Frank Duryea on America's First Automobile Race in 1895 

So much history was left out. Because the route was not well marked, Frank Duryea actually drove OFF the course for over a mile. He realized his error and returned. As they approached the finish line, Duryea and White (the race judge in the car) whooped and hollered in celebration because the race officials waiting were too cold to applaud. People will mock a race speed of about 7 mph BUT... In the previous year the first organized race in the world took place in France. The route was longer, about 70 miles, but took place in beautiful weather on mostly paved roads and the winning car (a Peugoet) finished at a blinding 10mph. The Chicago race took place in a blizzard. A sportswriter who covered the race wrote, ‘No horse on earth could have made those 54 miles through the slush and mud.’