1916 Hudson wins the Great Race!

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    am i the only one excited about this?
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Its Getting Old Hat As Hudsons Have Won Many Times In This Race. Would Like To See Some Later Model Hudsons Enter Some Of The Other Classes, Mike Cherry Is Planning To Run Soon, Bill Albright
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    The Great Race does have an interesting history - started back in the 1970's as the Cannonball Baker Sea To Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash (Cannonball Run) and it had but one rule: whoever drove a vehicle from the Red Ball Garage in New York City to the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, California, in the shortest amount of time was the winner. To say it was an "outlaw" race is an understatement - it was a protest against the infamous 55 mph speed limit that spawned all sorts of "go fast car" movies. This one was thought up by Car & Driver writer Brock Yates and his buddy Steve Smith in 1971.

    In the November 1971 Cannonball Run Dan Gurney driving a Ferrari Daytona with Brock Yates as co-driver made the 2876 mile run in 35 hours, 54 min, averaging 80 mph. This was broken by Dave Heinz and Dave Yarborough in a Jaguar XJS, in the still standing record time of 32 hours and 51 minutes (about 87 mph) in the last "official" Cannonball Run in April 1979. Needless to say they were running slightly above the 55 mph limit.

    After law officers told them maybe they should put their toys away before somebody got hurt, Brock came up with the idea of the "One Lap Around America", which was just what it sounds like. This was actually sponsored by Car and Driver as a legitimate closed course tour.

    From "One Lap Around America" the tour evolved into the Great Race - tho the Great Race is not directly connected to the previous events as are the Cannonball and the One Lap Around.......

    The infamous "double nickle" insanity speed limit in the early 70's, produced by those idiots we elect every election, accomplished about only one thing. Previously most everybody drove 5 over, as most of us do today. When we were hit with the 55 mile limit, it seemed everybody started driving 10 and higher over. I remember coming across PA on I-80 back then. PA had a slogan - "you have a friend in PA!!". I found out real quick to drive from one end of the state to the other was going to take forever, at 55 - so find that "friend"; a fast trucker with a CB radio!!

    Anyway, that's the way it was "Back In The Day!!"



    Hudsonly,

    Alex B
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Well, I for one think it's pretty neat! And the fact that the navigator this year was only 13 years old, establishes a bit of a 'youth connection' that we Hudson enthusiasts sorely need. And by the way, Hudsons don't routinely win this race. Though they do win fairly regularly and when they don't, they tend to place pretty high in the pack.
  • Nevada Hudson
    Nevada Hudson Senior Contributor
    [/QUOTE]

    I gave the Hudson racers in the Great Race information about joining our forums. Please make them feel welcome!
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    Do they open up races like this for modified classes? Somthing like this would be a blast!

    One of the goals I have is to actually drive the Hudson and see some of this country - as I've lived in Washington my whole life and have only really been on the west coast swing and the occassional flying to Florida.

    Next year for sure I want to do some or all of the Hot Rod power tour, plus try and make to some regional and national shows (HET sponsored or not) after all I bought the Hudson to drive it - not look at it!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    rambos_ride wrote:
    Do they open up races like this for modified classes? Somthing like this would be a blast!

    One of the goals I have is to actually drive the Hudson and see some of this country - as I've lived in Washington my whole life and have only really been on the west coast swing and the occassional flying to Florida.

    Next year for sure I want to do some or all of the Hot Rod power tour, plus try and make to some regional and national shows (HET sponsored or not) after all I bought the Hudson to drive it - not look at it!
    I am not certain about this, but I believe the 2008 Great Race held in conjunction with the New York to Paris Great Race will have different classes. Beside the classic class there will be an alternative fuel class. With your automotive skills maybe you can have that Hudson powered by Hydrogen. LOL. Purse of $350,000.00 and a rookie class purse of $50,000.00

    With Gas prices on the climb again we all maybe driving our Hudsons on hydrogen or methane.
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    SRCraftsman2 wrote:
    I am not certain about this, but I believe the 2008 Great Race held in conjunction with the New York to Paris Great Race will have different classes. Beside the classic class there will be an alternative fuel class. With your automotive skills maybe you can have that Hudson powered by Hydrogen. LOL. Purse of $350,000.00 and a rookie class purse of $50,000.00

    With Gas prices on the climb again we all maybe driving our Hudsons on hydrogen or methane.

    I can't do Hydrogen...yet...but sometimes between I and the pup I think we could set a car up to run on PMP or Personal Methane Power...or P100 if you will...kinda like E85 only more powerful at 100%

    Sorry for the toilet humor couldn't resist!
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