Chicago Times-Herald contest: America's first automobile race (1895)

The Chicago Times-Herald race, held in Chicago in 1895, was the first automobile race in the United States. Sponsored by newspaper proprietor Hermann H. Kohlsaat to boost sales and foster the young auto industry, the event featured six automobiles. Frank Duryea won the contest, which generated significant publicity for the motocycle and led to the formation of the American Motor League.

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Background and detail

Background. The race was sponsored by the Chicago Times-Herald to promote the young auto industry and boost newspaper sales. Proprietor Hermann H. Kohlsaat provided $5,000 in prizes. The event aimed to establish a new name for "horseless carriages" or "motor wagons," as automobiles had only been produced in the nation two years prior.

Course and Conditions. The route was set for a 100-mile round trip to Waukegan. The finish line was near the former Palace of Fine Arts at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. The race was postponed from its originally announced November 2 date and ultimately took place on a snowy Thanksgiving day, partly due to the need for city leaders to pass an ordinance confirming the right of these vehicles to travel on city streets.

Press and Organization. The race created considerable publicity for the motocycle. It inspired the creation of the American Motor League on November 1, 1895, in Chicago. Charles Duryea was elected president of the league on November 29, 1895. The event also inspired the publication of the first English-language automobile magazine, Motocycle, in October 1895.

People involved

Sources

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