Joy Across America

When I was at Autosport International in January a number of people asked me what the next ‘mad’ adventure is going to be. I don’t agree that my long distance drives are mad, just exciting. Beats staying at home!
I’ve looked at future organised events but none of them seem to motivate me enough to enter.

A few months ago I read a book written about the 1903 crossing of the United States by Whitman and Hammond in an Oldsmobile. Ransom E. Olds, the founder of the Oldsmobile Company sponsored the trip. No motorised vehicle had successfully crossed the Continent and each motorised horseless carriage manufacturer wanted their vehicle to be the first. Whitman and Hammond left in July but two larger vehicles had started weeks before and arrived in New York before the Oldsmobile. Despite being stranded by floods and a number of mechanical failures, they arrived in New York 74 days after setting out from San Francisco. It was a great achievement then, considering that the roads were tracks used by wagons, mainly bringing new immigrants moving west to start new lives.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the USA trip and suddenly decided one day that I would like to attempt the same route driving my 1904 Oldsmobile. My usual co-driver, Trevor, seemed enthusiastic. The decision then, to leave San Francisco in May 2009 and drive almost 4,000 miles and arrive in New York approximately 35 days later.

In this twenty-first century most of the route that Whitman and Hammond used in 1903 from San Francisco to New York is sealed, but to drive a hundred and five year old motor vehicle such a long distance will still present major challenges. Unlike a modern vehicle where the driver and passengers are encased and protected by the box shape of the car, a 105 year old car is high, built like a horse carriage where the driver and passengers sit on, not in, without any protection from the elements. And with a top speed of just 20 to 25 m.p.h. I am sure we will feel part of the scenery.

From the book I read, I gleaned enough information to be able to plot the route. Whilst drawing a line an a large scale map I was amazed at the diverse conditions we would encounter from 8,500 ft high mountains to hot, dry deserts and tracks out in the wilds, still in similar condition to 1903, running north of the Great Salt Lake. We will drive through twelve states, including Ontario, Canada passing over Niagara Falls before New York State and finally New York City.

I’m starting to believe that this might be our most challenging adventure yet.

We have formed a partnership with David Winstanley and Terri Metcalfe of Acceleration Television who will be filming the entire trip for later television transmission.

Can we achieve this feat? We have twelve months to prepare the car for it’s trip of a lifetime. Keep checking for regular updates on our preparation progress and feel free to offer your comments or advice on our blog.