Longest Auto Race Comes To Town By Doug Law dlaw@suntelegraph.com SIDNEY - A caravan representing the re-enactment of the North American Leg of the Historic Auto Race of 1908 passed through downtown Sidney Monday. There were six cars competing - many of which were very historic and made before World War I. “It is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Great Race and takes the same route from New York City to San Francisco, Calif.,” said Luke Rizzuto, one of the organizers and a participant. While some of the cars are quite old, the only requirement is that the cars be pre-1970 and must be traditionally powered. Sorry, no alternative fuel vehicles allowed. Rizzuto was driving his classic and very rare 1918 Chevrolet Model D touring car, powered by one of the first Chevrolet V-8 engines ever built. His car came from the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, Mich. Other cars competing in the event included a 1930 Chevrolet Speedster, a 1930 Chrysler roadster and a 1940 Cadillac series 75 four door sedan - powered by a Cadillac V-8 engine. The Cadillac had mechanical problems also and bought parts at the NAPA store on Illinois Street where it acquired new spark plugs and some new headlights. The Cadillac is owned by Brian Perry and his traveling mechanic was Duane Sorenson of California. “We have no heater and lost the hood when it was on a trailer,” said Perry. Anther car entered was a recreation of the New York to Paris 1916 Thomas Flyer, made out of an American La France Fire Truck. Another entry was a hot rod built on a 1950 Peterbilt truck base, which looks nothing like a Peterbilt. Also competing is a 1967 Volkswagen Bug. The cars left New York City at Times Square on Oct. 18 and their destination is the Ferry Building in San Francisco where they hope to arrive Nov. 8. Rizzuto is a long-time fan of vintage cars and the original New York to Paris Great Race. Riding with Rizzuto is Jeff Mahl, great-grandson of George Schuster, the winner of the original 1908 race, according to their Web site. Mahl is the event’s national publicity ambassador spreading the word to auto enthusiasts world wide. The caravan will not travel on the Interstate but instead uses the same path the original race used, including along Highway 30 as it passes through Sidney and Potter. Rizzuto led the race with his 1918 Chevrolet touring car in the lead. One of the problems in such an event is that classic cars have mechanical troubles, almost daily. Some are repaired on the spot while the others must wait to be loaded on a trailer and taken to the next spot where they are repaired. The famous replica Thomas Flyer had mechanical troubles in Sidney with a fuel pump that didn’t want to work. It was repaired on the spot, just like in the original race. The event is open to anyone who wants to join, according to their Web site. The event is not a timed event and it is free. Entrants can join the group at any time and the caravan averages 200 miles a day. All this was visible in lovely Sidney Monday afternoon and the old cars were a sight to see.