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Old 16 to Lead the Way at the U.S. 500

8 July 1998

Old 16 to Lead the Way at the U.S. 500; Henry Ford Museum's 1906 Locomobile to Run at 'Showcase of Legends' Parade at Michigan Speedway

    DEARBORN, Mich., July 8 -- Celebrating her 90th anniversary
of winning the Vanderbilt Cup, Old 16, the 1906 Locomobile on permanent
display at Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, will stretch her legs on
Sunday, July 26 at Michigan Speedway in Brooklyn, as part of the U.S. 500.
She will run a ceremonial lap at the "Showcase of Legends Parade" along with
several other vintage racing automobiles, prior to the running of the U.S.
500.
    Racefans in attendance will get a rare glimpse of Old 16 in action,
referred to by auto buffs as "the Mona Lisa of American historic automobiles."
Weighing in at 2,204 pounds, the car cost $20,000 to build in 1906 and had a
top speed of more than 100 miles per hour during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup race.
By winning the prestigious international auto race, Old 16 held the
distinction of being the first American automobile to win the Vanderbilt Cup,
predecessor to the U.S. 500.  Today, the car is still in 90 percent original
condition, down to its faded "16" on the body.
    Those unable to attend the U.S. 500 will get another chance to see Old 16
in action at the 48th Annual Old Car Festival on Sept. 12 and 13 at Greenfield
Village in Dearborn.

    WHAT:  The running of Old 16, the 1906 Locomobile, and the first American
car to win an international auto race, the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup.

    WHEN: Sunday, July 26, 1998 at 1 p.m., prior to the start of the
1998 U.S. 500.

    WHERE: Michigan Speedway, 12626 U.S 12, Brooklyn, MI 517-592-6666

    WHY:  As the first American car to win a major international race, the
1908 Vanderbilt Cup, Old 16 proved to the world that America could compete
with leading European automakers, not only in racing, but in the world of
automotive manufacture.

    ADMISSION: Contact Michigan Speedway at 517-592-6666 for more information.