Wednesday, March 2, 2016

On the road NewYork to Paris 1908

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It is time for me to update the heading "Dieselpunk", all the more so now - very significant, although non-round date in the history of motoring. July 30, 1908 finished the winner of the first round the world rally, "New-York - Paris". American driver George Schuster became the first person to drive the vehicle through all of North America and the entire Eurasian continent. Behind the wheel he held in the general account 26 days, not counting the time to sleep, as well as - crossing time on the boat Pacific Ocean with stops in Alaska. However, four days before Schuster in Paris finished the German racer Hans Koeppen, but the victory was not given, as it was found that part of the route he has done on the railway platform. 
In total, the race involved six crews - three French, one American, one German and one Italian. All three Frenchman due to breakdowns out of the race, as the Italian somehow reached Paris towards the end of September, when a race has already started to forget.

Rally Results symbolized the loss of the status of France's leading automobile nation in the world and its transition to the United States. American car, "Thomas Flyer" company "Thomas Motors" showed the highest of all the participants of the speed and reliability. However, the company then lasted only 10 years, went bankrupt and is now about it, few people remember in 1918. And it's not just about her. None of the companies that submitted to the competition their best products, has not lived even before the mid-twentieth century.   
To this we can add that the rally in 1908 inspired Americans Blake Edwards and Arthur Ross to write the script blockbuster comedy "The Great Race", which is, I think, many watched as a child. 

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The future winner of the round the world rally, "Thomas Flyer" before the start at Times Square in New York on 29 February 1908 leap. On the wings of the machine stacked boards to place under the wheel while driving on the viscous ground and furnaces. 

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The line of the races on the launch pad. In the foreground of the French "De Dion-Bouton." 

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German "Protos". Despite the fact that for a trip by train its driver was fined for 15 days, he is still ranked second as the third bidder behind the leaders for nearly two months. 

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Another Frenchman, a long-forgotten brand "Sizer-Nodin." 

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The third French participant - the company car "motor-block". The photo was taken in Detroit after passing the first stage of the competition. 

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Shortly after the start of the race participants found the snow. 

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The Italian "Brixen Zyust" on snow-covered road somewhere in the United States the center. 

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It was planned that part of the route will pass through Alaska, and then, after crossing through the Bering Strait - Chukotka and Yakutia. "Thomas Flyer" first to reach the Pacific Ocean, had to ship to Alaska, but on the spot it was found out that the road ahead is not at all the planned route and absolutely impassable for cars. Soon the car again loaded on a ship and sent to Japan, and then - in Manchuria. But before that happened, it had to ride local avtolyubitelnitsy. 

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The most severe and difficult stage of the race was riding on the Russian off-road, which did not survive all the French participants.The picture shows the American crew and Russian military help to get out of the mud traps German "Protos". Looking at this photo, you can understand why the most popular men's shoes in our country until recent times were high leather boots. 

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"Thomas Flyer" somewhere near Omsk. According to the memoirs of George Schuster, on some days traveled to Russia distances are measured not in kilometers and meters. 

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However, the car broke down, finished the race has been preserved in the form in which he reached the finish line. 

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But the "Protos" is not preserved in German car museum is its layout. Also, did not survive and the other participants of the race.

Found on http://vikond65.livejournal.com/364156.html

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