The Hardest, Longest Race. Eric Moskowitz.

 

The Hardest, Longest Race.  Eric Moskowitz.

Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America.

A story about an automobile race could be interesting.  A story about a race that goes ocean to ocean might be more intriguing.   A tale about a cross-country car race taking place in early 20^th century may become even more enticing.    A detailed book that describes an underrated historical event featuring plenty of information about the auto industry and the less-than-ideal conditions for safely finishing the race might be too good to pass.    As it turns out, a story that ultimately changed the way society thought about automobile ownership and traveling for a race of this magnitude was enough for author Eric Moskowitz to research, write and publish his first book Hardest, Longest Race.  

One could easily be drawn to this book because the title and cover seemingly reveal a story of adventure, challenge and compelling history of a time when car travel, especially over long distances, was formidable if not impossible.   Moskowitz tells the story of a transnational race originating in New York City and culminating in Seattle during the tender year of 1909.   The official name of this contest was the Ocean-to-Ocean race for the Guggenheim Cup.    In addition, the race contained at least thirty checkpoints from start to finish. The early pages contain a map graphing the route with those official checkpoint stops marked along with other climatic locations providing the reader with a viable working image of what this event entailed.   

Notwithstanding the challenge and adventure of the event, the author took the full opportunity to write about the people that made the race and the story.   In addition, Moskowitz also generously describes the scenery and topography, often unyielding or even untenable for car driving let alone competitive racing, that the drivers experienced throughout these 4100 miles.   The cover of the book contains Henry Ford’s name and while he is mentioned throughout the book this was not story about one of the nation’s foremost automakers per se.   There is little dialogue pertaining to Ford except for his acknowledgements of how the race came to a finish towards the end of the book.  Another prominent character mentioned throughout the story is Robert Guggenheim who helped sponsor, follow, but did not participate in the race itself.     But both are mentioned because these two characters, among several other influencers, pushed for this event to augment attention and change to the future of automobile use in America and the very real need to upgrade the road systems for all of the nation.  

Moskowitz was right to identify and elaborate the racers of the five cars that finally settled into the start of the race.   Each car contained two occupants to shoulder the driving duties and challenges but also had some expertise tending car maintenance and repairs as necessary and needed.    In addition, the racers were allowed to hire “guides” from one checkpoint to another as needed since maps of the raceway were limited or non-existent.    The author often went into great detail when describing the surroundings from one region to another.  At times the reader will have to navigate through some of the minutia. 

However, Moskowitz, a former Boston Globe writer, properly explains the conditions of the road or least those that existed.   The book often described the combination of rain, glue and mud creating a “gumbo”-like substance that permeated the unrefined roadways often dirtying the cars as well as the drivers.   This was especially so, as the book points out, because the cars were not equipped with roofs, windshield wipers and some without a windshield at all.  Readers may also learn that speed limits were frequently much slower than what 21^st century drivers would be accustomed to today.   It was often a challenge to reach 20 miles in under an hour.    Given the challenges of the topography, the lack of developed roads and the overly regulated speed limitations it is no wonder that the race lasted more than three weeks for just some of the cars to complete.  

A book of nearly two hundred and ninety pages including twenty pages of epilogue and afterword, this would not be described as an easy one to read.   The often highly detailed descriptions of the characters and the scenery could easily take the readers’ focus away from the main event. However, there are enough points of interest and compelling matter that help keep the reader engaged and curious to find out how the story ends.    This is especially so once the fact that a scandal took place along the way thus likely capturing one’s attention.  For those that choose to engage in this historical, adventurous, and competitive affair they undoubtedly will unfold how American attitudes towards car driving and travel infrastructure would dramatically change forever over the next century.        

Some discussion questions to consider:

How did this contest change America?

What were the most challenging rigors and dangers the racers faced in this 1909 event?

Why did so many drivers end up dropping from the race before it began?

Should more be done about the fraud that took place during the race?

How has travel via automobile and otherwise changed through the past century?

 

·       You might like to read this book if you seek stories about Henry Ford.

·       You might like to read this book if you are interested in learning more about the Ford Motor Company or Shawmut Motor Company.

·       You might like to read this book if you relish stories about 20^th century United States automobile racing.

·       You might like to read this book if you enjoy historical information about the American Automobile industry and trade.  

 

Read more about the author on X:  https://x.com/ELMoskowitz, https://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/mecevents/hardest-longest-race/?occurrence=2026-08-26