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The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America
From Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Eric Moskowitz comes the riveting story of the first true coast-to-coast automobile race in U.S. history, a fast-paced tale of the gritty and determined drivers who braved hostile terrain, mechanical failure, and, shockingly, sabotage, to take home the gold.
In 1909, America was home to 253 automakers, a landscape of visionaries, schemers, and would-be barons of the new century. But when playboy millionaire M. Robert Guggenheim announced an audacious “Ocean to Ocean” contest from New York City to the Seattle World’s Fair, only three companies were brassy enough to show up at the starting Acme, Ford, and Shawmut.
Oddsmakers favored the Acme and Itala, a pricy import also joining the race, while dismissing the pint-sized Ford — a homely little number called the Model T— and the long-shot Shawmut, struggling to survive after a factory fire. In fact, many didn’t believe any of the cars would reach Seattle at all, as they would need to forge a 4,106-mile course of mountain ranges, mud bogs, washed-out wagon bridges, and harrowing canyon trails, long before the era of asphalt highways, seatbelts, and service stations.
But Henry Ford was intent on proving that the Model T could go the distance and beat out the muscular luxury cars---and he didn’t plan to leave it to chance. Indeed, a little over three weeks after the race began, a Ford crossed the line hours ahead of the Shawmut.
Except that victory was a fraud.
The Hardest, Longest Race is a colorful tale of ambition and subterfuge, but it is also a love letter to America at the turn of the Twentieth Century. As a seeming people’s champion—a car for the masses—traverses the vast nation, Moskowitz brings to vivid life the diverse populace and landscape that it would soon transform.
In 1909, America was home to 253 automakers, a landscape of visionaries, schemers, and would-be barons of the new century. But when playboy millionaire M. Robert Guggenheim announced an audacious “Ocean to Ocean” contest from New York City to the Seattle World’s Fair, only three companies were brassy enough to show up at the starting Acme, Ford, and Shawmut.
Oddsmakers favored the Acme and Itala, a pricy import also joining the race, while dismissing the pint-sized Ford — a homely little number called the Model T— and the long-shot Shawmut, struggling to survive after a factory fire. In fact, many didn’t believe any of the cars would reach Seattle at all, as they would need to forge a 4,106-mile course of mountain ranges, mud bogs, washed-out wagon bridges, and harrowing canyon trails, long before the era of asphalt highways, seatbelts, and service stations.
But Henry Ford was intent on proving that the Model T could go the distance and beat out the muscular luxury cars---and he didn’t plan to leave it to chance. Indeed, a little over three weeks after the race began, a Ford crossed the line hours ahead of the Shawmut.
Except that victory was a fraud.
The Hardest, Longest Race is a colorful tale of ambition and subterfuge, but it is also a love letter to America at the turn of the Twentieth Century. As a seeming people’s champion—a car for the masses—traverses the vast nation, Moskowitz brings to vivid life the diverse populace and landscape that it would soon transform.
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First published June 2, 2026
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July 18, 2026Review coming
July 5, 2026
I'm a Lincoln gal and really enjoyed this literal road-trip through time to ride along as the Ford Model T made history. Today, we think electric cars and self-driving autos are wild and cutting edge, but when you think about the earliest vehicles and what they were up against with innovation, emerging technology, and rudimentary (or even absent) infrastructure, you really get how visionary and disruptive they were to life as America knew it. This story was both well-researched and also highly entertaining as the competitors machinated and manipulated in a race cross-country. 1909 American geography and roadways serve as their own characters in a story that takes us down a very rutted memory lane of th epast.
I also took a listen to the audiobook and found the narrator to have a colorful voice that channeled some accents and linguistics of the time to add interest to the performance narration. An enjoyable listening experience!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
I also took a listen to the audiobook and found the narrator to have a colorful voice that channeled some accents and linguistics of the time to add interest to the performance narration. An enjoyable listening experience!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Want to Read
May 23, 2026WSJ gave this one a good review:
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/book...
(Paywalled. As always, I'm happy to email a copy to non-subscribers)
Excerpt:
"Of the three leading cars, two were Model Ts entered by the Ford Motor Co., the other a Shawmut manufactured in Boston. Henry Ford’s minions left nothing to chance, cheating in ways large and small and leaving the winner in dispute.
Yet the Ocean to Ocean Race was something special: It pitted speed versus endurance in an age when roads—west of St. Louis, anyway—were often little more than wagon trails and the surface, after a good rain, turned to mud. ....
Eric Moskowitz tells this story in “The Hardest, Longest Race” with brisk prose that keeps our interest for the 4,106 miles to Seattle, where the World’s Fair was attracting crowds and where the race finished 22 days after President William Howard Taft pushed the start button."
To be published in early June 2026
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/book...
(Paywalled. As always, I'm happy to email a copy to non-subscribers)
Excerpt:
"Of the three leading cars, two were Model Ts entered by the Ford Motor Co., the other a Shawmut manufactured in Boston. Henry Ford’s minions left nothing to chance, cheating in ways large and small and leaving the winner in dispute.
Yet the Ocean to Ocean Race was something special: It pitted speed versus endurance in an age when roads—west of St. Louis, anyway—were often little more than wagon trails and the surface, after a good rain, turned to mud. ....
Eric Moskowitz tells this story in “The Hardest, Longest Race” with brisk prose that keeps our interest for the 4,106 miles to Seattle, where the World’s Fair was attracting crowds and where the race finished 22 days after President William Howard Taft pushed the start button."
To be published in early June 2026
June 13, 2026
I picked up The Hardest, Longest Race because I try to read at least one nonfiction book every month, and while I usually gravitate toward memoirs, this seemed like a good opportunity to branch out. What I didn’t expect was how emotionally invested I would become in a story about a 1909 automobile race.
While the race itself is fascinating, this book is really about much more than cars. It’s a look at America at the turn of the twentieth century and the people, companies, and innovations that helped shape it. I loved all of the historical details woven throughout the story, from the early days of AAA and road travel to Firestone tires, the Blue Book, and the attitudes toward women drivers at the time.
I was especially interested in the story of the Shawmut Motor Company. As someone originally from the Boston area with a father and grandfather who both loved cars, that piece of the story gave me an unexpected personal connection.
What surprised me most, though, was how strongly I reacted to Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company. Going into this book, I viewed Ford primarily as an automotive pioneer. Coming out of it, I found myself with a deep distaste for many of the tactics used to secure victory in the race and for some of Ford’s actions in the years that followed. The story left me with a much more complicated view of a man whose legacy is often celebrated without much discussion of the darker parts.
At times the book felt a little repetitive, but overall I found it incredibly engaging. If you enjoy narrative nonfiction like The Devil in the White City or The Boys in the Boat, I think you’ll find a lot to like here. And if you have a car enthusiast or American history buff in your life, this would make a fantastic recommendation.
While the race itself is fascinating, this book is really about much more than cars. It’s a look at America at the turn of the twentieth century and the people, companies, and innovations that helped shape it. I loved all of the historical details woven throughout the story, from the early days of AAA and road travel to Firestone tires, the Blue Book, and the attitudes toward women drivers at the time.
I was especially interested in the story of the Shawmut Motor Company. As someone originally from the Boston area with a father and grandfather who both loved cars, that piece of the story gave me an unexpected personal connection.
What surprised me most, though, was how strongly I reacted to Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company. Going into this book, I viewed Ford primarily as an automotive pioneer. Coming out of it, I found myself with a deep distaste for many of the tactics used to secure victory in the race and for some of Ford’s actions in the years that followed. The story left me with a much more complicated view of a man whose legacy is often celebrated without much discussion of the darker parts.
At times the book felt a little repetitive, but overall I found it incredibly engaging. If you enjoy narrative nonfiction like The Devil in the White City or The Boys in the Boat, I think you’ll find a lot to like here. And if you have a car enthusiast or American history buff in your life, this would make a fantastic recommendation.
December 25, 2025
Eric Moscowitz has crafted a well-researched account of a groundbreaking cross-country car race in “The Longest, Hardest Race.” He crafts an engaging narrative and one can’t help but admire these drivers. There were a couple of gaps in the narrative from my perspective that still have me scratching my head but don’t let that put you off. Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the opportunity to preview this book.
June 6, 2026
Wow this was such a good one!
For as long as I can remember, my family has always been a “Ford” family. My grandpa, my mom’s dad, actually worked at Ford as their export parts manager, eventually retiring from there.
Reading what this race was like, almost seems untouchable & unfathomable. I’ve never known a life without cars, but clearly there was a time. The author goes into great detail about not just these cars that competed in the Ocean-to-Ocean Automobile Endurance Competition, but the individuals that were involved as well.
It was an over 4,000 mile race that went all the way from New York 🗽 to Seattle. 🐟
My fav quotes from the book!:
“In another thirty-one years, the largest floating bridge in the world would shoot motorists directly across Lake Washington to Seattle, but in 1909 you needed to drive down and around the lake or take a ferry.”
“Henry Ford called the race "one of the greatest boons to the cause of motoring and good roads in the history of the automobile." He lamented that AAA and the manufacturers' alliance had fought so hard against the contest, shrinking the field. But whether it was five cars or fifty, he'd always known a Model T would break the tape.
"The result of the race," Ford said, "is just what I
predicted."”
“The Model T changed everything, ushering the automobile from its uncertain adolescence into an essential feature of American life and an indelible shaper of the landscape, for good and for ill. The ten millionth Model T rolled off the assembly line on June 4, 1924-fifteen years and three days after the start of the Ocean-to-Ocean Race-with a celebratory paint job.”
“(In bringing the farmer to the city and enabling the city dweller to enjoy country nature, the automobile produced another change. The two migrations somehow met head on to create that miracle of modern living-the suburb.)”
What a cool way to look at history through a different lens 🔎👓🚙🛻
For as long as I can remember, my family has always been a “Ford” family. My grandpa, my mom’s dad, actually worked at Ford as their export parts manager, eventually retiring from there.
Reading what this race was like, almost seems untouchable & unfathomable. I’ve never known a life without cars, but clearly there was a time. The author goes into great detail about not just these cars that competed in the Ocean-to-Ocean Automobile Endurance Competition, but the individuals that were involved as well.
It was an over 4,000 mile race that went all the way from New York 🗽 to Seattle. 🐟
My fav quotes from the book!:
“In another thirty-one years, the largest floating bridge in the world would shoot motorists directly across Lake Washington to Seattle, but in 1909 you needed to drive down and around the lake or take a ferry.”
“Henry Ford called the race "one of the greatest boons to the cause of motoring and good roads in the history of the automobile." He lamented that AAA and the manufacturers' alliance had fought so hard against the contest, shrinking the field. But whether it was five cars or fifty, he'd always known a Model T would break the tape.
"The result of the race," Ford said, "is just what I
predicted."”
“The Model T changed everything, ushering the automobile from its uncertain adolescence into an essential feature of American life and an indelible shaper of the landscape, for good and for ill. The ten millionth Model T rolled off the assembly line on June 4, 1924-fifteen years and three days after the start of the Ocean-to-Ocean Race-with a celebratory paint job.”
“(In bringing the farmer to the city and enabling the city dweller to enjoy country nature, the automobile produced another change. The two migrations somehow met head on to create that miracle of modern living-the suburb.)”
What a cool way to look at history through a different lens 🔎👓🚙🛻
June 2, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martins Press for the ARC.
The Hardest, Longest Race details a car race from NYC to Seattle in 1909. The book mainly follows three cars, two Model T by the Ford Motor Company and the Shawmut out of Boston.
I am not a car person, but I really enjoyed this book. It’s hard to imagine a world where highways and paved roads didn’t exist, never mind the primitive nature of the cars in this book. I found the pacing of the book good and the story was very readable. I also appreciated that the author not only tied up all loose ends, but included a brief synopsis of what happened to each of the main characters.
I would highly recommend this book. You do not need to be a car enthusiast to enjoy the story, but it is interesting to see how this race helped propelled the ford to the household name that it is total.
The Hardest, Longest Race details a car race from NYC to Seattle in 1909. The book mainly follows three cars, two Model T by the Ford Motor Company and the Shawmut out of Boston.
I am not a car person, but I really enjoyed this book. It’s hard to imagine a world where highways and paved roads didn’t exist, never mind the primitive nature of the cars in this book. I found the pacing of the book good and the story was very readable. I also appreciated that the author not only tied up all loose ends, but included a brief synopsis of what happened to each of the main characters.
I would highly recommend this book. You do not need to be a car enthusiast to enjoy the story, but it is interesting to see how this race helped propelled the ford to the household name that it is total.
July 15, 2026
Full 5 stars for Eric Moskowitz's The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America. This was a very fun, and even intense read at times, as, I found myself cheering on the underdog, Shawmut, rather than Ford's Model Ts, which were the numbers 1 and 2 "stars" of this book. When I first saw the title, I thought, oh this will be a really cool read and I'll get to learn about Henry Ford, considered an automotive pioneer. To my great surprise, Moskowitz's novel is far more than that.
This review is coming a bit late after the release date; however, before I go further, I would like to thank St Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Eric Moskowitz, the author, for providing this advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's obvious from the start that Moskowitz spent a great deal of time researching material. And given that at the time the cross-country race took place in 1909, there was no internet, the author (as he confirms at the end in his "notes" section) spent considerable time going through microfilm and digitized records and visiting archives. The result was a detailed narrative that tells the story of the first endurance/automotive race from coast to coast--New York City to Seattle, Washington during the early years of automobiles.
Although the main story is about a race, The Hardest, Longest Race also details the extreme conditions and what appeared at times to be almost insurmountable hardships and adversities faced at a time before there were interstates and main thoroughfares, and the lack of service stations/garages. And we have this "race" to thank for there being more interest in making, especially, the western part of the country more accessible. Additionally, Mosckowitz provided some insight into life in America in the first decade of the 20th century. It wasn't always easy for the racers as they passed through the various communities.
Starting the book was a little difficult to follow, especially in an e-book format, and having a hard copy print would have been nice to quickly page back and forth with all the various cast of characters, as well as setting up the context and provide adequate background. But once the race was started, and the drivers were well on their way, The Hardest, Longest Race, flowed better and often, I found myself wanting to keep going, just to see who would make it first to the next checkpoint.
Because there was so much additional information and stories to tell, that is mostly why it took me so long to finish this book. It definitely was a slower read for me than many other non-fiction titles I enjoy reading. Despite that, the author, in my opinion, wove very interesting anecdotes throughout, to provide his readers with more than just a car race, but the importance that this cross-country drive had on the various other people involved--the guides, mechanics/technicians, dealerships, the early days of the AAA, the Blue Book, Firestone tires, and other everyday Americans. It was obvious to me, at least, that this book was a labor of love and that Mosckovitz was passionate about telling more than just a 4,000-mile cross-country racing/endurance story.
I don't want to spoil things so won't give out many details. However, I do want to say that going into this story, I thought this would mostly be about Henry Ford and how he really launched his automotive legacy. I was very surprised at the tactics that Ford would take to win this race--along with M. Robert Guggenheim, who sponsored this race. I definitely have a much different view of Henry Ford, and unfortunately, that side has mostly been hidden in history, and instead is celebrated. I also wonder if things had gone differently for Shawmut (from Boston), if that would be a commonly known household name, as Ford is.
I highly recommend The Hardest, Longest Race to, of course, auto enthusiasts, competitions, any one with an interest in the early days of this country as it entered the 20th century and began to embrace new technologies, the Western US, and a little known part of America's history, this is definitely worth the time to read. Oh, and I was able to listen to a bit of the audiobook version as I was finishing the book, and so for those who prefer to listen, this is also a wonderful listen. However, make sure to read the last few chapters, especially, if you enjoy reading through all the credits (it was pretty impressive!).
This review is coming a bit late after the release date; however, before I go further, I would like to thank St Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Eric Moskowitz, the author, for providing this advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's obvious from the start that Moskowitz spent a great deal of time researching material. And given that at the time the cross-country race took place in 1909, there was no internet, the author (as he confirms at the end in his "notes" section) spent considerable time going through microfilm and digitized records and visiting archives. The result was a detailed narrative that tells the story of the first endurance/automotive race from coast to coast--New York City to Seattle, Washington during the early years of automobiles.
Although the main story is about a race, The Hardest, Longest Race also details the extreme conditions and what appeared at times to be almost insurmountable hardships and adversities faced at a time before there were interstates and main thoroughfares, and the lack of service stations/garages. And we have this "race" to thank for there being more interest in making, especially, the western part of the country more accessible. Additionally, Mosckowitz provided some insight into life in America in the first decade of the 20th century. It wasn't always easy for the racers as they passed through the various communities.
Starting the book was a little difficult to follow, especially in an e-book format, and having a hard copy print would have been nice to quickly page back and forth with all the various cast of characters, as well as setting up the context and provide adequate background. But once the race was started, and the drivers were well on their way, The Hardest, Longest Race, flowed better and often, I found myself wanting to keep going, just to see who would make it first to the next checkpoint.
Because there was so much additional information and stories to tell, that is mostly why it took me so long to finish this book. It definitely was a slower read for me than many other non-fiction titles I enjoy reading. Despite that, the author, in my opinion, wove very interesting anecdotes throughout, to provide his readers with more than just a car race, but the importance that this cross-country drive had on the various other people involved--the guides, mechanics/technicians, dealerships, the early days of the AAA, the Blue Book, Firestone tires, and other everyday Americans. It was obvious to me, at least, that this book was a labor of love and that Mosckovitz was passionate about telling more than just a 4,000-mile cross-country racing/endurance story.
I don't want to spoil things so won't give out many details. However, I do want to say that going into this story, I thought this would mostly be about Henry Ford and how he really launched his automotive legacy. I was very surprised at the tactics that Ford would take to win this race--along with M. Robert Guggenheim, who sponsored this race. I definitely have a much different view of Henry Ford, and unfortunately, that side has mostly been hidden in history, and instead is celebrated. I also wonder if things had gone differently for Shawmut (from Boston), if that would be a commonly known household name, as Ford is.
I highly recommend The Hardest, Longest Race to, of course, auto enthusiasts, competitions, any one with an interest in the early days of this country as it entered the 20th century and began to embrace new technologies, the Western US, and a little known part of America's history, this is definitely worth the time to read. Oh, and I was able to listen to a bit of the audiobook version as I was finishing the book, and so for those who prefer to listen, this is also a wonderful listen. However, make sure to read the last few chapters, especially, if you enjoy reading through all the credits (it was pretty impressive!).
May 19, 2026
I’m not necessarily a car guy, but I do like a fun historical story and this definitely fit that bill. It was an entertaining story, I enjoyed reading how difficult it was to traverse the country at the time, and how Ford (obviously) cheated. I also liked reading about the fallout and how the landscape of the automobile industry at the turn of the century.
But I do think it got to be a bit repetitive that so much was just talking about how cars would get stuck and how they’d be fixed. And the beginning was a bit confusing, but eventually it became easier to keep track of everything. Well researched and definitely worth reading if you’re into cars, 3.5 stars.
But I do think it got to be a bit repetitive that so much was just talking about how cars would get stuck and how they’d be fixed. And the beginning was a bit confusing, but eventually it became easier to keep track of everything. Well researched and definitely worth reading if you’re into cars, 3.5 stars.
July 4, 2026
This Non-Fiction gives a thorough and detailed history of the first Ocean to Ocean motor race in June 1909. Starting in New York City, New York, racers drove 4106 miles to the World's Fair in Seattle, Washington.
As I'm not into automotive history, the most interesting part of the book involved the race itself and the wild antics of the Ford team's inventive ways to repeately cheat! It was interesting to learn about the people and places involved in the teams.
What I was hoping for were photos - I'd love to have seen newspaper clippings and photos of the trip. Alas, those were not included.
As I'm not into automotive history, the most interesting part of the book involved the race itself and the wild antics of the Ford team's inventive ways to repeately cheat! It was interesting to learn about the people and places involved in the teams.
What I was hoping for were photos - I'd love to have seen newspaper clippings and photos of the trip. Alas, those were not included.
July 20, 2026
a real life account of early American racing
Well written, balanced, exciting, richly detailed account of the race across America when there was no roads.. The fact that Ford won at any cost is actually fascinating. Anyone who loves stories of the beginnings of America’s love affair with the automobile will love this book
Well written, balanced, exciting, richly detailed account of the race across America when there was no roads.. The fact that Ford won at any cost is actually fascinating. Anyone who loves stories of the beginnings of America’s love affair with the automobile will love this book
July 16, 2026
This was a really interesting read and a unique way to experience history. While it's centered around the 1909 Ocean-to-Ocean automobile race, it's really about so much more than just cars. The author does a great job weaving together the race itself with the history of early automobiles, the push for better roads, and the people and companies that helped shape America. I knew very little about this event going in, but I found myself completely invested. It's hard to imagine driving over 4,000 miles across the country when roads were often little more than muddy trails, and the book really gives you an appreciation for how groundbreaking this race was. I also appreciated that it presented Henry Ford as a complicated historical figure rather than simply celebrating his accomplishments. He was definitely the type to do whatever it took to come out on top.
The only thing I felt was missing was some visual content. I would have loved to see photographs, maps, or newspaper clippings from the race to help bring everything to life. There were also a few sections that felt a bit repetitive, but overall I found it to be an engaging and well-researched piece of narrative nonfiction. If you enjoy American history or stories about innovation and perseverance, this is definitely one worth picking up.
4 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are 100% my own.
The only thing I felt was missing was some visual content. I would have loved to see photographs, maps, or newspaper clippings from the race to help bring everything to life. There were also a few sections that felt a bit repetitive, but overall I found it to be an engaging and well-researched piece of narrative nonfiction. If you enjoy American history or stories about innovation and perseverance, this is definitely one worth picking up.
4 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are 100% my own.
July 25, 2026
Incredibly well researched and written.
August 4, 2026
Great colorful storytelling for a fun read. Good history, but intended for all of us.
August 5, 2026
For car lovers
Captures the unique American spirit at the start of the 20th century. Well researched; you can almost feel the grit on your teeth.
Captures the unique American spirit at the start of the 20th century. Well researched; you can almost feel the grit on your teeth.
July 30, 2026
Gives you a sense on how manufacturing and the automotive industry expanded out today, all because of a simple coast to coast race. Very imformative and a great read.
June 27, 2026
Excellent book of a forgotten but seminal time in automotive history
An amazingly researched, detailed account of the historic 1909 Ocean to Ocean Car Contest. Eric Moskowitz did a fantastic job of describing the brutal race which came down to the Ford Model-T's and the Shawmut - and what Henry Ford and his minions diabolically did to win the race "at all costs." Highly recommend.
An amazingly researched, detailed account of the historic 1909 Ocean to Ocean Car Contest. Eric Moskowitz did a fantastic job of describing the brutal race which came down to the Ford Model-T's and the Shawmut - and what Henry Ford and his minions diabolically did to win the race "at all costs." Highly recommend.
Want to Read
February 19, 2026This is a very interesting book. Since I live in Michigan Henry Ford is a figure that I definitely have heard about. It's interesting to see the lengths he went to in order to put his company in the number one spot in the nation even if some were underhanded This book will appeal to someone who is interested in history and in cars
June 13, 2026
4.5. The great American Road Trip- 1909 style! Car makers send their cars across the country from NY to WA to prove which is the best car.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this book that looks at the the first race by automobile across the upper part of the United States, a tale of speed, endurance, bravery, trickery, and the start of car culture in the United States, something that we as a country are still dealing with.
My father used to take us to the Library every Friday without fail loading us in the car at 7 pm, as they were open till nine, and allow us to take out anything we wanted. We could even read in the back seats by first flashlight, and when the came out book lights. Without fail my father would always get car magazines. Road & Track, Car and Driver, Automobile, and even Hot Rod, though I don't remember that much. My Dad loved cars. He raced them in street races, across bridges in the Bronx, something that I guess was a thing. He figured out that he might not have a fast car going forward, but in reverse, well he was King. My Mom still shakes her head about my Dad and cars. Automobiles have been a big thing in the American mind and myth. Politics might divide us, but a Hemi motor and a classic GTO can bring people together. Reading this book, I know my father would have gotten a huge kick out of this. Especially since this is probably the event that made cars something that most Americans never thought they needed, until they saw and heard them pass by. The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America by Eric Moskowitz is the story of the first car competition to cross the continent, one that started the ideas of the common man and horseless wagons, an event full of derring-do, endurance driving and of course a little bit of American cheating.
In 1909 automobiles were the toys of the rich, and there were almost as many car makers as there were cars passing on the streets of big cities. An idea was started by a rich layabout who loved speed, cars and spending money, to sponser a race across the United States, from Manhattan to Seattle, Washington. The coverage would put cars and motoring into the minds of Americans, and maybe get more people interested in motoring. For one company, Ford Motor Company this could put them on the map, and an aggressive plan was made to use dealerships and other connections to help ease the way. For another the Shawmut, this could be a lifesaver, after a string of disasters had stopped the company before it could even take off. The race Ocean to Ocean, across states with 5 mph hour limits, non-existent roads, miles from repairs, and in open cars facing weather, cold and bugs. Many were thought to enter, but the race soon came down to these two cars, one the little engine that could, and one the feisty little motor company, that would do anything, stretch every law and rule to win.
This book was far more than expected it to be. Moskowitz is a very good author, able to keep a really strong narrative with lots of suspense, spills, accidents and car problems, and tell a story about cars, America, and the coming changes that the nation would soon be facing. There is so much history, stories about car culture, and about the small towns they passed through. Moskowitz has done an incredible amount of research, able to tell about the lives of ferrymen, car dealers, spectators, drivers and people rich and poor. Fascinating bits about the cars, the fact the Shawmut still had the same air in the front left tire at the end of the race as it had from the beginning. And about being in an open car on rutted routes, with a face full of bugs. A really epic tale.
For history fans and for car people. The amount of car makers, the fact that they were makeing cars that could travel so fast, and with so much better milage. The tricks that Ford used, really a wonderful book. A book that would be perfect for Father's Day, even a late Mother's Day, for it really is that well written, and enjoyable. This is my first book by Eric Moskowitz, I really look forward to more by him.
My father used to take us to the Library every Friday without fail loading us in the car at 7 pm, as they were open till nine, and allow us to take out anything we wanted. We could even read in the back seats by first flashlight, and when the came out book lights. Without fail my father would always get car magazines. Road & Track, Car and Driver, Automobile, and even Hot Rod, though I don't remember that much. My Dad loved cars. He raced them in street races, across bridges in the Bronx, something that I guess was a thing. He figured out that he might not have a fast car going forward, but in reverse, well he was King. My Mom still shakes her head about my Dad and cars. Automobiles have been a big thing in the American mind and myth. Politics might divide us, but a Hemi motor and a classic GTO can bring people together. Reading this book, I know my father would have gotten a huge kick out of this. Especially since this is probably the event that made cars something that most Americans never thought they needed, until they saw and heard them pass by. The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America by Eric Moskowitz is the story of the first car competition to cross the continent, one that started the ideas of the common man and horseless wagons, an event full of derring-do, endurance driving and of course a little bit of American cheating.
In 1909 automobiles were the toys of the rich, and there were almost as many car makers as there were cars passing on the streets of big cities. An idea was started by a rich layabout who loved speed, cars and spending money, to sponser a race across the United States, from Manhattan to Seattle, Washington. The coverage would put cars and motoring into the minds of Americans, and maybe get more people interested in motoring. For one company, Ford Motor Company this could put them on the map, and an aggressive plan was made to use dealerships and other connections to help ease the way. For another the Shawmut, this could be a lifesaver, after a string of disasters had stopped the company before it could even take off. The race Ocean to Ocean, across states with 5 mph hour limits, non-existent roads, miles from repairs, and in open cars facing weather, cold and bugs. Many were thought to enter, but the race soon came down to these two cars, one the little engine that could, and one the feisty little motor company, that would do anything, stretch every law and rule to win.
This book was far more than expected it to be. Moskowitz is a very good author, able to keep a really strong narrative with lots of suspense, spills, accidents and car problems, and tell a story about cars, America, and the coming changes that the nation would soon be facing. There is so much history, stories about car culture, and about the small towns they passed through. Moskowitz has done an incredible amount of research, able to tell about the lives of ferrymen, car dealers, spectators, drivers and people rich and poor. Fascinating bits about the cars, the fact the Shawmut still had the same air in the front left tire at the end of the race as it had from the beginning. And about being in an open car on rutted routes, with a face full of bugs. A really epic tale.
For history fans and for car people. The amount of car makers, the fact that they were makeing cars that could travel so fast, and with so much better milage. The tricks that Ford used, really a wonderful book. A book that would be perfect for Father's Day, even a late Mother's Day, for it really is that well written, and enjoyable. This is my first book by Eric Moskowitz, I really look forward to more by him.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Before Route 66, there was gravel, dirt, mud and the early pioneers of cross country travel, racing from New York City to Seattle. And what a race it was.
In 1909 five cars set off on a journey across America that was nothing like the advertised vacation decades later on the country’s most iconic roadway. The drivers of cars from the now entrenched Ford Motor Company, Shawmut, Acme, and European Itala faced breakdowns, bad weather, bad ‘road’ conditions and more than a little subterfuge to demonstrate the future of motor vehicles.
The book is told primarily through the perspectives of various Ford employees and branch managers and a driver of the Shawmut car, showcasing the differences between a growing, multinational company and a small startup in the Northeast trying to beat the odds.
Eric Moskowitz’s book contains a breathtaking amount of detail for an event that happened over a century ago, showing a dedication to research that immerses the reader so wholly they feel a part of the journey. As a Kansan, it was just as easy to imagine the mud the cars were getting stuck in driving across my state in the unending rain from my days playing in it voluntarily as a child to being incredibly thankful for the paved roads and the introduction of the interstate system (by a Kansan briefly mentioned) that exist now.
The ocean-to-ocean race in this book was something I knew nothing about, and I love reading about little known historical events, especially when they’re written in an engaging way. Not only does Moskowitz do this, he’s picked an event that provides a unique look at a time that bridges the gap of the last days of the Wild West and white expansionism with the technological advances already well into existence when the next notable historical period beginning with World War I arrives.
The book also succeeds in appealing to a broad audience for having a ‘storyline’ that builds in excitement over the course of the book, and a villain or two willing to do whatever it would take to come out victorious. As the book went on I found my pace ratcheting up as the race drew to its conclusion.
In addition to introducing a new perspective on the transition from a rural to industrial age rarely seen when history books are focused in a single location or part of the country, Moskowitz presents some other storylines that are food for thought. One of course being, how much of what members of The Ford Motor Company did to win was fair or foul play. Some of it unquestionably falls into the latter category, but the fact that drivers could receive parts, repair, and assistance at Ford dealerships across the country also seems a very valid selling point that when you bought a Model T, you were getting more than the car itself.
The other idea for thought and unpacking is how history (and advertising) is told by the people that have the narrative and the resources to tell it, something that has helped sustain Ford as a company for over a century after the conclusion of this race.
I am not a car person, and I won’t claim to understand the technical details that Moskowitz keeps to a minimum to focus on the broader picture. But even without having auto appreciation, I fell in love with this engaging story in history of the open road, adventure, competition and the almost literal paving the way to travel as we know it today. Read this book!
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In 1909 five cars set off on a journey across America that was nothing like the advertised vacation decades later on the country’s most iconic roadway. The drivers of cars from the now entrenched Ford Motor Company, Shawmut, Acme, and European Itala faced breakdowns, bad weather, bad ‘road’ conditions and more than a little subterfuge to demonstrate the future of motor vehicles.
The book is told primarily through the perspectives of various Ford employees and branch managers and a driver of the Shawmut car, showcasing the differences between a growing, multinational company and a small startup in the Northeast trying to beat the odds.
Eric Moskowitz’s book contains a breathtaking amount of detail for an event that happened over a century ago, showing a dedication to research that immerses the reader so wholly they feel a part of the journey. As a Kansan, it was just as easy to imagine the mud the cars were getting stuck in driving across my state in the unending rain from my days playing in it voluntarily as a child to being incredibly thankful for the paved roads and the introduction of the interstate system (by a Kansan briefly mentioned) that exist now.
The ocean-to-ocean race in this book was something I knew nothing about, and I love reading about little known historical events, especially when they’re written in an engaging way. Not only does Moskowitz do this, he’s picked an event that provides a unique look at a time that bridges the gap of the last days of the Wild West and white expansionism with the technological advances already well into existence when the next notable historical period beginning with World War I arrives.
The book also succeeds in appealing to a broad audience for having a ‘storyline’ that builds in excitement over the course of the book, and a villain or two willing to do whatever it would take to come out victorious. As the book went on I found my pace ratcheting up as the race drew to its conclusion.
In addition to introducing a new perspective on the transition from a rural to industrial age rarely seen when history books are focused in a single location or part of the country, Moskowitz presents some other storylines that are food for thought. One of course being, how much of what members of The Ford Motor Company did to win was fair or foul play. Some of it unquestionably falls into the latter category, but the fact that drivers could receive parts, repair, and assistance at Ford dealerships across the country also seems a very valid selling point that when you bought a Model T, you were getting more than the car itself.
The other idea for thought and unpacking is how history (and advertising) is told by the people that have the narrative and the resources to tell it, something that has helped sustain Ford as a company for over a century after the conclusion of this race.
I am not a car person, and I won’t claim to understand the technical details that Moskowitz keeps to a minimum to focus on the broader picture. But even without having auto appreciation, I fell in love with this engaging story in history of the open road, adventure, competition and the almost literal paving the way to travel as we know it today. Read this book!
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When five teams in early model cars (two Fords, a Shawmut, an Acme, and an Itala), lined up in New York City on June 1, 1909, few were considering how the widespread adoption of the automobile would reshape the country in a few short decades. Instead, the grueling 4,000-plus miles to Seattle was at top of mind, to be covered via routes no more than "faint wagon trails" and without accurate or comprehensive maps. Eric Moskowitz’s telling of the Ocean-to-Ocean race chronicles the journey westward via mandatory checkpoints, the five teams facing treacherous river crossings and mountain passes replete with boulders, tree routes, and snow pack. These natural challenges were only magnified by unavoidable mechanical complications and shenanigans by competitors.
Though hard to imagine now, driving cross country in 1909 was an endurance sport that drew intense public interest and media attention. Unenclosed and exposed, the teams donned rainproof suits, goggles, and rubberized blankets, driving through rain, wind, and hail. Dirt roads turned into “gumbo” in Kansas, with one reporter comparing the cars to “a huge hog just out of a mud wallow.” This was no leisurely road trip; pressure mounted to catch up or stay ahead, the “racing devil carts” and their sleep-deprived drivers either tearing past sleepy towns or stopping for expedited repairs and a hero’s welcome.
Moskowitz’s description of the teams’ travails reveals just how radically the American landscape has been transformed to accommodate the car. In 1909, the nation was coming down from a bicycle boom, with prescient individuals converting bicycle shops to auto garages and bicycle racers becoming chauffeurs and car dealers. The advantages of the car compared to horse or train penciled out for specific uses, leading to early adopters in traveling salesmen, doctors, and farmers or ranchers. But infrastructure that is ubiquitous today (paved roads, gas stations, repair shops) was at that time spotty at best, the race serving as a platform for those campaigning for “good roads.”
Moskowitz presents a cast of characters shaping the nascent industry, specifically the not-yet world famous Henry Ford and his network of Ford branch managers. Some of the details became difficult to follow, with a litany of men’s names for each team and geography. It’s possible that the book will have pictures or maps to guide the reader; because this was an advanced e-copy, I found myself mapping out the checkpoint locations and looking up images of early Model Ts on the side. At times the story meandered, with Moskowitz struggling to resist rabbit holes of historical tidbits. But overall the author captures the suspense of the journey, pitting the lightweight Model Ts against their beefier rivals.
From 2026’s vantage, with most of the US completely autocentric and carbon dependent, celebrating the dawn of the auto age is unsettling. But Moskowitz’s telling shows that where we are today was not inevitable. The Ocean-to-Ocean race was an inflection point. In the end, the race outcome was less important than what it meant for the rise of the Model T, a car that became “an essential feature of American life.” Moskowitz takes you along for the ride, letting readers root for their favorite team while fully appreciating the luxury of road signs, headlights, and windshields.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this advanced copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Though hard to imagine now, driving cross country in 1909 was an endurance sport that drew intense public interest and media attention. Unenclosed and exposed, the teams donned rainproof suits, goggles, and rubberized blankets, driving through rain, wind, and hail. Dirt roads turned into “gumbo” in Kansas, with one reporter comparing the cars to “a huge hog just out of a mud wallow.” This was no leisurely road trip; pressure mounted to catch up or stay ahead, the “racing devil carts” and their sleep-deprived drivers either tearing past sleepy towns or stopping for expedited repairs and a hero’s welcome.
Moskowitz’s description of the teams’ travails reveals just how radically the American landscape has been transformed to accommodate the car. In 1909, the nation was coming down from a bicycle boom, with prescient individuals converting bicycle shops to auto garages and bicycle racers becoming chauffeurs and car dealers. The advantages of the car compared to horse or train penciled out for specific uses, leading to early adopters in traveling salesmen, doctors, and farmers or ranchers. But infrastructure that is ubiquitous today (paved roads, gas stations, repair shops) was at that time spotty at best, the race serving as a platform for those campaigning for “good roads.”
Moskowitz presents a cast of characters shaping the nascent industry, specifically the not-yet world famous Henry Ford and his network of Ford branch managers. Some of the details became difficult to follow, with a litany of men’s names for each team and geography. It’s possible that the book will have pictures or maps to guide the reader; because this was an advanced e-copy, I found myself mapping out the checkpoint locations and looking up images of early Model Ts on the side. At times the story meandered, with Moskowitz struggling to resist rabbit holes of historical tidbits. But overall the author captures the suspense of the journey, pitting the lightweight Model Ts against their beefier rivals.
From 2026’s vantage, with most of the US completely autocentric and carbon dependent, celebrating the dawn of the auto age is unsettling. But Moskowitz’s telling shows that where we are today was not inevitable. The Ocean-to-Ocean race was an inflection point. In the end, the race outcome was less important than what it meant for the rise of the Model T, a car that became “an essential feature of American life.” Moskowitz takes you along for the ride, letting readers root for their favorite team while fully appreciating the luxury of road signs, headlights, and windshields.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this advanced copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I expected to enjoy this book, but not as much as I did. This was the fascinating story of Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest that Changed America.. "Officially they dubbed this The International Automobile Endurance Contest for the M. Guggenheim Trophy and a Motor Contest from Ocean to Ocean, rebranding it after the word race had caused convulsions in the auto world, although many still called it the Ocean-to-Ocean Race anyway." And what a race it was! Henry Ford was the driving force behind this race as he wanted to showcase his Model T automobile and he thought this race would prove it to be one of the finest cars on the road (although there weren't a ton of cars on the roads in 1909). The race was rumored to have approximately 75 cars expected in January, but by March only 3 companies showed up: Ford, Acme, and Shawmut. No worries, though - there was plenty of action to keep you interested. This isn't a book with just numbers and facts, dates and stats thrown at you, it gives you story after story about what happened on that long road, not only those of the drivers themselves, but also the people in the towns they passed through, and how they reacted to the race.
To be the first car to cross the finish line, the cars were stripped down as far as possible to lighten their weight, and the poor drivers, with no roof, windshield or windshield wipers to protect themselves, felt every bit of it. When the weather was bad, as it often was, mud was constantly flying up and landing on their goggles, making it extremely hard to see, especially when they drove at night. When I tell you that they were dedicated to coming in first, even when it meant driving on roads that were barely there and giving up sleep when necessary, I mean it. They were all good men, but it was hard not to root for the underdog, the Shawmut. There wasn't a moment in this race that wasn't exciting, in my opinion, because the first three cars, the 2 Ford Model Ts and the Shawmut, were constantly leap frogging between first, second and third places. There were some rules that they had to abide by, such as checking in at pre-determined points throughout the race, and not replacing certain parts on their cars if they broke (those parts were stamped with numbers before they left and these were checked when they got to the finish line, which ended up being a problem for the Model Ts), but other than that they were pretty much on their own. I honestly don't know how they did this, physically and mentally, because they had to deal with just about every type of obstacle you can think of in a cross country race.
All in all, I couldn't stop reading this book because the cars were so close together across the whole of the USA, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I found this story fascinating, and Eric Moskowitz's writing style made the story a very easy and quick read. I highly recommend this book to car lovers, and lovers of history, as well.
5/5 stars.
*** I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Eric Moskowitz for the opportunity to read and review this book.
To be the first car to cross the finish line, the cars were stripped down as far as possible to lighten their weight, and the poor drivers, with no roof, windshield or windshield wipers to protect themselves, felt every bit of it. When the weather was bad, as it often was, mud was constantly flying up and landing on their goggles, making it extremely hard to see, especially when they drove at night. When I tell you that they were dedicated to coming in first, even when it meant driving on roads that were barely there and giving up sleep when necessary, I mean it. They were all good men, but it was hard not to root for the underdog, the Shawmut. There wasn't a moment in this race that wasn't exciting, in my opinion, because the first three cars, the 2 Ford Model Ts and the Shawmut, were constantly leap frogging between first, second and third places. There were some rules that they had to abide by, such as checking in at pre-determined points throughout the race, and not replacing certain parts on their cars if they broke (those parts were stamped with numbers before they left and these were checked when they got to the finish line, which ended up being a problem for the Model Ts), but other than that they were pretty much on their own. I honestly don't know how they did this, physically and mentally, because they had to deal with just about every type of obstacle you can think of in a cross country race.
All in all, I couldn't stop reading this book because the cars were so close together across the whole of the USA, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I found this story fascinating, and Eric Moskowitz's writing style made the story a very easy and quick read. I highly recommend this book to car lovers, and lovers of history, as well.
5/5 stars.
*** I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Eric Moskowitz for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The Hardest, Longest Race : Henry Ford and the Cross Country Contest that Changed America," by Eric Moskowitz, will be published by St. Martin's
Press very shortly. I am privileged to have been granted access to an ARC for the purposes of this review by the publisher, and I am most grateful. The book's subtitle neatly summarizes the main axis of exploration to get into this rather convoluted tale of the early years of the automotive industry and its initial forays into road racing. The race under examination took place in 1909 and was more like a modern rally race than anything on a dedicated track such as most modern readers might have some familiarity with. This complicates matters and the author early on goes to some trouble to spell out the technical challenges and obstacles confronting earlier attempts to approach this kind of motoring event prior to the digitization of far flung sources thereby paving the way to a far more piercing exploration of the subject matter. The race in question was from New York City to Seattle, Washington over public "roads" such as they were in 1909, The participants were competing for the Guggenheim Trophy, all concerned saw this as a way to promote the growth of the auto industry. Particularly notable in this regard is the critical role of Henry Ford who, alone, fielded a "team" of two stripped down Model T's or derivatives thereof. While promoters initially hoped for a large field of competitors drawn principally from America's rapidly expanding auto industry, the actual race fell far short of their hopes in this respect because of widespread and shrill concerns about a potential bloodbath on public roads! In the end, it turned into a competition between three cars, the two Fords, and something called a Shawmut. Without giving it all away, I will say that the drama here and much of the text's importance is related to the way in which the author sees Henry Ford's vision of marketing through racing and the enormous obstacles to any kind of race of this type (even today) and the logistical consequences of having an embryonic but widespread dealer network available to support your own team. The hardships endured and the insights they provide into the nascent American auto industry and, most importantly Henry Ford's influence on the industry and its marketing development are quite startling since we seldom see this side of Ford's complex character so well developed. Just think of a road race run largely in the absence of seriously developed roads and relying for navigation on local guides to get from one checkpoint to another in the almost total absence of accurate and detailed maps. You can well imagine the ensuing mayhem, and it makes for quite a tale full of adventure and insights not simply into the auto industry but into our nation itself and the ways that automobiles would come to change everything. Recommended for all collections.
Press very shortly. I am privileged to have been granted access to an ARC for the purposes of this review by the publisher, and I am most grateful. The book's subtitle neatly summarizes the main axis of exploration to get into this rather convoluted tale of the early years of the automotive industry and its initial forays into road racing. The race under examination took place in 1909 and was more like a modern rally race than anything on a dedicated track such as most modern readers might have some familiarity with. This complicates matters and the author early on goes to some trouble to spell out the technical challenges and obstacles confronting earlier attempts to approach this kind of motoring event prior to the digitization of far flung sources thereby paving the way to a far more piercing exploration of the subject matter. The race in question was from New York City to Seattle, Washington over public "roads" such as they were in 1909, The participants were competing for the Guggenheim Trophy, all concerned saw this as a way to promote the growth of the auto industry. Particularly notable in this regard is the critical role of Henry Ford who, alone, fielded a "team" of two stripped down Model T's or derivatives thereof. While promoters initially hoped for a large field of competitors drawn principally from America's rapidly expanding auto industry, the actual race fell far short of their hopes in this respect because of widespread and shrill concerns about a potential bloodbath on public roads! In the end, it turned into a competition between three cars, the two Fords, and something called a Shawmut. Without giving it all away, I will say that the drama here and much of the text's importance is related to the way in which the author sees Henry Ford's vision of marketing through racing and the enormous obstacles to any kind of race of this type (even today) and the logistical consequences of having an embryonic but widespread dealer network available to support your own team. The hardships endured and the insights they provide into the nascent American auto industry and, most importantly Henry Ford's influence on the industry and its marketing development are quite startling since we seldom see this side of Ford's complex character so well developed. Just think of a road race run largely in the absence of seriously developed roads and relying for navigation on local guides to get from one checkpoint to another in the almost total absence of accurate and detailed maps. You can well imagine the ensuing mayhem, and it makes for quite a tale full of adventure and insights not simply into the auto industry but into our nation itself and the ways that automobiles would come to change everything. Recommended for all collections.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
No one alive remembers a time when motor vehicles weren’t an essential part of our lives, yet little more than a century ago they were largely considered more a novelty for the rich than a reliable means of transportation for the masses. Roads were either non-existent or made for horses or wagons. The Ford Motor Company was just one of many companies struggling to make a name for itself in the new market and newspaper reporters were as likely to mistakenly refer to its founder as Jack Ford, or J.K. Ford, as to get his name correctly.
All that changed in 1909 when Robert Guggenheim and the Automobile Club of America sponsored an ocean-to-ocean auto race to draw attention to the Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exhibition currently being held that summer in Seattle. Although fewer than half a dozen cars participated in the race, it had an impact on American life that we can still see today. Henry Ford, ever the astute businessman, saw the race as an opportunity to showcase his new Model T roadsters, and entered two of them into the race, convinced that the spectacle was the perfect way to convince Americans that the Model T was something they needed and that they could afford.
The stripped-down Ford cars were smaller and lighter than the other competitors and many considered them unlikely to survive the rigors of the rocky roads that existed at the time. But Ford, seeing the race as an opportunity to sell America on his light-weight, affordable cars, pulled out all the stops. Capitalizing on his nationwide network of Ford Company agents, a robust advertising campaign, and a willingness to occasionally ignore or break the rules, he set out to prove to the world once and for all that his automobiles were the best.
Thanks to diligent research by Eric Moskowitz, readers can follow along teams of drivers battled breakdowns, crashes, mud in Kansas and snow drifts in Washington to drive their cars across the country from New York City to Seattle. In the process, they left behind them a nation changed forever. The exponential auto sales that followed the race spurred the construction of roads, created new industries and suburban communities, innovations made possible due to the increased mobility offered by automobiles.
*The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
All that changed in 1909 when Robert Guggenheim and the Automobile Club of America sponsored an ocean-to-ocean auto race to draw attention to the Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exhibition currently being held that summer in Seattle. Although fewer than half a dozen cars participated in the race, it had an impact on American life that we can still see today. Henry Ford, ever the astute businessman, saw the race as an opportunity to showcase his new Model T roadsters, and entered two of them into the race, convinced that the spectacle was the perfect way to convince Americans that the Model T was something they needed and that they could afford.
The stripped-down Ford cars were smaller and lighter than the other competitors and many considered them unlikely to survive the rigors of the rocky roads that existed at the time. But Ford, seeing the race as an opportunity to sell America on his light-weight, affordable cars, pulled out all the stops. Capitalizing on his nationwide network of Ford Company agents, a robust advertising campaign, and a willingness to occasionally ignore or break the rules, he set out to prove to the world once and for all that his automobiles were the best.
Thanks to diligent research by Eric Moskowitz, readers can follow along teams of drivers battled breakdowns, crashes, mud in Kansas and snow drifts in Washington to drive their cars across the country from New York City to Seattle. In the process, they left behind them a nation changed forever. The exponential auto sales that followed the race spurred the construction of roads, created new industries and suburban communities, innovations made possible due to the increased mobility offered by automobiles.
*The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was the dawn of the automobile era, and manufacturers kept dreaming up new and challenging tests to reveal which of the more than 250 automakers then in business built the best vehicles. Funded primarily by a young Robert Guggenheim, the 1909 Ocean to Ocean Automobile Endurance Race covered a staggering 4,100 miles from New York City to Seattle, Washington. It was timed so the racers would arrive in Seattle during the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, with an expected transit time of four weeks.
The principal competitors were Ford, with its new Model T; Shawmut, a car company whose only manufacturing facility had recently burned to the ground; Acme, driven by the soon-to-be-famous Bert Scott; and the Italian-built Itala. Except for the Ford, they were all big, powerful vehicles and were expected to win. But in 1909, for every mile of paved road, there were ten miles of dirt lane, deeply rutted track, wagon trail, or open fields. The drivers had to contend with mud so thick it was described as “gumbo,” along with tree stumps, boulders, and, in many areas, no visible path at all.
To address the navigational challenges, each vehicle would pick up a local guide to help it reach the next checkpoint, but some proved so unreliable that it was not uncommon to end up in the wrong town entirely. Not great in a road race.
Most importantly, cars were required to finish with the same major components with which they started, and Henry Ford’s team of two Model Ts couldn’t quite pull that off. In fact, one received a surreptitious engine replacement en route, only to have the original engine reinstalled before reaching the finish line. It won, allowing Ford dealers throughout the United States to promote it as a winning car, but it was later disqualified. Months later, the Shawmut was declared the official winner, but it was also the last of its kind: the company never raised enough money to rebuild its factory.
Author Eric Moskowitz tells the story of this remarkable race through contemporary accounts, company records, and extensive research. Along the way, he introduces all the major figures, from Henry Ford and Robert Guggenheim to the many drivers and mechanics who battled their way across the country. Whether you’re a car nut or simply curious about driving in the early days, decades before highways eased travel between towns, it’s a fun book that’s well worth the read. Recommended.
The principal competitors were Ford, with its new Model T; Shawmut, a car company whose only manufacturing facility had recently burned to the ground; Acme, driven by the soon-to-be-famous Bert Scott; and the Italian-built Itala. Except for the Ford, they were all big, powerful vehicles and were expected to win. But in 1909, for every mile of paved road, there were ten miles of dirt lane, deeply rutted track, wagon trail, or open fields. The drivers had to contend with mud so thick it was described as “gumbo,” along with tree stumps, boulders, and, in many areas, no visible path at all.
To address the navigational challenges, each vehicle would pick up a local guide to help it reach the next checkpoint, but some proved so unreliable that it was not uncommon to end up in the wrong town entirely. Not great in a road race.
Most importantly, cars were required to finish with the same major components with which they started, and Henry Ford’s team of two Model Ts couldn’t quite pull that off. In fact, one received a surreptitious engine replacement en route, only to have the original engine reinstalled before reaching the finish line. It won, allowing Ford dealers throughout the United States to promote it as a winning car, but it was later disqualified. Months later, the Shawmut was declared the official winner, but it was also the last of its kind: the company never raised enough money to rebuild its factory.
Author Eric Moskowitz tells the story of this remarkable race through contemporary accounts, company records, and extensive research. Along the way, he introduces all the major figures, from Henry Ford and Robert Guggenheim to the many drivers and mechanics who battled their way across the country. Whether you’re a car nut or simply curious about driving in the early days, decades before highways eased travel between towns, it’s a fun book that’s well worth the read. Recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Detailed Yet Approachable History of Historic And Even Monumental Event That Is Virtually Unknown. This is exactly the kind of detailed history relying on personal investigation using archived newspapers and similar materials you would expect from an investigative journalist of prior eras. Filled with exactingly precise details and dispelling many myths that arose from both culture and corporate propaganda, this is the kind of history that needs to be written about far more subjects, particularly unknown topics such as this that really did come to shape so much of American culture.
Specifically, a rising yet nowhere near as prominent as he would become Henry Ford and the lengths he went to in order to claim victory in the very first true intercontinental automobile race from New York to Seattle, in an era when most highways were proto-asphalt (macadam) at best and just as likely to be true dirt roads - decades before the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways that moves literally tens of millions of Americans daily, particularly on holiday weekends such as the beginning of Memorial Day weekend as I write this review.
Told in a style reminiscent of both historian and race announcer, this tale is an engaging look at an event that even I had never heard of before, and I've literally won an award (long ago) for my knowledge of American history. (No, not just trivia night at a bar. An actual academic award.) Moskowitz does a truly great job of detailing the event and brief yet relevant biographies of the key people within it, and the almost "Return Of The King" epilogue (nowhere *near* that long) does a great job ala a Fallout game of coming back to each of the key players and detailing what happened in their lives after this race.
Oh, and it has a decent bibliography, clocking in at 17% or so - and it is made crystal clear that a more detailed bibliography, citing every individual article found and referenced, would be much, much longer.
Anyone interested in American history of the 2oth century at all, particularly those looking for the lesser known tales outside of the various wars, should absolutely look to this very well done tale.
Very much recommended.
Specifically, a rising yet nowhere near as prominent as he would become Henry Ford and the lengths he went to in order to claim victory in the very first true intercontinental automobile race from New York to Seattle, in an era when most highways were proto-asphalt (macadam) at best and just as likely to be true dirt roads - decades before the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways that moves literally tens of millions of Americans daily, particularly on holiday weekends such as the beginning of Memorial Day weekend as I write this review.
Told in a style reminiscent of both historian and race announcer, this tale is an engaging look at an event that even I had never heard of before, and I've literally won an award (long ago) for my knowledge of American history. (No, not just trivia night at a bar. An actual academic award.) Moskowitz does a truly great job of detailing the event and brief yet relevant biographies of the key people within it, and the almost "Return Of The King" epilogue (nowhere *near* that long) does a great job ala a Fallout game of coming back to each of the key players and detailing what happened in their lives after this race.
Oh, and it has a decent bibliography, clocking in at 17% or so - and it is made crystal clear that a more detailed bibliography, citing every individual article found and referenced, would be much, much longer.
Anyone interested in American history of the 2oth century at all, particularly those looking for the lesser known tales outside of the various wars, should absolutely look to this very well done tale.
Very much recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Before auto racing came into the sport we know today, there was a race across the United States pitting five cars from 4 different auto makers. Billed as the Ocean to Ocean race, this 1909 race from New York to Seattle is chronicled well in this book by Eric Moskowitz.
The five cars were produced by Ford (they had two Model T’s in this event); Shawmut (a small automaker business in Boston); Acme; and Italia, a European maker. The race was used not only for advertising purposes but also to see if the “little guys” from Boston and elsewhere could beat the mighty Ford brand. This was such an important event that Henry Ford himself made the trip to Seattle to see the finish and the prize money was put up by Robert Guggenheim.
The book takes the reader through the many paths through mud, ruts, potholes and other obstructions through the states. There are various checkpoints along the way where the cars check in for standings and the crews can rest and refuel both cars and bodies. Moskowitz does a very thorough analysis here of all these roads, cars and men in this event. At times it feels too good as one has to carefully read it in order to keep the cars and crew straight and also to fully understand what the conditions were like driving these cars.
Fans of auto racing today - whether Indy car, F1 or NASCAR - will find that reading about race cars with speeds less than 20 miles per hour hard to imagine given the speed of today’s cars. But putting in perspective the nature of those early cars, the completely different parts like axles and tires and the road/trail conditions, finishing this race is a major achievement.
There was a major dispute and rules violation that affected the outcome of the race but not the aftermath. This review will not provide a spoiler but will say that this book goes well beyond a sports book on auto racing. It’s a great adventure story with many twists - literally and figuratively- along the way.
I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
The five cars were produced by Ford (they had two Model T’s in this event); Shawmut (a small automaker business in Boston); Acme; and Italia, a European maker. The race was used not only for advertising purposes but also to see if the “little guys” from Boston and elsewhere could beat the mighty Ford brand. This was such an important event that Henry Ford himself made the trip to Seattle to see the finish and the prize money was put up by Robert Guggenheim.
The book takes the reader through the many paths through mud, ruts, potholes and other obstructions through the states. There are various checkpoints along the way where the cars check in for standings and the crews can rest and refuel both cars and bodies. Moskowitz does a very thorough analysis here of all these roads, cars and men in this event. At times it feels too good as one has to carefully read it in order to keep the cars and crew straight and also to fully understand what the conditions were like driving these cars.
Fans of auto racing today - whether Indy car, F1 or NASCAR - will find that reading about race cars with speeds less than 20 miles per hour hard to imagine given the speed of today’s cars. But putting in perspective the nature of those early cars, the completely different parts like axles and tires and the road/trail conditions, finishing this race is a major achievement.
There was a major dispute and rules violation that affected the outcome of the race but not the aftermath. This review will not provide a spoiler but will say that this book goes well beyond a sports book on auto racing. It’s a great adventure story with many twists - literally and figuratively- along the way.
I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest that Changed America by Eric Moskowitz is the story of the first true coast-to-coast automobile race in U.S. History. In 1909, America was home to 253 automakers who were visionaries, schemers and would-be barons of a new century. M. Robert Guggenheim, a playboy millionaire, announced an audacious “Ocean to Ocean” contest from New York City to the Seattle World’s Fair with three companies brave enough to try: Acme, Ford, and Shawmut. Oddsmakers favored the pricey imports while dismissing the pint-sized Model T and the long shot Shawmut, a company struggling to survive after a factory fire. With the rough terrain, they didn’t believe the cars would reach the finish line. But Henry Ford was determined to prove that the Model T could go the distance and three weeks later, a Ford crossed the finish line. However, the victory was a fraud.
I had never heard of the Ocean to Ocean race and I was intrigued at this piece of automobile history. The Hardest, Longest Race is a fast-paced tale of the gritty and determined drivers, told from their perspectives, braving the hostile terrain, mechanical failures and sabotage and subterfuge to ensure victory. I wasn’t surprised that Henry Ford had cheated in order to win the race. However, it is also a love letter to America and the car which would help transform the landscape of the automobile. There was a lot of mechanical information that someone without basic automotive knowledge would get lost. However, even if you do not understand basic car mechanics, the history and the high stakes would be worth the read. Overall, I enjoyed the tale of the Ocean to Ocean race and the men who drove it. If you enjoy history and automobiles, I highly recommend The Hardest, Longest Race.
The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest that Changed America will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on June 2, 2026.
I had never heard of the Ocean to Ocean race and I was intrigued at this piece of automobile history. The Hardest, Longest Race is a fast-paced tale of the gritty and determined drivers, told from their perspectives, braving the hostile terrain, mechanical failures and sabotage and subterfuge to ensure victory. I wasn’t surprised that Henry Ford had cheated in order to win the race. However, it is also a love letter to America and the car which would help transform the landscape of the automobile. There was a lot of mechanical information that someone without basic automotive knowledge would get lost. However, even if you do not understand basic car mechanics, the history and the high stakes would be worth the read. Overall, I enjoyed the tale of the Ocean to Ocean race and the men who drove it. If you enjoy history and automobiles, I highly recommend The Hardest, Longest Race.
The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest that Changed America will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on June 2, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Hardest, Longest Race is a fascinating and extremely detailed work of narrative history that explores the early days of the American automobile through the lens of one grueling cross-country race in 1907. Written by Eric Moskowitz, the book combines transportation history, biography, and cultural analysis to show how a single endurance competition helped shape both the automobile industry and the modern American imagination. The book centers on the New York to Paris automobile race, an extraordinary event in which teams attempted to drive across some of the harshest terrain imaginable, including muddy roads, frozen landscapes, deserts, and undeveloped wilderness. At the center of the story is Henry Ford, whose growing influence in the automobile industry forms a major backdrop to the race and its broader significance. The contest became more than a sporting event. It symbolized technological progress, national ambition, and the transformation of transportation in the early twentieth century. The story vividly it recreates the challenges of early motoring. Cars constantly broke down, roads were often nonexistent, and communication between teams and organizers was limited. Moskowitz does an excellent job showing just how uncertain and experimental automobile travel still was at the time. The race feels genuinely dangerous and unpredictable, which gives the narrative strong momentum. I generally enjoy narrative non-fiction but on this I did find myself skimming when the author was covering detailed automotive history that isn’t crucial to a casual reader.
#TheHardestLongestRace #NetGalley #stmartinspress
#TheHardestLongestRace #NetGalley #stmartinspress
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