The car was not perceived that way by the public, and it was, in fact, a plaything for people of means. Many years later when recalling that time, Ford said, "the public refused to think about the automobile as anything but a fast toy."

As with technology companies today, it was the auto industry that was creating the seminal advances in csience and innovation. Some 4000 vehicles had been produced by 50 companies. In those days the major area of production was in the Northeast, rather than Detroit, and the Midwest, and the cars were driven more by steam and electricity than by petroleum.

Racing was the means which many companies used to prove their products, and Ford dreamed that one day he would be the one to deliver an automobile that could be afforded by the masses. For this reason he joined with Oliver "Otto" Barthel, Ed "Spider" Huff to build Sweepstakes (R). To maintain financial backing, and prove his sound judgements, Ford used the high profile face of auto racing to gain acceptance.

On October 10th, Ford entered his car in a race at Grosse point, outside Detroit. The promoters advertised it as the biggest race ever of its kind, and the area was rife with excitement.

Nearly 8000 spectators showed up to watch a bevy of cars race, but do to many mechanical problems, only three cars made it to the starting line, and one of those didn't go any further. The race came down to Winton and Ford.

Ford had one advantage over all the other cars of that day. He commissioned a dentist to add a porcelain insulator to his "spark plugs, thus giving him a more consistant and hotter ignition, and example of automotive improvements through racing.

The importance of that race was monumental because investors in the stands were eager to back Ford, now, and twenty months later, in June, 1903, The Ford Motor Company was born.