The Great Race has always attracted the rare, the unique and the unusual in regard to automobiles. We have had Buck Kamphausen’s Hispano-Suiza, Dick Burdick’s Bentley and Jeff Lane’s McQuay Norris over the years. Two potential entries for the 2013 Great Race down the Mississippi River fit into those three categories, but I am not sure exactly which one. The first is a 1960 Fiat Multipa. Jim Collins and Craig Stephens of San Diego are planning to rally the Multipla this summer from St. Paul to Mobile. The automobile is actually all three — rare, unique and unusual.
It is good to see a some new guys from California enter the race to go along with our already strong contingent from the Golden State of Tom Coad, Janet Hedke, Steve Hedke, Bill Croker, Carolyn Croker, Grand Champion Frank Currie, Grand Champion Ray Currie, Grand Champion Charles Currie, Grand Champion Wayne Stanfield, Grand Champion Newt Withers, Ginni Withers, Ty Holmquist, Stan Jones, Leonard Harpenau, Gloria Harpenau, Ailene Chambers, Andrew Bedoian, Don Mussche, Buck Kamphausen, Josh Voss, Pee Wee Thomas, Denby Dailey, Grand Champion Gary Wales and Grand Champion John Classen just to name a few.

The second automobile fits the rare and unique category the best. It is Alan and Mary Travis’ 1915 Scripps Booth speedster. Those of you familiar with Alan know he has brought some of the finest automobiles to the Great Race over the years, including a 1910 Knox that he and Mary won the race in back in 1993. And of course last year, they drove the most popular car in the Great Race, a 1907 Renault, making it the oldest vehicle to ever compete in the event at 105 years old at the time of the running.

Alan is still undergoing the restoration on the Scripps Booth and he hopes to have it finished in time for the race this summer.

Jeff Stumb
Director of Great Race, Tours & Events