The 1895 Chicago Times Herald Race was the very first American race contest. Held on a cold, windy and snowy Thanksgiving Day, inNovember. The idea for this contest originated from Mr. Herman Henry Kohlsaat, owner of the Chicago newspaper. The route was about 50 km long and went through Chicago and along the lakeshore. Only six vehicles appeared at the start; four of them with gasoline, engines and two electric vehicles.  The average speed of the cars was around 7 miles an hour. Some must have said: Days of Snow and Blunder, but it was the real first American vehicle race.