Great Race to Start at U.S. Capitol

Pennsylvania Avenue site for start of cross-country old car race reminiscent of 1965 movie

SAN MARCOS, Texas, April 6 -- On June 5, 2005, the Great Race, presented by the Army National Guard, a cross-country vintage car race that echoes the movie of the same name is going to start on the west side of the U.S. Capitol building with the Halls of Congress as a backdrop. In a scene unlike any ever seen in motor sports, a starting grid of one hundred vintage and antique automobiles will line up at one of the most historic settings in American history, take aim up Pennsylvania Avenue, and, at the drop of the green flag, roar past our country's most revered monuments and then across America.

Securing the site was a joint effort between Wayne Stanfield, Chief Operating Officer for Rally Partners, owners of the Great Race, U.S. Senator John Sununu, the Army National Guard and former U.S. Congressman and author, Charlie Wilson. "I'm thrilled that we made it happen," said Mr. Wilson. "We showed the Capitol Police what we wanted to do, Senator Sununu wrote a letter and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the U.S. Senate gave the OK. Now, the race will be starting on the Main Street of America."

"It's amazing to think that almost one hundred years of automotive history will be lined up at our nations' capitol, ready to race cross-country," said Wayne Stanfield. "And to think that the teams of drivers and navigators will be heading west across the U.S., much like people would have done in the same cars, so many years ago."

For Stanfield, a former competitor and five-time winner of the event, the Great Race is a "uniquely American" event. "It breaths life into old cars destined to collect dust in museums, and gives the participants a spirit of freedom and adventure not often felt in today's age of SUVs and state-of-the-art luxury cars." Participants in this year's race run the gamut from an all-female high school team led by Indy great Lyn St. James to NASCAR team owner, Jack Roush.

The race, now in its 23rd year is for a prize fund of $250,000 and is a time-speed-endurance road-rally for vintage automobiles manufactured at least forty-five years ago. The old cars will race over fourteen days, stopping each night in Harrisonburg, VA, Ashland, KY, Louisville, KY, Urbana, IL, Gurnee, IL, Davenport, IA, West Des Moines, IA, Grand Island, NE, Denver, CO, Rock Springs, WY, Twin Falls, ID, Walla Walla, and Puyallup, WA; and on July 9, 2005 finish in Tacoma, Washington. For information on all the stops, please log onto http://www.greatrace.com/ .