How Henry Ford and the Model T lost the race and won the country

How Henry Ford and the Model T lost the race and won the country frames a key early-automotive moment during the 1909 Ocean-to-Ocean Race for the Guggenheim Cup. On June 8, 1909, two stripped-down Ford Model Ts reached a wooden ferry at Glasgow, Missouri, to cross the Missouri River, while a Boston-built Shawmut closed in behind. The ferry broke down, leaving the Shawmut crew stranded on the wrong bank; instead of losing hours to search for a new crossing, they aimed for a railroad bridge about half a mile away, with no guarantee it would be clear. The race began June 1, 1909, from in front of New York City Hall, following a ceremonial signal by President William Howard Taft tied to Seattle’s Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. The contest covered 4,100 miles with 30 checkpoints and highlighted both the automobile’s promise and America’s readiness.