Thankful the First Automobile Race in the USA was on Thanksgiving 295s

First American Car Race

Instead of celebrating what happened on this date, today we are actually celebrating what happened on this day, America's first car race on a blizzard-stricken Thanksgiving Day in 1895.

The concept for the inaugural American car race was conceived by H.H. Kohlsaat, publisher of the Chicago Times Herald, inspired by a recent race in France. Kolstadt recognized the potential to propel the burgeoning automobile industry and simultaneously boost newspaper sales. A substantial purse of $5,000 (equivalent to nearly $150,000 today) was offered to attract inventors to create functional self-propelled vehicles, with a $2,000 prize (around $50,000 today) for the winner.

Initially planned as a 92-mile journey, the route was shortened to 54 miles from Chicago to Evanston and back due to poor road conditions. The event was rescheduled twice – from July 4th to Labor Day and finally to Thanksgiving 1895 – due to competitors requesting more preparation time.

A snowstorm struck Chicago on the eve of the race, reducing the number of participants from 89 promised entrants to six at the starting line. These included three Benz vehicles from Germany, one modified by Mueller Company; an American gas-powered Duryea with a three-speed transmission built by brothers J. Frank and Charles Duryea; and two electric vehicles, showcasing early interest in electric propulsion for racing.

The staggered start saw the Duryea set off at 9 a.m., each vehicle accompanied by an umpire to enforce rules. The harsh conditions led to high attrition rates: both electric cars withdrew early on, with only two vehicles completing the course. The Duryea emerged victorious after 10 hours and 23 minutes (7 hours and 53 minutes of actual running time), averaging a blistering speed of 6.6 miles per hour.

Muller-Benz finished second under dramatic circumstances: Oscar Mueller was replaced by his umpire at the wheel amid rumors of fatigue, exposure, or intoxication.

Despite fewer finishers than hoped for, the race showcased the automobile's capabilities and resilience against harsh elements. The Duryea leveraged its victory to become the first to Win on Sunday and sell on Monday, selling more vehicles (13) than any other U.S. carmaker the following year.

While the winning Duryea has been lost to history due to an unfortunate misunderstanding, Mueller-Benz is displayed at the Mueller Museum in Decatur, Illinois. This pioneering event paved the way for auto racing in America. On Thanksgiving, we reflect on gratitude and celebrate this historic milestone that sparked American auto racing over a century ago.