Local father and son take part in The Great Race

Posted at: 06/20/2012 3:41 PM | Updated at: 06/20/2012 6:17 PM
By: Christine VanTimmeren | WHEC.com

A cross country antique car race is going to be coming through western New York and a local father son team is hoping to win it.

The event is called The Great Race. It covers 19 cities, two countries and four states. The race starts in Traverse City, Michigan goes up through Canada, down through New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio and finishes in Dearborn, Michigan. The cars have to be made before 1970.

When packing for a road trip, you need to have the essentials. But this isn’t a typical road trip and these aren’t your typical essentials. Howard and Doug Sharp, a father and son team left Wednesday to compete in a cross country antique car race called The Great Race which begins Saturday.

Howard Sharp said, “Approximately 11 days, we’ll be sitting here side to side for 11 to 12 hours per day. We’ll start out about 6:00 a.m. and go till 7:00p.m. at night.”

Last year, the Sharps won driving a 1911 Velie.

Sharp said, “This does have more room than our other car. It does have a little more room. Like maybe an inch, maybe, maybe.”

This year, they are planning on win number two.

Sharp said, “Well, when we win, we have to think about everybody that’s around us and help to make this thing happen.”

This year’s race starts in Traverse City, Michigan and for the first time, ever the race will pass through the Sharp’s hometown of Fairport.

Sharp said, “To come into our hometown, as the winning vehicle from last year, is just bittersweet. It is what it is.”

The Great Race comes through the Village of Fairport next Thursday June 28. Main Street in Fairport will be shut down from 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. The racers are expected to show up around 12:30p.m. They will stay for about an hour and then continue on their way. For more information, click here.

Along with being able to see the racers next Thursday, there will also be a separate car show, music, food and other entertainment lining Main Street in Fairport. 

To follow their progress during the race, the Sharp’s have created a Facebook page that will be updated the whole way. To follow it, click here.

 

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