by Eric Moskowitz On June 1, 1909, thousands of people gathered in Manhattan to watch the kickoff of The International Automobile Endurance Contest, also known as the first Ocean-to-Ocean Race, as a handful of brave drivers sought to become the first person to successfully cross the United States in an automobile.  The Hardest, Longest Race […] The post Featured Excerpt: The Hardest, Longest Race appeared first on The History Reader .