The Story of the Race

Souvenir booklet commemorating a cross-country automobile race in 1909.

The Ocean to Ocean Automobile Endurance Contest was an early cross-country road race organized to correspond with the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, held in Seattle in 1909. Both events kicked off on the same day, June 1st, with six teams departing New York City on the transcontinental trip. Twenty-three days later, the Ford Car No. 2 crossed the finish line at the Seattle Exposition. Unfortunately for the victors, the win was disqualified five months later due to an unreported engine change. But by that time, Ford had extensively promoted the success of its Model-T in the contest, making it the best-selling vehicle in the first half of the 20th century.

This booklet was one element of those promotional efforts, and contains 32 pages of text and photographs detailing the race, the rules, its numerous difficulties, and ultimate victory*. Several pages of advertisements for the latest Ford models are also included. Attached to the back is a folding map of the United States which highlights the trip route taken by the Ford Car No. 2.