1900s vehicles make way through area

AAA celebrates centennial with reliability run

Classic car enthusiasts will want to keep an eye on the state's back roads next week.

Beginning Monday, the American Automobile Association will attempt to replicate an early 1900s reliability run that will begin in Spokane, end in Seattle and last for six days.

"(There) were car races at the time sponsored by car manufacturers to prove that the automobile was a real viable mode of transportation," said Jennifer Harbison, AAA spokesperson. "Our tour won't be a race. It's similar to an endurance run."

Harbison said there will be 20 vehicles in the run, dating from 1902 to 1914. The vehicles hail from Washington, Oregon, California and British Columbia. The owners of the vehicles will be driving them.

The run is to commemorate AAA's centennial.

"Basically, 100 years ago was when automobiles were really taking hold and proving that they (were) not only going to be reliable, but also the future of transportation," Harbison said.

She said that Washington's AAA club was started in Seattle by 10 prominent businessmen. It had 46 members and its goals were to make automobile travel safe and to work towards having good roads at a time when horses and buggies left ruts and mud, making it difficult to travel anywhere when it rained.

"AAA helped draft the first traffic codes in Washington," she said. "It built and erected the first 500 directional signs within a 30-mile radius of Seattle, and also helped start the Washington State Patrol. There's a good foundation in the state."

But don't look for the reliability run vehicles along Interstate 90; Harbison said that the vehicles are one- and two-cylinder vehicles with a maximum speed range between 18 and 35 miles per hour.

"(They will) predominately be on back roads," she said.

But area residents will have at least three opportunities to see the vehicles at various stops along the route.

From 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, the cars will be on display at the Ritzville City Park. The cars will be on display at Moses Lake's Civic Park from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, and at the Quincy Community Center from 5 to 6 p.m.

"They were going to have a barbecue in our park, and it just seemed logical — they were going to have to park some place," said David Grove, clerk treasurer for the city of Ritzville. "We think it's great. We have a lot of classic car buffs and whatnot here in town anyhow."

Grove noted that Ritzville was recently designated a Preserve America Community.

"This goes right along with that," he said. "We have a lot of residents in the community who are very conscious and support the preservation of anything that's historical."

Pam Harris, co-president of the Moses Lake Classic Car Club, which is putting on a lunch for the reliability run, said that it offers something "unique and different" for Moses Lake residents.

Jim Kadyk said he arranged to have a showing so that the Quincy public could come out and see the cars.

"I was really enthused when I saw them, and I know people here in Quincy are into machinery and equipment, and I think they would like to have the chance to see them," Kadyk said. "The original plan was just to drive around town, but that's kind of hit and miss."

The event presents residents an opportunity to see vehicles that they might otherwise not get to enjoy, Kadyk said.

"They're gorgeous cars, every one of them," he said. "The opportunity to see one of these cars is very rare, especially off the beaten track."