Between 1908 and 1911, Savannah played an important role in popularizing the automobile by hosting several high profile auto races. Drivers and spectators from around the world came to watch and compete in the American Grand Prize races hosted by the Savannah Automobile Club in 1908, 1910 and 1911. The races brought the thrill of the automobile closer to many American middle-class families and paved the way (literally) for the development of the Savannah suburbs.
The first racetrack in 1908 was expanded from a traditional 17-mile stock car track to a 40.13-mile-long track. Large stretches of Skidaway, White Bluff and Montgomery Cross Road were laid out as part of the circuit and paved with convict labor.
Savannah Archives: WW Law Collection full of Savannah musical influences
Savannah Archives:The north and south of the Laurel Grove cemeteries
Savannah Archives:Increased traffic, I-16 affected Savannah Squares, residents of the city’s west side
The races started and ended near Daffin Park, where a festival atmosphere permeated the crowd and grandstands were set up for spectators to enjoy the races. Two Strobel airships, which were famous traveling dirigible balloons 53 feet long and 14.5 feet in diameter that could lift a man, appeared at the celebrations. The races also brought President William Howard Taft to Savannah, who received much fanfare, including banquets and a parade.
In May 1912, Taft attended the Hibernians Society banquet, which had been postponed from March 17 to meet its schedule.
Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Co., was a frequent spectator of the races and the President of Firestone Tires demanded that the City Jail be converted into a suite when he could not find other accommodation in town.
Promotion of the civil rights movement
In this month’s Hungry for History program, Anne-Solène Bayan, Deputy Curator of the Telfair Museums, and the City Archives of Savannah are presenting the exhibition “Vehicles of Change: How the Automobile Fueled the Civil Rights Movement” In the 1950s and 1960s, the car played a pivotal role when buses and automobiles were used to protest against systemic racism and segregation.
This free virtual lecture is now available online at youtu.be/1Z3ChYruERU.
Savannah City Archives, [email protected], Explore the archives: savannahga.gov/MunicipalArchives.
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