"EATING DUST AND KILLING CHICKENS"
"It is in the main, a pleasure tour."
For some it was a test of the driver and machine. For others it was a non-competitive tour of a delightful countryside. It could be dangerous, and a ditch was always a possibility. There were hills like the one outside of Amsterdam, New York that challenged even the best of cars. Some famers welcomed the tourists, others erected obstacles. Some hoteliers tried to milk the travelers, others were hospitable. Some of the competitors complained -- of the dust, the roads, the timing officials competence. Every morning started with officials laying out marker arrows followed by a confetti car so that no one got lost. 42 women rode along as part of the event. Between the time of a 1900 road event between Buffalo and Rochester that was a part of the Pan-American Exhibition and the 1906 Glidden tour automobiles had markedly improved technologically. Yet the roads had not yet improved in marked fashion. But whatever the case, it was a grand adventure for all.
What was learned from this event:
From the Horseless Age, v. 118, no. 3, p.64.
"With their pocketbooks about deflated, with many of their cars ready for the junk heap, and certainly any number of them for repair shop, the Glidden tourists finally ended their 1,200 mile race throughout the country up in the mountains at the Mt. Washington Hotel in the Bretton Woods."
...the cars entered the Glidden and Deming trophies both rushed through the country at 35 and 40 miles per hour, regardless of road conditions, leaving behind them a trail of broken springs, axles, and shock absorbers, and racking their structures in every nut and bolt."
1) Every one of the cars that finished with a perfect score was driven by manufacturer drivers. The idea of the Glidden being a race rather than a tour was now a fact.
2) Significant improvements were needed in organization, particularly related to hotels. Participants felt they are robbed and given very poor accommodations.
3) Air-cooled cars -- of the 5 entered 4 finished well -- were demonstrated to be a viable technology.
4) Better shock absorbers were necessary as many failed during the tour. The tour demonstrated the relative weakness of running gears. Tubular axles were a problem --made "out of magnified bicycle frame stock," I section axles demonstrated their superiority. "Springs were "the weakest parts of cars as a whole." Magneto ignitions proved themselves superior to battery ignition.
5) Tires were improved since the 1905 event, but punctures remained a serious problem.
6) in 1906, all internal combustion engines were 4 cylinders. -- no longer were 2 or 1 cylinder cars entered.
7) Only one foreign car was entered. America roads needed a particular kind of vehicle to match the rather difficult roads that were traversed.
"The car with the cleverest crew and best selected spare parts enjoyed a decided advantage in he contest."
View of driver in car holding a document during the 1906 Glidden Tour. Stamped on back: "Photo by N. Lazarnick, 29 West 42nd Street, New York." Handwritten on back: "Tours--Glidden Tour, 1906."
Images from Detroit Public Library, Maps from Horseless Age
From Horseless Age, v. 18, no. 3, p.64
Day to Day Schedule of the 1906 Tour
Buffalo to Auburn 135 mi 2 hrs, 52 min
Auburn to Utica 76 mi 4 hrs, 2 min
Utica to Saratoga. 93 mi 3 hrs, 34 min
Saratoga to Elizabethtown, NY 94.1 mi, 5 hrs 54 min
Elizabethtown to Lake Champlain, 37.1, 2 hrs, 29 min
Lake Champlain to Montreal 72 mi, 6 hrs, 8 min
Montreal to Three Rivers 96.1 mi 6 hrs 53 min
Three Rivers to Quebec 97.9 mi 6 hrs 56 min
Quebec to Jackman, ME 109 mi, 8 hrs 13 min
Jackman to Waterville, ME 93 mi 6 hrs 3 min
Waterville to Rangeley Lakes 103 mi, 7hrs 16 min
Rangeley to Breton Woods 124 mi, 8 hrs 37 min
View of man posing with decorated car during the 1906 Glidden Tour. Car is decorated with ribbons, eagle sculpture, "La Presse" sign and "Welcome Glidden tourists" sign. Handwritten on back: "N. Lazarnick. Tours--Glidden Tour, 1906."
View of Charles Glidden, Paul H. Deming, Sidney Gorham and Webb Jay with car during the 1906 Glidden Tour. Stamped on back: "Photo by N. Lazarnick, 29 West 42nd Street, New York." Handwritten on back: "Mr. Glidden, Mr. Paul Demming [sic], Mr. Gorham & Webb Jay. Tours--Glidden Tour, 1906."
View of Joseph A. Mechaley and passengers in Pope-Hartford car no. 23 at Buffalo, New York during the 1906 Glidden Tour. George N. Pierce dealership in background. Handwritten on back: "J.A. Mechaley, 24 h.p. Pope-Hartford. Tours--Glidden Tour, 1906."
View of photographer F. Ed. Spooner and driver being arrested in Lima, New York during the 1906 Glidden Tour. Two men stand next to car. Several Glidden participants were arrested and fined as part of a police trap. Handwritten on back: "Arrest of F. Ed. Spooner. Tours--Glidden Tour, 1906."
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