The current banner on Just a Car Guy is one of my favorite images.
March 1908, New York-Paris Race, Thomas Flyer.
Behind the wheel is Harold Brinker, from Denver, the designated driver from Ogden, UT to San Francisco.
Stepping over the tracks is George Schuster, factory mechanic and eventual driver to Paris. The man standing to the side, with the natty hat and goggles is a man named James Pierce, from Ogden, UT.
Pierce joined the crew of the Thomas at Cobre, NV as pilot and guide to Ely. He was tapped for this job as he worked as a construction worker on and later an employee of the Nevada Northern RR and knew the terrain and trials across this desert valley to Ely very well.
Brinker is gingerly driving the Flyer over the tracks of the Western Pacific R.R. at a spot near a small settlement called Bews, NV. This place no longer exists but is near modern-day Shafter, NV where the tracks of the WPRR cut across the tracks of the Nevada Northern R.R. which led to Ely.
The photo was likely taken by a young New York Times photographer named Charles Duprez who was riding on the Flyer at the time.
I have visited the spot (or very close to it) where this photo was taken.
Thanks for putting it up.
Robert
Salt Lake City
Thanks to Robert for this history! I have known of the Thomas Flyer since I was a child. Yes, The Flyer was not so old back then. I have read about this famous Thomas automobile since then and appreciate more information.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that it's been restored, not to pristine condition but to the state it was in when it won the race, and there's a Youtube video in which Jay Leno drives it. Tall gears and lots of torque!
ReplyDeleteYes, I posted about that on April first https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2025/04/leno-got-to-drive-one-of-my-favorite.html
DeleteThat's probably where I saw it. Short memory!
DeleteThanks for the nice comments. I have been a Flyer-o-file since junior high school, and my research and interest in the story of the NY-PR has not diminished. I will turn 73 in a few weeks.
ReplyDelete