Hypermilers Re-enact the 1908 centennial of NY to San Francisco Race

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Drivers Cross Country in Hybrids in attempt to set mileage record.

Sean Welch - CleanMPG - Feb. 10, 2008

Chicago - Six hypermilers will begin driving across the country from New York City's Times Square on February 12, 2008 in a re-enactment of the historic Greatest Automobile Race of 1908. Their goal is to commemorate this event using advanced hybrid vehicles while striving for record fuel economy.

The hypermilers will depart New York exactly 100 years to the minute from the start of the original Greatest Automobile Race. They will be driving two Honda Civic Hybrids as a convoy, in shifts, and without stopping 24/7. Their route will take them through 42 towns and cities along the US portion of the path blazed by the original 1908 Teams and their vehicles, finishing nearly 4000 miles later in San Francisco, CA.

The historic 1908 Automobile Race set the stage for the many automotive successes seen in the twentieth century. Using the most advanced fuel efficient autos in production today, this centennial tribute intends to promote fuel conservation, lower emissions, and superior auto technology for the twenty-first century. Typical February winter weather and road conditions are expected to present numerous challenges. Additionally, much of the original 1908 route is less than optimal for fuel efficiency; however the drivers expect to take these hurdles in stride in their quest for outstanding mileage.

The team is led by Wayne Gerdes of Chicago Illinois. Mr. Gerdes originally coined the term "hypermiling" to describe a driver who strives to exceed the EPA fuel economy rating of their vehicle, and has achieved record mileage numbers in unmodified vehicles on several occasions. In 2005 his team drove 1397 miles (for 110.0mpg) in a Toyota Prius on a single tank of fuel in the Prius Marathon Attempt. In 2006 another team he led achieved 90mpg in a Honda Insight over 200 miles in the Tour De Sol fuel efficiency challenge. Also in 2006, Wayne and a group of seven drivers smashed the record for the longest-distance single tank of fuel marathon attempt by achieving 164.4mpg over 2,254 miles, again in a stock Honda Insight.

The five other drivers participating in the Greatest Automobile Race re-enactment consist of Bill Kinney of Washington, Brian Morris of Nevada, Ken Gordon of Illinois, Rani Cardona of California and Sean Welch of Minnesota. Honda North America is providing a 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid as one of the cars. Laurie With is providing the second car, a 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid.

This event has no connection or association in any manner relating to the Great Race 2008 (TM).

For more information regarding hypermiling, please visit CleanMPG.

[DebbieKatz]

Best of luck to all

[bestmapman]

Do you have a description of the route?

[atlaw4u]

Good luck gang and I can't wait to follow the progress. It will be interesting to see how the different segments of the trip equate to miles per gallon considering the different weather and road conditions offered between New York & San Francisco.

[xcel]

Hi Bestmapman:

___The following may help

1908 centennial Automobile Race Reenactment - NY City to San Francisco, CA

Waypoint #	Location	Distance (miles)	Time
#1	NY City – Times Square	0	11:00 AM Feb. 12th
#2	Hudson, NY	120	02:00 PM
#3	Fonda, NY	84	04:00 PM
#4	Canastota, NY	82	06:00 PM
#5	Geneva, NY	74	07:30 PM
#6	Buffalo, NY	114	10:00 PM
#7	Niagara Falls, NY	20	10:30 PM
#8	Erie, PA	119	02:00 AM Feb. 13th
#9	Toledo, OH	202	06:30 AM
#10	Kendallville, IN	108	09:00 AM
#11	Wawaka, IN	11	09:00 AM
#12	Goshen, IN	25	09:30 AM
#13	South Bend, IN	36	10:30 AM
#14	New Carlisle, IN	15	10:30 AM
#15	Rolling Prairie, IN	9	11:00 AM
#16	Chesterton, IN	22	11:30 AM
#16a	Burdick, IN	8	11:30 AM
#17	Chicago, IL	60	01:00 PM
#18	Rochelle, IL	63	02:30 PM
#19	Clarence, IA	134	05:30 PM
#20	Belle Plaine, IA	70	07:00 PM
#21	Ogden, IA	131	10:00 PM
#22	Logan, IA	149	01:30 AM Feb. 14th
#23	Omaha, NE	29	02:00 AM
#24	Columbus, NE	84	04:00 AM
#25	Lexington, NE	147	07:30 AM
#26	Sidney, NE	176	11:30 AM
#27	Cheyenne, WY	103	02:00 PM
#28	Laramie, WY	46	03:00 PM
#29	Walcott, WY	78	05:00 PM
#30	Rawlins, WY	20	05:30 PM
#31	Granger, WY	154	08:30 PM
#32	Evanston, WY	64	10:00 PM
#33	Morgan, UT	52	11:00 PM
#34	Ogden, UT	24	11:30 PM
#35	Promontory Point, UT	78	01:30 AM Feb 15th
#36	Cobre, NV	270	07:00 AM – Ghost Town
#37	Ely, NV	157	10:30 AM
#38	Tonopah, NV	168	02:30 PM
#39	Ballarat, CA	180	06:30 PM – Ghost Town
#40	Bakersfield, CA	217	11:00 PM
#41	Los Banos, CA	171	03:00 AM Feb 16th
#42	San Francisco, CA	122	06:00 AM

___As for the schedule, I left a lot of slack in the Waypoint schedules to add for any number of things we may encounter and if we hit the final at + or – 3 hours, I will be extremely pleased. Let alone most of the Times are estimates based on a 50 mph drive with 10 - 15 + minutes every few hours for pics and vids plus some of the strange routes to get to some of the more off the beaten patch Waypoints we are headed too

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[atlaw4u]

Does anyone have an idea of the time it took to run the course in 1908 or what the approximate MPG would have been for the types of cars used in the original race.

[laurieaw]

that can't be my car, it's too &$(*&#$@ clean!!! wow, way to go, guys.

[ericbecky]

Originally Posted by atlaw4u

Does anyone have an idea of the time it took to run the course in 1908 or what the approximate MPG would have been for the types of cars used in the original race.

Boy, that'd be tough to figure out.
So many days were spent only going a few miles because of the bad terrain or weather.
Plus how do you count the times where they had to use other means of transportation (ie horseback, freighter) in order to travel?

I look forward to having someone weigh in on the subject, though.

[bestmapman]

Are you open to escorts on any of the segments that go near any of us?

[xcel]

Hi Bestmapman:

___Check your PM Inbox

___All, we are hitting the road for New York in about 5 minutes so we will try and keep everyone updated as we progress to and than the way back across as we find a way to do that

___Good Luck

___Wayne