The Great Race for 2022 Is History — Here’s How It Went

Author: Jason / Date: October 14, 2022 / Tags: classic cars

(RareCarMarket.com) – The Great Race, a nine-day Time-Speed-Distance rally for collector, antique and vintage cars, wasn’t always so great. However, over the years, the event has gained notoriety and has essentially become a classic car parade as drivers trek across the country. The Great Race of 2022 covered more than 2,400 miles and had drivers navigating through 10 states.

For the 2022 outing, drivers drove from Warwick, Rhode Island, to Fargo, North Dakota. Nearly 170 drivers and their teams participated in this year’s race. Josh Hull and Trevor Stahl were the overall winners of the event as they led a majority of the way. The victory earned them a $50,000 check. 

However, The Great Race wasn’t always so popular. In fact, during the event’s first year in 1983, organizers set the start point in Los Angeles, California, and wanted to end in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Despite the scenic cross-country trip and a $250,000 prize pool, only two people signed up for the race, Tom McRae and Curtis Graf. McRae called his friend Norman Miller and formed a partnership to buy out the original promoter. After a long battle to get the first event off the ground, 69 racers showed up to brave the trip from LA to Indy. 

After a successful outing, Miller and McRae began preparing for a similar event in 1984. Since then, there has been a Great Race every year, with a different route each time. The 2023 route will have drivers navigate from St. Augustine, Florida, to Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

Those looking to participate in the next event can join the waiting list. There is a $6,000 entry fee for personal drivers and an $8,500 entry fee for those representing a business. If you don’t want to race but still want to be a part of The Great Race of 2023, you can always become a sponsor or volunteer. 

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