ST CLAIR SHORES — Ted and Mary Stahl are returning to the annual cross-country antique car rally called the Great Race. The race begins June 22 in St. Paul, Minn. making several stops along the Mississippi River before it ends in Mobile, Ala. on June 30. The couple will enter in the Veteran category, driving their 1934 Ford Phaeton. Sons Brett and Dan, second generation Stahls, are participating in the Rookie category driving the 1941 Packard that their parents took second place in the Rookie category in 2012.
After last year’s adventure, the Stahl’s have decided to invite their customers to ride along this summer. Ted Stahl, chairman of the board for GroupeSTAHL says, “Our customers are great American entrepreneurs and we’d love to have them join us on the route through the heartland of America.”
Several customers will be drawn for the “Ride with Ted” contest on June 1. Each winner will become a special guest for a segment of the race helping Ted and Mary navigate the route. This experience entails looking for unmarked dirt roads and obscure landmarks all while viewing amazing scenery through the heartland of America in a classic car. The Stahls have also invited customers along the route to come out to cheer on the Spirit of Stahls and hundreds of other contestants.
Ted Stahl’s enthusiasm for the Great Race road rally and the film it is based on runs deep; so much that he recently acquired both cars that were featured in the 1965 comedy The Great Race, starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Natalie Wood. Both movie cars, the Leslie Special the Hannibal 8, will be transported along the route and on display at each evening stop of the 2013 Hemmings Motor News and Hagerty sponsored Great Race.
Upon completing this year’s Great Race, the Ford Phaeton, Packard, Leslie Special and Hannibal 8 will all return to their home at Stahl’s Automotive Foundation. Learn more about Stahl’s mission to educate, motivate, and inspire people with a passion and appreciation for vintage vehicles at www.stahlsauto.com.
