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The Hemmings Great Race isn鈥檛 about raw speed 鈥� it鈥檚 about nine days of precision driving and navigational prowess.

鈥淲e are the largest time speed endurance rally in the United States,鈥� Brad Phillips, event director, said.

Unlike a traditional car race, it doesn鈥檛 matter who crosses the finish line first. It matters who finishes with accuracy, following special instructions that take drivers from Springfield, Illinois, to Pasadena, California, along the twists and turns of Route 66.

The event began in 1983 with Tom McCray, who Phillips said had the crazy idea to stage an event with the format of hidden checkpoints and incredibly precise times over the course of 14 days.

The event has been shortened to nine days over the years, and drivers are in it for the long haul.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e in for a penny, in for a pound with this thing,鈥� Phillips said.

With over 130 teams, 17 cities and about 2,500 miles from point to point, Phillips said the huge, family friendly event is epic.

鈥淭he best thing is when you come around that corner, and there鈥檚 a family in their front yard, the middle of nowhere, clapping and cheering, and kids are yelling at you to honk the horn,鈥� Phillips said.

鈥淵ou get the opportunity to see our country in a different way,鈥� Phillips said.

Each team has a driver and a navigator. The navigator has a stopwatch and instructions. There is also a special speedometer each team uses, he said. The Great Race has other specific rules for participation, including that the car can鈥檛 be manufactured after 1974.

Phillips said the event has included cars from the early 20th century like a 1909 Oldsmobile and a 1911 Mercedes-Benz. The oldest car participating this year, he said, is a 1916 Hudson, the brand and year he drove when he raced.

Participants span generations with drivers who have participated in all 40 races to an 鈥淴 Cup Division鈥� of college and high school age drivers. This generational span is also reflected in the people who come to watch, he said.

鈥淲e have proven over and over again that when we have our whole scene out there, it is everything from kids being pushed in strollers to their grandparents that are all big smiles on their faces,鈥� Phillips said.

He said it would be hard to find somewhere in the country where the race hadn鈥檛 been held, but this year the event focused on Route 66 and was designated an official centennial event.

The 2026 course includes three stops in New Mexico: Tucumcari, sa国际传媒官网网页入口 and Gallup. 

鈥淭o be part of the centennial of Route 66 is an unbelievable opportunity,鈥� Phillips said.

Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow for the sa国际传媒官网网页入口. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.