The 1895 Horseless Carriage Contest sponsored by the Chicago Times-Herald (aka “first” auto-race in America) – a peek into the WHAT, WHY. WHEN. WHERE, WHO beyond the auto history lore of a Duryea victory on a cold and snowy, Thanksgiving Day in Chicago. The importance of this event is perhaps best captured that same year by Peter Studebaker of the eponymous wagon maker who, with prescience, commended the sponsoring newspaper

“…for transferring the manufacture of of the motocycle (a term applied to the horseless carriage after a naming contest) Bio from Europe to America…concentrating the inventive faculties of the nation on this [horseless carriage] new departure.”

This episode is sponsored in part by: The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), The Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), The Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Argetsinger Family – and was recorded in front of a live studio audience. And has been Edited, Remastered and Produced in partnership with the Motoring Podcast Network.

Bio

David Schmidt is a Director at the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH) as well as Panel Chair for the SAH Bradley Award. He is also a member of the Porsche Club of America and
Fuelfed, a private club for enthusiasts of European cars. Born in Detroit, his father and grandfather both worked for GM at Fisher Body. Being a product of a certain generation he
experienced the muscle car era first hand cruising the famed Woodward Avenue in the late 1960’s. David received a BA from Michigan State University, MA and PhD from Indiana University and after a career in financial services retired from TIAA. As an auto enthusiast, he can be seen driving about town in a 1967 Volvo Amazon or 1989 Porsche Carrera.