It was on this day in 1909 that the first woman to drive across the United States, Alice Huyler Ramsey, left New York City for San Francisco. She was 22 years old, a housewife from Hackensack, New Jersey. Her trip got a lot of media attention. In 1909, not many women drove cars, and some doctors thought that it was dangerous for women to even ride in cars because they would get too worked up at more than 20 miles an hour. Alice Huyler Ramsey drove 3,800 miles across the country in a Maxwell 30 with three other women, but she was the only one who knew how to drive. They drove for 41 days and used 11 spare tires. She wrote a book about the trip called Veil, Duster, and Tire Iron (1961). In 2000, she was the first woman inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.
From The Writer's Almanac for June 9, 2009
I believe I read somewhere that a young lady is recreating that adventure by leaving from NY today driving a restored 1909.
Any info ?
Ray
Here is a link to the Alice Ramsey Centennial
http://aliceramsey.org/
I read about Alice Ramsey years ago, she'd married a wealthy man, several years her senior, he didn't want to drive but figured she could get him around, the Maxwell dealer thought it would be a good promotion, they loaded up the car with extra springs, axels etc. Time I read her story she was still a fiesty old gal, in her 90's & driving a Cadillac Seville.
Alex
It seems the Maxwell's engine didn't faire as well as what George's engine has. A long way to go on a failing engine!!