Seattle Will Sell Itself With a Coast-to-Coast Motor Race
Boosters lay plans for a New York-to-Seattle endurance run timed to the opening of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, with Robert Guggenheim putting up a $2,000 trophy and $5,300 in prizes for the first five cars home.
SEATTLE, Feb. 10. — Arrangements have been partially made for an automobile endurance race from New York to Seattle, to be held during the opening days of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific exposition.
Action looking to the consummation of the plan outlined was taken by the Seattle Automobile club at a meeting held last night. The race is to be started about May 15.
Robert Guggenheim, who was present at the meeting, agreed to present to the winning car a trophy costing $2,000 and cash prizes to the value of $5,300, to be distributed among the first five cars to finish the race.
“Robert Guggenheim, who was present at the meeting, agreed to present to the winning car a trophy costing $2,000 and cash prizes to the value of $5,300.”
The race was actually run that June, and a Ford Model T was first into Seattle in time for the exposition's opening — a publicity stunt that put the city on front pages a continent away. The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific grounds became the University of Washington campus, and the booster logic has never really changed: build the spectacle, and let the world do the advertising.
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