In case you missed it, the 34th installment of the Great Race kicked off this past Saturday (June 24), and this year’s starting point? Jacksonville, FL…the fourth time the city has seen the race in its 34 year tenure. The Great Race is an antique, vintage, and collector car competitive controlled-speed endurance road rally on public highways. Founded in 1983 by Tom McRae and Norman Miller as a speed/distance rally for classic cars, with the first race being only pre-World War II automobiles…entrants “race” over 2000 miles from a farm near Los Angeles to Indianapolis, IN.
Photo credits to Tommy Lee Byrd and ‘The Great Race’ http://www.greatrace.com/ 2017 (Market Street Bridge, Chattanooga, TN)
Teams are allowed only a guide book, speedometer and clock as they navigate the course through cities, dirt roads, and some of the best scenic back roads in America. It’s not a test of top speed but rather a test of navigational skills, determination and a great bit of luck (for the team and the car) to endure on a cross-country trip. Competing teams must drive at or below the posted speed limits at all times. This year over 100 racers will compete for the purse, racing about 1200 miles from Jacksonville, FL to Traverse City, MI.
Photo credits to Tommy Lee Byrd and ‘The Great Race’ http://www.greatrace.com/ 2017
McRae founded the race on “the basis of honoring families, the love of American backroads and most importantly, God, for making all things possible”. McRae is no longer with us, and in 2011 a new race leader stepped in, Corky Coker, of the famous Coker Tire Co. in Chattanooga, TN.
Photo credits to Tommy Lee Byrd and ‘The Great Race’ http://www.greatrace.com/ 2017 (Olgiati Bridge and TN Aquarium)
Which leads us to why we are here…the route just took them directly through Second Daily HQ hometown of Chattanooga, TN. We wish you all the best of luck, and we really hope you stocked up on some Krystal Burgers, Coke, oil and antifreeze before leaving!
Cars ranged in age from a 1973 Jensen Interceptor to a 1909 American Simplex. As much as we love the classics here, the Simplex is a bit of a stretch for us to highlight as a potential collectible daily. So today’s feature car will be the, yeah, you guessed it…the grand touring hand-built British Classic Jensen Interceptor (delayed…still working on getting good photos).
As luck would have it, yesterday’s feature, the Volvo P1800, shares a love affair with the Jensen group as well…so if you haven’t read that piece check it out. And please visit the Great Race website to keep up with news/events and upcoming races (http://www.greatrace.com).
Drive Fun Daily!
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Here is a list of unique year/make/models in this year’s race:
1964 1/2 Ford Mustang |
1971 AMC Javelin |
1918 American Lafrance Speedster |
1909 American Simplex |
1931 Auburn Boattail Speedster |
1935 Bentley Saloon |
1936 Buick Special |
1921 Cadillac |
1957 Chevrolet 150 |
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air |
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air |
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport |
1956 Chevrolet Bel-Air |
1972 Chevrolet C-10 |
1968 Chevrolet Camaro |
1968 Chevrolet Caprice |
1971 Chevrolet Corvette |
1972 Chevrolet Corvette |
1940 Chevrolet Coupe |
1953 Chevrolet Fire Truck |
1950 Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe |
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS |
1964 Chevrolet Nova |
1916 Chevrolet Phaeton |
1947 Chevrolet Style Master |
1940 Chevy |
1959 Chevy Corvette |
1963 Chevy Corvette |
1965 Chevy Corvette |
1966 Chevy Corvette |
1949 Chevy Truck |
1967 Chrysler 300 |
1966 Dodge Coronet |
1963 Dodge Dart |
1946 Dodge WD20 Pickup |
1959 Edsel |
1960 Fiat Multipla |
1938 Ford |
1930 Ford A |
1932 Ford Cabriolet |
1935 Ford Coupe |
1937 Ford Coupe |
1939 Ford Coupe |
1934 Ford Deluxe Phaeton |
1966 Ford Falcon |
1936 Ford Fordor |
1967 Ford Galaxy |
1932 Ford HI boy Roadster |
1928 Ford Model A |
1929 Ford Model A |
1931 Ford Model A |
1930 Ford Model A Coupe |
1929 Ford Model A Roader PU |
1928 Ford Model A Speedster |
1966 Ford Mustang |
1964 Ford Police Cruiser |
1965 Ford Ranchero Deluxe |
1930 Ford Roadster |
1932 Ford Roadster |
1948 Ford Sedan |
1932 Ford Speedster |
1933 Ford Speedster |
1955 Ford Thunderbird |
1968 Ford Torino |
1933 Ford Truck |
1936 Ford Tudor Sedan |
1937 Ford Tudor Sudan |
1932 Ford Victoria |
1937 GMC Truck |
1952 GMC Truck |
1916 Hudson |
1916 Hudson Super Six |
1965 International Scout 80 |
1963 Jaguar E Type |
1969 Jaguar XKE |
1973 Jensen Interceptor |
1940 LaSalle Convertible |
1948 Lincoln Continental |
1950 Maserati A6 1500 |
1972 Mercedes 350 SL |
1972 Mercedes 350 SLC |
1948 Mercury Woody Wagon |
1959 MG MGA1600 |
1966 MGB |
1928 Model A Ford highboy |
1927 Model T Speedster |
1966 Mustang |
1968 Mustang Coupe |
1971 Nissan KPGC10 |
1955 Oldsmobile 98 |
1967 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser |
1935 Packard 120 |
1941 Packard 120 Coupe |
1936 Packard 120B |
1936 Packard Club Sedan |
1927 Peerless |
1917 Peerless Speedster |
1965 Plymouth Barracuda S |
1960 Plymouth Fury |
1953 Pontiac Chieftain |
1965 Pontiac GTO |
1967 Pontiac GTO |
1958 Porsche Carrera coupe |
1930 Riley |
1957 Rolls Royce- Silver Cloud |
1969 Saab 96 |
1964 Studebaker Daytona |
1960 Studebaker Hawk |
1954 Studebaker Landcruiser |
1916 Studebaker Racer |
1964 Subaru 360 |
1952 Sunbeam Talbot |
1972 Toyota Celica GTV |
1961 Volkswagen Ragtop Beetle |
1962 Volkswagen Beetle |
1970 Volkswagen Beetle |
1970 Volvo 1800E |
1959 Volvo P544 |
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