round if you want a easy to find film of such a journey but with lots and lots of cash.... Doing it in 1908 with bugger all roads is almost unthinkable..

[@MistCellaneous-5]

This race needs to be a movie, we can have Wes Anderson direct it. Have a ton of really good actors playing each of the characters.

[@walkthelineable]

YES!!!!

[@Neopopulist]

It IS a movie. It's called "The Great Race".

[@IDKeffect82]

Oh my God, yes. Wes could do it.

[@mxamiss5]

Bill Murray is the mechanic

[@IDKeffect82]

Rene Russo as one of the French drivers

[@Cypresssina]

"Where we're going, we don't need roads." "What do you mean it doesn't freeze? Who planned this thing?"

[@michaeldiebold8847]

This needs to be a movie (accurate historically, not The Great Race)

[@fedorrussel3810]

That is what I was going to say !

[@largol33t1]

It should be called "The first Cannonball Run."

[@danoham10]

largol33t1 or just “why”

[@michaeldiebold8847]

@@largol33t1 definitely!

[@KewneRain]

There's a comedy movie called The Great Race that's based on this story.

[@cra_55]

2019: "I need a giant SUV in case the road gets a little bumpy"

[@TheLaXandro]

Those things actually had massive ground clearance.

[@jontheno3213]

1908: *Drives a suspensionless car from New York to Paris*

[@tnrosbergb]

TheLaXandro That’s not true, modern SUVs have not much more ground clearance than sedans or wagons. Only “Geländewagen” like Suzuki Jimmy, the g Class and so in have much more Ground clearance.

[@elijahragland8498]

sounds like the plot for a Monty Python movie.

[@liampett1313]

and then the french police arrested them LOL

[@taylor6311]

it's already a movie called "The Great Race"!

[@panzerdeal8727]

the great race, 1965, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Natallie Wood..it was actually done.

[@gilabear11]

In 1977 while on a road trip with my dad, I touched front fender of the winning Thomas Flyer at Harrah's Automobile Museum in Lake Tahoe. I got reprimanded by the museum staff. Worth it.

[@JK-gh9ej]

We Germans can get to Paris from everywhere

[@paulheller1038]

Also we would probably only need something around NEIN weeks😂

[@kos2919]

Except UK

[@iMRM-ez8of]

but now, the car will have all of its electronics breakdown after 30k

[@dukeofmecklenburg-strelitz8030]

Did it in 1814,1815,1871,and 1940...(almost did it in 1914,and 1918)

[@Skhillz_FN]

Top kek you /pol/ bastard

[@lumiya4596]

This story can be turned into a comedy film.

[@angelo-7533]

A Japanese anime has already made it into a comedic episode of time travel. It's called Tondekeman or Time Quest. It has school kids, Arabian sorcerer, and ooohh... a talking kettle.

[@justaguyinashed]

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost!

[@gprime204]

It’s called rat race

[@gprime204]

Lumiya or a mad mad mad mad world

[@lumiya4596]

@@angelo-7533 Thats actually amazing. Will look it up. But a live action film would be good too.

[@philrabe910]

So WHO came up with the notion that the Berrings Sea froze solid?

[@tiercel5561]

@Kay Theo - Yes, but that was back in the Ice Age, not Modern times. Back in the 1800's , there was a search for the Northwest Passage that made use of the Bering Sea and Strait to get to the Pacific.

[@marzipanwars4897]

Wow this is so underated

[@Biscuit-Triscuit]

It’s like... the car version of the Steel Ball Run

[@justas423]

Minus stands and the corpse of jesus

[@andrelee7081]

Slimeustas The Slime King Plus it's like 3 times longer.

[@thegoodmudkip3652]

@@justas423 and no cripples killing presidents

[@DiscoManSam]

10:30 A.M., February 12th, 1908. The Trans-Pacific race, "The New York to Paris Race," has finally begun!

[@MatthewV114]

In 1908 Alaska was not a state

[@tacticalderpy2077]

But was sold to the us in 1867

[@powertothesheeple5422]

Yes, but it was not a state until 1959. Not sure if it was called Alaska for all those years prior but the phrasing "great state of Alaska" would not be accurate in 1908.

[@aarontheperson6867]

He had to call it something

[@mr.voidout4739]

He could've said "what is now modern-day Alaska," but c'mon, that was obvious enough to not need scrutinizing.

[@dguy0386]

it was a territory

[@AkeoT9]

Ladies and gentlemen the first cannonball run

[@Rascal_the_Raccoon]

The French with their 1850 howitzer the Brits with their 1904 howitzer The Germans with their 1940 Pak40 and rhe Americans with a Goddamn ICBM

[@edmonton20084]

The Original Italian Car was found a while ago and is destined for the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. It is my hope that with a lot of volunteer work, they'll let me drive it, even if just for a minute. And even if they don't, being able to contribute to the museum, one of the best automobile museums in the world, will be an immense satisfaction nonetheless.

[@edmonton20084]

+Demon Rat It was lost to time before being rediscovered and restored. I don't recall all the details, but I'll ask around.

[@leonardodavid2842]

What place did it end up in?

[@leonardodavid2842]

3rd?

[@sebathadah1559]

Of course the French were the first to quit.

[@bungowan3400]

Sebat Hadah mdr

[@renel8964]

"Bleugh!"

[@scootwilliams2610]

Loooool

[@xitizzz]

And also the second to quit and third to quit

[@jetsons101]

No matter who won, what short cuts were used or what ever else-----all the men and cars and there manufactures should get a thumbs up. Anybody that would even think of doing this in 1908 are automotive hero's........

[@gram.]

It's what drives (pun unintended) motorsport today... the incentive of sales, profit, and prestige for manufactures has given so many advancements for cars of which are passed down to the consumer. E.g. the super/hypercars sold at a loss for the company, but still translates into sales and progress with engineering feats.

[@jcb5782]

“Yeah man, we can’t let you drive like that.” *Guy places bike on car* “Well, good enough for me”

[@tomdavison1637]

Country roads intensifies

[@horrortackleharry]

As if the course wasn't already demanding enough, 1908 was the year of the Great Siberian Explosion (June 30th).

[@riograndedosulball248]

Fucking hell i forgot about that. Now they are double madlads

[@Artofficial1986]

Clarkson - Hammond - May

[@quentin3330]

LMAO.

[@somealias2348]

if only

[@jannadrielcervo7753]

Yeah! I wish Grand Tour recreate this with modern 4x4 cars each representing a country. Just an example USA could use the Jeep Wrangler, Germany could use the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, and Italy could use the Iveco Massif.

[@lucamarmiroli4563]

Jann adriel cervo mutch better a fiat panda!!

[@lucamarmiroli4563]

For italy

[@matthewhocker956]

The 1908 race was akin to the “sequel” of the 1907 Peking (Beijing) to Paris Motor Challenge. It was an attempt to prove the practicality of the car. I feel like you can’t talk about the 1908 race without the 1907. Also, I am pretty sure the 1907 route went through Siberia, so 1908 wasn’t the first time cars went through there.

[@jamesmcgilvray6008]

Good vid, please don’t let low views get you down, good content is good content! Thanks for making it!

[@jnichols3]

Jeremy Clarkson sees this video and says, "Hold my beers".

[@hhs_leviathan]

I wish this will be in the next feature in the Grand Tour

[@aussiebloke609]

More like "Hold my G&T" - I'm pretty sure that's what he and James were drinking while *ahem "sailing" in their Toyota.

[@Momnpop98]

History is just plain hilarious how you all narrate it. Love it. 😂🎉❤

[@UnasGamingChannel]

68-ish years later, the cannonball run happened, from Connecticut to the Port-a-pino inn (pretty sure i didn't spell that right) in California. What a time

[@funny3scene]

Port a fino* very close though. But yes, very crazy stuff

[@datguy9408]

Goes through all that hardship, yet gets no real recognition. Amazing.

[@JD29081996]

I am obsessed with history and I didn't know anything about this ! I am also subscribed to some of the bigger history channels and i have never seen or read of this event. I think you did a really good job of explaining such a complicated story (to say the least) and I am amazed you only have 64K subscribers ! This is arguably one of the greatest channels keep making amazing content! Thank you very much Weird History :)

[@ianwlkr]

French cars not working? Huh

[@Pegasvs]

And Italian car working... Strange

[@joshuaearlsumbillo25]

Try it in reverse

[@jzneter736]

@Boricua 787 they are boring and bland. Now

[@JJ-xe2gr]

Trust the Frenchman to surrender his nationality over an argument 😂

[@karolismiezetis]

Not a surprise that all of the french gave up first Edit: i did not think this would get over 100 likes

[@chrislemieux6838]

XD

[@Rascal_the_Raccoon]

Goddamn French Pansies

[@rock3tcatU233]

It's in their DNA.

[@ignorecorporatenews]

Karolis is an idiot

[@karolismiezetis]

@@ignorecorporatenews why tho?

[@asmodeus6631]

I saw the movie which was hilarious, but didn't realize that there was an actual race. That was definitely an amazing feat in those days.

[@JadisAmalthea]

The Great Race is one of my absolute favorite movies and this video was exciting to watch, as I always wondered about the true story behind it. Thanks for making this!

[@dustysman]

Lol so you can't drive across it..... because its the Ocean..

[@steamcheng]

I noticed you forgot the penalty incurred by the German Protos team! Not only did the American Thomas Flyer team earn a 15 day lead for being the only car to make it to the west coast and Alaska (unaided), the German team had to ship their car by rail from Nevada to the west coast due to mechanical failure. In order to keep as many cars in the race as passible, Le Matin and the race committee agreed that rather than disqualifying the Germans for shipping the car by rail to the west coast, they would be penalized 15 days. So in fact, the Thomas Flyer completed the race with a comfortable lead of 26 days over the Protos team. This is not to take away from any of the teams. This was an unbelievably grueling race, and the three teams and cars that finished deserve to be remembered for their perseverance, endurance and courage. Also, the three finishing cars are still in existence: the Thomas Flyer is in the Harrah's Automobile Museum in Lake, Taho, NV; the German Protos car is in the Transport Museum of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany; and the Italian Zust is held by a private owner in Vancouver, Canada.

[@shiddy.]

7:48 ... after a wrong turn that cost them 15 hours ... I'm trying to imagine the conversion in the car when this was realised - how many tanks of fuel did they need for that 15 hours?

[@botatobias2539]

Never rely on the host country to treat the competition unbalanced, if one of its natives is in. That's just a fact regardless of country. It's human nature. My point is that it would have been better if they started off on "neutral ground", not in the US, with a US participant involved.

[@anewsagabegins5946]

This video is even funnier then that silly movie they made about it in the 1960's. I guess truth is cooler then Hollywood fiction. The Great Race starring Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon is the film'

[@doogandoggin2571]

This is an amazing story of bravery and fortitude. These were men of great constitution.

[@marythomson7931]

Thanks this has to be one of the best stations ever, feel sorry for those who haven't found it yet.

[@marwapranata5698]

This feels like straight out of Steel Ball Run. I wondef if Araki was inspired by the race when he made Part 7

[@TheNormanmurk]

This page is gonna blow up any minute, AWESOME!!!

[@paulcosby8662]

Fun fact Valdez, Alaska is pronounced Valdeez

[@rock3tcatU233]

Valdeez nuts?

[@skortana3760]

And what is fun about this?

[@masonsykes2240]

Valdeez nuts

[@Timbobjr]

Those Magnificent Men and They’re Driving Machines

[@miklosernoehazy8678]

... that's "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines"(1965)... ...the competing movies: ..."Those Daring Young Men in their Jaunty Jalopies" aka "Monte Carlo or Bust" (actually a 1969 sequel to "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines")... ...and of course, the Blake Edwards film "The Great Race" (1965)

[@miklosernoehazy8678]

@@thekspguy4421 "They go leftitty-left and go rightitty-right... ...sounds like you're talking about Carol Doda at the Condor Club... ;-)

[@radfom01]

This is really good! Cheered me up no end - thanks :)

[@LthlMustang]

Thanks for the videos. I enjoy them very much

[@HellenKellerKustomz]

Schuster is from Springville, NY, a small town 1/2 hour south of Buffalo. I drive through there often and there is still a mural of him on the side of a building on Main st with the Thomas Flyer.

[@djcb421]

Great narration. Keep the Weird History videos coming.

[@snappy452]

This is one of the best things Ive seen on yt. Well done.

[@rivertrash9862]

As a kid I used to watch The Great Race nearly every time I went to my grandpa's house, I never realised it was inspired by a true story.

[@Blas-notso]

That was an awesome story. Keep it coming. I don’t think any other recount of history had me laughing so hard as this one.

[@bobbob7114]

And we're like... "I think ill buy a 4x4, its raining outside"..

[@z0mbie.beast125]

This race needs to happen again!

[@detective___mcnulty]

"You can't drive on it because...... it's the ocean." 😂😂😂

[@joelnert]

I had never heard of this. Love this channel.

[@GrugBonkers]

The steel ball run.

[@VickySmalls]

Your channel needs to be famous! This is crazy! Why are not more people watching this?? I somehow stumbled over your channel while looking for something else, and now I'm just happy and satisfied with binge watching your videos.

[@philipmarchese7818]

Notorious V.I.C. the others sailed before the Thomas got back to Seattle. that is four days right therr give or tske plus the wear on men n mschine.

[@cameronhamilton7439]

Thanks for that tip about the Bering strait, I was ready to go 😄

[@emaarredondo-librarian]

Possibly the inspiration for Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965).

[@chickenwithak47]

Just discovered this channel, love it

[@Emppu_T.]

You have a good scholar's triangle at the end! Great video, i would watch a series about this

[@txtpeer5179]

Crossing the bering sea by car what a genius idea !

[@yungdash4852]

wtf this is nuts I love your channel it's amazing!

[@leonstrand329]

Check out the podcast called The Dollop, they cover a lot of the same topics, but they go way deeper in the podcast

[@billygowhoop]

If you watch the series Long Way Round, Ewan McGregor goes around the world on a motorcycle and part of the trip goes through Siberia and the road of bones. The terrain looks absolutely crazy but imagining going through Siberia without that road is almost unthinkable.

[@thevisi0naryy]

This is one of my favorite videos.

[@jdraven0890]

The Thomas Flyer had 60hp in 1908? That must have been insane for the time. And still more hp than my first car had in 1983.

[@gram.]

Thought the same... especially when you think, the driver and his luggage probably weighed more than the whole car! Then the yanks somehow managed to make e.g. 7.0l V8 engines with only 1200kg over 50yr later... mental

[@Vinlyguyx420x]

Your gad dam background music was stuck in my head for days lol! I finally know the source haha! That proves that was a wise choice to use that because you get returning viewers haha

[@sigaries4062]

When you get into an argument and challenge the other guy to a duel.. Ah, Those were the days.

[@mrbean2520]

this is the most insane story i have ever heard

[@MdlAgedHeadbanger]

I read a book about this race in grade school (4th or 5th I think) and thought this was the most fascinating story. A few years later my family was on vacation in Reno, NV and my Dad and I went to the Harrah's auto Museum which had the original Thomas Flyer on display. Very cool but it had not been restored at all. Just looked like some old car found in a barn that had seen better days.

[@elevensixty2434]

Glad I found this channel

[@TheNimaid]

Look, the French may be strict on their technicalities, but they are also sctrict on when they no longer technically apply.

[@P37R1X]

They really should do this race again with modern cars. Would be a great way to unite the world, i think.

[@Lowmandavis]

What's the song used in seemingly many of these videos? like at 0:49?

[@NGMonocrom]

This true story desperately needs to be made into a Hollywood blockbuster movie.

[@ValensBellator]

....that is absolutely incredible. Seriously, how on earth did they manage that???? Those mechanics must have been wizards lol, crossing Siberia must have been enormously dangerous.

[@hobostovepipewife3419]

I truly love this true story. Truly remarkable great men.

[@charleshays5407]

There was a movie about this in 1965. It starred Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk, and Keenan Wynn. It was directed by Blake Edwards.

[@HD-nt9fu]

THE GREAT RACE😊

[@tikitavi7120]

The Thomas Flyer is on display at the Harrah Automobile museum in Reno Nevada. Have actually sat in the driver's seat.

[@JenniferMenendez522]

I didn't think I would enjoy this video as much as I did! 😳😆 Could you imagine this race in 2019/2020?

[@jetsons101]

Not in 2020 because the Left would shut the race down as being to dangerous, the cars might get within 6 feet of each other.....

[@SisterWomen]

Wow. The title for this was totally backed up. One of he craziest true stories I've ever heard.

[@rjr1227]

Great video. Wondering... -Are these cars still around anywhere? -What was the top speed they got? -Could this be done today? -How long would it take today?

[@katwernery6505]

In 1965 there was a movie about the 1908 car race from New York to Paris. To me, this movie was as epic as the race. How could a movie with Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, and Jack Lemmon not be?🤪

[@Robert-xp4ii]

I'm not a car collector but I've never seen a restored Thomas Flyer. I'd love to see one of those and imagine it would be worth a fortune.

[@aname4787]

I love how the French were the first to surrender

[@aidanmcferris9348]

This is the best story Ive ever heard!

[@Anirossa]

This is amazing. I love it!

[@teejaemon]

This would make an awesome TV Mini Series.

[@angelo-7533]

I learned about this race from a Japanese anime in 1990s. It's called Tondekeman or Time Quest. It's about a talking electric kettle - designed by Leonardo da Vinci (who gets stranded in the year 1990s) - which can open time wormhole. The main location is in ancient Iraq because the kettle is seized by an Arabian sorcerer. So the main protagonists (two kids) have to get the kettle back in each episode (and always fail). IN one episode, it happens that the talking kettle opens a time vortex to the automobile race. It's a fun episode. Google it if you're curious ^^

[@dennisbowen452]

This sounds like a damn wacky races episode

[@patimuse]

So it was lugged around, pulled by horses & people, rode aboard a ship....how many miles was it actually driven and what percentage would that have been from the entire route? Now with more roads available; can it still be done or should be done today? Maybe with electric cars? The charging stations would be limited just as gas stations were back then so it might be similar conditions.

[@mr.marino1120]

There would be less charging stations and the Us car drove probably 15000 miles as they went to Alaska and back down to Seattle nd dint cheat at all the ocean I s not too big

[@IDKeffect82]

What a story. I love history and this should be a movie for sure.

[@chopin65]

Is there a documentary on this? There should be. Or better, a movie.

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

Oh, they took that route? Were they nuts?!

[@zahidullaghouri4532]

Hope you got it! Good luck

[@Ryuko-T72]

I read a book on this in 6th grade. It’s still one of my favourite pieces of literature

[@jeremyfarley2699]

George Schuster is my grandfather's uncle!

[@adolfhitlerdabbing736]

Love ya channel lol

[@Naltddesha]

Why dats funny doh

[@SGprooo]

Excellent video