Page 9 - Edmonton Antique Car Club

four punishing laps, the Bullet broke down. Thinking "if you can't
lick 'em, join 'em," Alex would hire Oldfield as his race driver soon
thereafter. But in March of 1903, Alex and his Bullet would enter
the best time of the day at the first time-trials sanctioned by the
American Automobile Association held at Ormond Beach.

A Winton would be the first automobile to successfully
complete a cross-country drive two year's after Alex's failed at-
tempt. In the spring of 1903, a 31 year old physician, Horatio Nel-
son Jackson (1872-1955) from Burlington, Vermont, was vacation-
ing in San Francisco. While playing cards at the exclusive Univer-
sity Club, someone dared him to try crossing the country by auto-
mobile. With Yankee stubbornness, Jackson bet $50 he could do
just that, and in ninety days. His first task was to get a blessing
from his wealthy wife, Bertha, who would bankroll his adventure.
Finding her agreeable, Jackson next sought out an able mechanic to
accompany him. He selected 20 year old Sewall K. Crocker (1883-
1913), who recommended travelling in a sturdy Winton touring car.
Unfortunately, the Winton agent in San Francisco had no cars in
stock. Jackson eventually found a Winton owner, a banker at Wells
Fargo, ready to part with his slightly used Winton for a considerable
profit. It had a two-cylinder horizontal engine, 20 horsepower, with
chain drive, a top speed of 30 mph, a 10 gallon tank, and was paint-
ed "Winton Red." It had no top and no windshield. Jackson named
New York Auto Show, November 1900 his new automobile "Vermont" and Crocker taught him how to drive
might well have become America's Motor City instead of Detroit, it. Jackson removed the backseat to make room for supplies, sum-
since between 1896 and 1932 over 80 automobile makes would be moned his courage, and, four days after his bet, the two adventurers
produced in Cleveland and another 35 in that region of Ohio. started on their 3,000-plus mile journey on May 23, 1903, bound for
New York City.
Alex vowed to try racing again and began work on his
"Bullet" racer. His new Bullet had a vertical four-cylinder, 57 Soon after starting out, Jackson acquired a bull terrier
horsepower engine, and would set an unofficial land speed record of named "Bud" as a trip mascot, fit him with goggles, and let him ride
70 mph in Cleveland in 1902. In April of that year, Alex and his beside the co-drivers. They climbed mountains, forded streams, and
Bullet tied Ransom Olds (1864-1950) and "the Pirate" in Florida's answered questions from curious crowds along the way. Jackson
first unofficial speed trials at Ormond Beach. A year since his de- and his cross country quest became headline news across the coun-
feat by Ford, Alex returned to Grosse Pointe, this time with his Bul- try. Vermont overcame the roughest road conditions. Jackson and
let, for the Manufacturer's Challenge Cup on October 25, 1902. Crocker often drove miles out of their way to find a passable road,
Ford had hired Barney Oldfield (1878-1946) to drive his new racer, repeatedly hoisted the Winton up and over rocky terrain and mud
"Number 999." During the race, Alex would brake to go around the holes with a block and tackle, or were pulled out of soft sand by
curves but Oldfield accelerated and just slid around them. After horse teams. In 1903, there were only 150 miles of paved road in
the entire country, all inside city limits. There were no road signs or
maps. They followed rivers and streams, transcontinental railroad
tracks, sheep trails, and dirt back roads.

Jackson and Crocker reached Cleveland with Vermont and
Bud on July 20 where Shanks had arranged for Winton's top manag-
ers and a huge crowd to greet them. Alex threw a banquet in Jack-
son's honour at Cleveland's Hotel Hollenden. Alex offered to have
his plant mechanics check Vermont over but Jackson refused, fear-
ing it would jeopardize his amateur standing. Shanks capitalized on
Vermont's trip, taking out ads emphasizing that the Winton was
unparalleled in American automobile history and calling it "King of
the Road." By then, both Packard and Oldsmobile had decided to
join the cross-country race sending their cars east from California
hoping to overtake the Winton. Packard driver E. T. (Tom) Fetch
charged that Jackson and Crocker boarded a train for the roughest
part of the journey and resorted to a second, look-alike car after the
first broke down completely. Shanks replied by placing ads offer-
ing a $25,000 reward ($10,000 from Alex and $15,000 from Jack-
son) for any evidence supporting the Packard story, but there were
no takers. The Winton Motor Carriage Company continued to en-
joy considerable free publicity, crowned by Jackson's arrival in New
York City on July 26, after sixty-three days, 12 hours, and 30
minutes, including delays for repairs made by Crocker. Jackson and
Crocker quickly became national celebrities, but Jackson never col-
lected on the $50 wager.

To Be Concluded
Jackson, Sewell, and Bud; first cross-country, 1903
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