2021 Great Race: San Antonio, TX to Greenville, SC

The green flag dropped on the 2021 Great Race in San Antonio, Texas on June 19, 2021.  The checkered flag dropped nine days and 2300 miles later in Greenville, South Carolina.  The 35^th Great Race, a grueling endurance competition of both men and vintage machines, is now in the books.

I was at the finish line in Greenville, South Carolina, and this was the first time I was able to witness the event purely as a spectator.  I worked the Salado, Texas Checkpoint in the inaugural 1983 Great Race and was a competitor from 1985 to 1992.  The event has changed somewhat since I was a competitor.  Vehicles previously had to be 1936 or older, while now they can be up to 1974 vintage.  It used to be a 14-day event, typically going from coast-to-coast across the United States, while this year’s 9-day rally went through eight states. However, the camaraderie, spirit, and love of old cars remain hallmarks of this prestigious event.

I think these changes have been good for both the spectators and competitors of the Great Race.  Spectators are now more apt to recognize, and possibly even once owned, some of the later model vehicles. These newer vintages also open the door for new competitors from both a vehicle availability and the economics (budget) standpoint. The cost of preparing for and competing in the event can is not trivial.  Shortening the rally to nine days (a week sandwiched by two weekends) allows for participation with a smaller budget and doesn’t require using as many vacation days from work.

Although the event has the word “Race” in its name, it is not a typical race.  The competition is scored as a Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) rally, where teams receive a penalty point for each second they are early or late arriving at secret checkpoints along the route.  Lowest score wins.  Each vehicle contains two people – a driver and a navigator.  It is an extremely competitive sport, with $50,000 going to the winning team, and more than $158,000 in total prize money this year.  There were 109 vehicles taking the green flag in San Antonio, although only 97 were able to begin the final run into Greenville.  It is indeed an endurance event, and participants agree the event’s motto is quite appropriate:

“To Finish is to Win”

The winners of Great Race 2021 made history by being the first all-female team to capture the grand prize.  Oliva Gentry (age 18, driver) and her sister Genna (age 20, navigator) rallied their 1932 Ford 5-window coupe to a first place finish and a $50,000 check with a cumulative score of 41.31 seconds.

Car #19: 1932 Ford Speedster

I have a personal reason for highlighting this car. It was built/restored by my former racing partner and Great Race Legend, Kyle Martin (1936-2007). Kyle prepared this car for the 1988 Great American Race (Disneyland, CA to Boston, MA) and its image was included on the 1990 Great American Race poster (image shown below). The car was named “The Spirit of America” and we always ran as car #8. It was certainly a crowd favorite, and I signed many an autograph as we rolled into cities and towns across America.

Thirty-three years later, this now 89-year-old vehicle is still running strong and competing in the Great Race. It’s gone through a few ownership changes but has always been owned by a Great Race competitor. Kyle sold the car to Ty Holmquist (circa 1992), who later sold it to Howard Sharp, who then eventually sold it to its current owner — Ted Stahl.

Car #30: 1918 American LaFrance Speedster

The 1918 American LaFrance Speedster is a crowd favorite. The chain-drive automobile tends to throw a little oil as it travels down the road.

Car #46: 1974 Plymouth Blues Mobile

Another crowd favorite is Car #46, a 1974 Plymouth tribute to the former Mount Prospect Police car that became the Blues Mobile in the 1980 film, The Blues Brothers.

“It’s got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it’s got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It’s a model made before catalytic converters so it’ll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?” – Elwood Blues

An Old Friend

Curtis Graf is a Great Race Legend, a Great Race Champion (1995), the only person who has competed in every Great Race, and a person I’m proud to call my friend. Curtis was driving Car #2, a 1932 Ford Roadster this year, and Bob Dinges was his navigator. I first met Curtis in the 1986 Great American Race (Los Angeles, CA to New York, NY), and caught up with him at the Greenville finish.

Greenville, South Carolina

I have probably been through Greenville, South Carolina a dozen or more times in my life. I even spent the night there once on our way to Norfolk, Virginia for the start of the 1989 Great America Race. However, until now, I had never been in the downtown area, only the places along the I-85 freeway. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. It is one of the most beautiful cities I have been to. Main Street is tree-shaded and lined with wonderful shops –it was a great place for a Great Race finish. I will be back.

2021 Great Race Images

The following photo gallery is composed of many of the badges, hubcaps, insignias, and other unique features on the cars present in Greenville.

Photo Credits

• #GreatRace: 2021 Great Race Route (courtesy of Great Race)
• #GreatRace: Olivia And Genna Gentry Win The 2021 Great Race (courtesy of Great Race)
• 1990 Great American Race Poster, image scanned by Ron Rowland from poster he owns
• All other photos by Ron Rowland, taken on June 27, 2021 at Greenville, South Carolina

2021 Great Race Resources/Stories/Links

The following links are packed with additional photos of all the beautiful cars, people, and towns in this year’s event:

• Official Great Race website
• Great Race 2021 Day 1: San Antonio to Temple, Texas
• Great Race 2021 Day 2: Temple to Nocona, Texas
• Great Race 2021 Day 3: Ardmore, OK to Joplin, MO
• Great Race 2021 Day 4: Joplin to Cape Girardeau, Missouri
• Great Race 2021 Day 5: Cape Girardeau, MO to Owensboro, KY
• Great Race 2021 Day 6: Owensboro to Lexington, Kentucky
• Great Race 2021 Day 7: Lexington, KY to Beckley, WV
• Great Race 2021 Day 8: Beckley, WV to Mooresville, NC
• Great Race 2021 Day 9: The Finish in Greenville, SC

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