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264:"The judges were compelled to make their awards based on the showing in the tests and in the road race. The test took precedence in the rules, but the remarkable run made by Duryea and Mueller compelled substantial recognition. It was deemed fair to make an award of the gold medal based largely on tests, and it therefore, went to Morris-Salom. The other awards were made on road performances and on special points in design." Total prize money awarded was $ 5,000.
42:
530:
151:. The two other vehicles that took part were two-wheeled automobiles. The "motorcycles" lacked the power to climb one of the course's grades. Another entrant was electric-powered, whose battery died from the cold weather before getting far. Just after starting, one Benz struck a horse and was forced to leave the race. On the return trip from Evanston, the Duryea began to take the lead.
155:
20:
116:). The race was intended to be held on November 2, but few cars had shown up, and the race was rescheduled. Eighty-three cars were initially entered into the race, but only six arrived for the actual competition. Many of the entrants did not have their cars completed on time, and several were unable to make the journey.
364:"Best show in official tests." Did not attempt to complete the course. Drove 15 miles (24 km) of race and then returned to testing headquarters. Award of the gold medal was based on, "Safety; easy of control; absence of noise, vibration, heat or odor; cleanliness, and general excellence of design and workmanship."
517:. The Morris & Salom Electrobat was the beginnings of the Electric Vehicle Company of Philadelphia. This firm, although no longer producing automobiles by 1899, acquired the legal rights to the Selden patent and began the process of trying to collect licensing fees from all U.S. automobile manufacturers.
260:
The Fort Worth
Gazette stated, "The prizes will be awarded on the showing made in the road race, and in the scientific tests which have been made under the supervision of the best experts in the country." The official prize results were not announced until December 5, 1895. The race judges determined
92:
announced a race to be held in the city, prizes totaling $ 5,000 (approximately $ 183,100 in 2023). The promotion was an attempt to foster the growth of the young auto industry in the United States and to boost newspaper sales. The first automobiles in the nation were produced only two years earlier,
169:
The Duryea car finished the race first, completing the race after 7 hours and 53 minutes of running time, 10 hours and 23 minutes total time, having traveled an average of 7 mph (11 km/h). The Benz entered by Oscar B. Mueller crossed the finish line an hour and a half later. From point 31
177:
The race was the first known automobile race in the United States. Newspapers across the country carried stories about the race. Many predicted the demise of horse-borne transportation, citing the cars' ability to travel even in poor weather. The success of the race sped up the rate of automobile
123:
Both Haynes and the driver of a Benz car were stopped by police while driving their cars into the city. They were forced to requisition horses to pull the cars because, as the police informed them, they had no right to drive their vehicles on the city streets. The situation caused the race to be
28:
456:
The
Smithsonian Institution states the following regarding the winning Duryea car. "This car was unfortunately destroyed through a workman's misunderstanding many years ago." The second-place car of Hieronymus Mueller is on display in the Mueller Museum in Decatur, Illinois.
93:
and they were so new at the time that the paper's editors could not easily agree upon a name for them. After considerable wrangling, the editors decided to call it a Moto Cycle race and first used the term in a July 15 article.
485:
on
November 1, 1895, in Chicago on the eve of what became the exhibition run between Mueller and Duryea motocycles. At the second meeting, Charles Duryea was elected president on November 29, 1895.
481:. Charles King, one of the drivers to have taken part in the November 2, 1895 contest, sent letters on October 8, 1895, proposing an automobile club be formed. This led to the creation of the
128:
editors convinced the city leaders to pass an ordinance to confirm the right of these vehicles to travel on city streets. Once the ordinance passed, the race was held on
November 28,
291:"Carriage made best performance and average speed. Best pull and compact design." Failed to keep to the course, and was repaired by a blacksmith which violated the race rules.
482:
178:
development by at least five years in the United States due to the event's publicity. The commercial production of
American automobiles began only a year later.
954:
174:
because
Mueller went unconscious from exposure. King was originally an umpire to the race and of this motorcycle. None of the other vehicles finished.
471:
newspaper to replace the term "horseless carriage" with something better. The term was never prevalent, and it has largely fallen into disuse. The
104:, but the roads were found to be too poor for early cars to traverse easily. The route was changed to be only 54 miles (87 km) from Chicago to
418:
Special prize money given ". . . for counterbalance of engine." Some papers state they quit the race at 16th Street and others at 64th Street.
460:
In addition to the enormous amount of publicity the race generated, several other automotive developments were related to this race.
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that "All contestants violated the rules of the race. None of the three contestants which finished at
Jackson Park kept the course."
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In the event the first prize goes to a vehicle of foreign manufacture, the most successful
American entry will receive this prize.
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472:
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306:"Wagon made best performance in road. Most economy in operation." Failed to keep to the course, and pushed by outsiders.
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in Des Moines, Iowa between 1888 and 1890. This vehicle was purchased by Harold
Sturges, and he demonstrated it at the
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Special prize money given ". . . for friction driving device and brake and a reduction gear for increasing speed."
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Special prize money given ". . . for a device for starting the motor from the operator's seat in the vehicle."
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321:"Best showing made in road race." Failed to keep to the course, and did not finish within the allowed time.
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467:. The early term for the automobile, "motocycle", was born out of a pre-race contest sponsored by the
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143:. In total, three Benz cars ran in the race. The only other four-wheeled car to run in the race was
390:
Special prize money given ". . . for plan of preventing vibration by balance of driving engines."
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336:"For showing made in road race." Abandoned after 12 miles (19 km). The Sturges was built by
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132:. The day was snowy and 38 °F (4 °C), the roads muddy, with snow drifts in places.
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used this term consistently to describe its motorcycles from their earliest days until 1953.
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88:
58:
784:. Vol. 1, no. 1. New York, New York: E. P. Ingersoll. November 1895. p. 53.
8:
181:
The contest rules published before the race stated the following prizes were available.
120:' car, which was a favorite to win the race, was damaged en route and unable to compete.
688:
A Golden
Anniversary 1895–1945 / Personal Side Lights of America's First Automobile Race
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in 1895 among six motorized vehicles: four cars and two motorcycles. It was won by
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Notice published to promote the purchase of only Selden licensed automobiles
759:. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 11–13.
1025:. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p.
740:"The Start Of The Motocycle Race, Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance".
715:. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p.
56:
was the first automobile race held in the United States. Sponsored by the
78:, which had been introduced in the United States only two years earlier.
744:. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Times-Herald. November 29, 1895. p. 1.
164:
Race Motocycle Contest in 1895
41:
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980:
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in October 1895. This was one month before the well-known publication
495:
Race, began publishing the first English language automobile magazine
140:
101:
75:
757:
Haynes-Apperson and America's First Practical Automobile: A History
1054:. Chillicothe, Illinois: River Beach Publishing. pp. 116–117.
996:
The original Mueller-Benz car can be found in the Mueller Museum.
955:"Smithsonian Automobile Collection, An American Industry is Born"
136:
97:
63:
663:. New York, New York: Business Expert Press. p. Chapter 2.
886:
Early Automobiles: A History in Advertising Line Art, 1890–1930
491:. Edward E. Goff in Chicago, almost certainly inspired by the
692:. New York, New York: Super Power Printing Company. pp.
27:
648:. Chillicothe, Illinois: River Beach Publishing. p. 90.
170:
of the course to the finish Mueller's car was driven by
661:
A Profile of the Automobile and Motor Vehicle Industry
525:
623:. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. p. 23.
159:
Drawing of the medal designed for the winner of the
135:The first car to arrive at the starting line was a
108:and back. The finish line was near what is now the
1018:
943:. San Francisco, CA. November 29, 1895. p. 4.
799:. Fort Worth, Texas. November 29, 1895. p. 2.
708:
74:. The race created considerable publicity for the
961:. Smithsonian National Museum of American History
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96:The original course of the race was to run from
913:. Shenandoah, PA. November 29, 1895. p. 2.
509:which claimed to be the first such publication.
864:
862:
112:(what had been the Palace of Fine Arts at the
873:. St. Paul, MN. November 29, 1895. p. 1.
928:. Sterling, IL. December 6, 1895. p. 7.
795:"Duryea, Wins the Great Motocycle Contest".
859:
855:. Decatur, IL. December 7, 1895. p. 1.
16:First automobile race in the United States
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45:Mueller-Benz car – second-place finisher
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489:First U.S. automotive trade publication
441:Partial cover from the second issue of
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825:. Chicago, Illinois. December 6, 1895.
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473:Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company
408:De La Vergne Refrigerating Machine Co.
204:Open to all competitors of the world.
110:Chicago Museum of Science and Industry
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433:American Motor League membership card
23:"America's First Automobile Race" map
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1070:"Chicago Times-Herald Race of 1895"
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589:"Chicago Times-Herald Race of 1895"
382:Hayes & Apperson Gasoline Wagon
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13:
14:
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981:"Biography of Hieronymus Mueller"
821:"Prizes For Motocycles Awarded".
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36:Motorized Wagon winning motocycle
924:"Awards In The Motocycle Race".
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1111:Auto races in the United States
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1121:Sports competitions in Chicago
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1:
659:Rubenstein, James M. (2014).
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356:Morris & Salom; Race #18
344:held in Chicago during 1893.
1088:. North American Motorsports
884:Harter, Jim (October 2015).
395:George Hertel Gasoline Wagon
342:World's Columbian Exposition
7:
1052:Charles E. Duryea Automaker
646:Charles E. Duryea Automaker
521:
424:
10:
1172:
1116:Defunct auto racing series
909:"The Duryea Machine Won".
276:Prize Rationale and Notes
124:again postponed while the
1072:. Encyclopedia of Chicago
684:King, Charles B. (1945).
591:. Encyclopedia of Chicago
326:Sturges Electro Motocycle
275:
272:
269:
201:$ 2,000 and a gold medal
114:1893 Columbian Exposition
926:Sterling Evening Gazette
780:"Times-Herald Contest".
742:The Chicago Times-Herald
617:Flink, James A. (1998).
281:Duryea Motocycle Company
1136:1895 in American sports
1017:May, George S. (1975).
959:Smithsonian Institution
851:"Motocycle Road Race".
707:May, George S. (1975).
81:
62:, the race was held in
1131:Motorsport in Illinois
1050:May, George W (1996).
941:The San Francisco Call
939:"Race of Motocycles".
888:. Texas: Wings Press.
755:Madden, W. C. (2003).
644:May, George W (1996).
558:Motorsport before 1906
453:
445:
434:
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139:-made car by inventor
86:On July 10, 1895, the
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1021:A Most Unique Machine
711:A Most Unique Machine
483:American Motor League
479:First automotive club
451:
440:
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369:G. W. Lewis Motocycle
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1151:November 1895 events
871:St. Paul Daily Globe
853:Decatur Daily Review
493:Chicago Times-Herald
469:Chicago Times-Herald
311:R. H. Macy & Co.
296:H. Mueller & Co.
270:Vehicle Information
162:Chicago Times-Herald
126:Chicago Times-Herald
89:Chicago Times-Herald
59:Chicago Times-Herald
52:Chicago Times-Herald
1086:"Times-Herald Race"
869:"Motocycles Race".
349:Morris & Salom
1141:1895 in motorsport
911:The Evening Herald
797:Fort Worth Gazette
620:The Automobile Age
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359:Gold medal (Valued
330:Sturges; Race #25
172:Charles Brady King
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782:The Horseless Age
670:978-1-60649-536-0
550:Automobile portal
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354:Philadelphia, PA
338:William Morrison
285:Duryea; Race #5
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256:Post-race prizes
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130:Thanksgiving Day
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315:Benz; Race #22
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300:Benz; Race #19
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283:Springfield, MA
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149:motorized wagon
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72:Motorized Wagon
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1146:1895 in sports
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1063:External links
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985:Mueller Museum
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443:The Motocycle
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190:Prize Amount
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1090:. Retrieved
1074:. Retrieved
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990:November 10,
988:. Retrieved
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965:November 10,
963:. Retrieved
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397:Chicago, IL
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145:Frank Duryea
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68:Frank Duryea
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32:Frank Duryea
384:Kokomo, IN
328:Chicago, IL
298:Decatur, IL
1105:Categories
564:References
361:at $ 250)
351:Electrobat
498:Motocycle
465:Motocycle
141:Karl Benz
102:Milwaukee
100:north to
76:motocycle
522:See also
425:Epilogue
303:$ 1,500
288:$ 2,000
223:$ 1,000
212:$ 1,500
106:Evanston
246:$ 5,000
230:Fourth
209:Second
98:Chicago
64:Chicago
1156:Duryea
1092:May 8,
1076:May 8,
1033:
892:
763:
723:
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627:
595:May 8,
400:$ 100
387:$ 150
374:$ 200
333:$ 500
318:$ 500
233:$ 500
220:Third
198:First
193:Notes
187:Place
137:German
694:32–37
415:$ 50
241:Total
1094:2009
1078:2009
1031:ISBN
992:2017
967:2017
890:ISBN
761:ISBN
721:ISBN
665:ISBN
625:ISBN
597:2009
82:Race
54:race
49:The
147:'s
70:'s
34:'s
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1027:26
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717:30
605:^
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599:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
