Happy Birthday Henry Ford

Celebrations at Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn headquarters today are being complemented by a special proclamation by the state of Michigan declaring this “Henry Ford Day.” In Washington, D.C., hundreds downtown and on Capitol Hill will mark the day enjoying commemorative cupcakes delivered by a food truck – part of a mobile movement Henry Ford would support.

While today’s events mark the day of Henry Ford’s birth, they are just part of a yearlong celebration of the man and his achievements.

Appropriately, given Henry Ford’s global impact, the anniversary of his birth is being commemorated in countries around the world throughout 2013. Some of the events include:

• Dealers in 21 Asia Pacific markets have launched Ford Heritage month, transforming showrooms into exhibitions on Ford’s rich history
• Ford of Germany marked the occasion with a series of five road rallies that celebrated Ford’s numerous automotive breakthroughs over the last 110 years
• More than 4,000 people attended community events held by Ford in Romania
• In Great Britain, celebrations were capped by the reveal of a restored statue of Henry Ford at the company’s UK Tech Centre
• In coming months, celebrations will continue with additional events across the United States, Europe and South America.

Contributions to a better world
Henry Ford’s introduction of the automobile into the mass market transformed agricultural economies in the United States and around the world into prosperous industrial and urban markets. Many historians credit him with creating a middle class in America. His high minimum wage – revolutionary at the time – set a precedent for fair distribution of company wealth that influenced later management practices.

Henry Ford initially struggled to get Ford Motor Company on solid financial footing, but broke through with the Model T. The iconic vehicle debuted in October 1908, opening a new era in America. More than 15 million Model T’s were built and sold as Ford Motor Company put the nation on wheels.

The innovative spirit of Henry Ford took root in many other forms after the success of the Model T, including:

Moving assembly line: In 1913 Henry Ford introduced the first moving assembly line for cars. Within 18 months, the amount of time needed to build a Model T was reduced from 12 ½ man-hours to 1 ½ man-hours, ushering in the modern auto industry

• $5 work day: To reduce high turnover rates among workers, Henry Ford more than doubled their pay in 1914, from $2.34 for a nine-hour day to $5 for an eight-hour day
• Vertical integration: To improve quality, Henry Ford sought to own, operate and coordinate all the resources needed to produce complete automobiles. This principle, known as vertical integration, was put into practice in 1927 with the Model A

“What my great-grandfather established, especially his legacy of innovation, continues to inspire our commitment to a strong business, great products and a better world,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “We are putting unexpected levels of technology within reach of millions of people, accelerating the development of new products that customers want and value, and driving growth by creating jobs and bringing the freedom of mobility to the world.”

Spirit of innovation guides Ford today
Henry Ford’s spirit of innovation continues to guide Ford Motor Company today, reflected in a lineup of vehicles as diverse as the F-150 pickup, Mustang sports car and Fusion Hybrid sedan. It lives on in technologies such as Ford SYNC, the company’s in-vehicle infotainment system, and fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines. And it echoes through employees serving customers across six continents.

Henry Ford died on April 7, 1947, at 83. More than 50 years after his death, in 1999, Forbes magazine named him “Businessman of the Century,” and in 2012 a History Channel documentary highlighted him as one of “The Men Who Built America.”

“My great-grandfather’s vision was to improve people’s lives by making cars affordable for the average family,” said Bill Ford. “His vision to build cars that are reasonably priced, reliable and efficient still resonates and defines our vision today.”

Classic cars do battle on the Paris to Peking Motor Challenge

After two days of driving from the Great Wall of China, the competitive element of the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge kicked in as the entrants reached the remote plains of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. With two days of Time Trials ahead of them, some drivers came into their own while others were left playing in the sand.

In the Vintageants group of pre-war cars, Mike Reeves and BBC World Service presenter Michelle Jana Chan head the results in their ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ 1940 Ford V8 Coupe after the first event. Having completed the long test-section with a blistering pace, the British pair chalked up a three minute lead over their rivals, fellow Brits Phil Garratt and Kieron Brown in their red 1937 Chevy Fangio Coupe, and Denmark’s Lars and Annette Rolner, in the 1928 Bentley four-and-a-half.

The trio battled it out over a vast undulating plain of sandy, dusty, gritty, gravel tracks for the second event with the growling Ford V8 keeping its lead and ending with the second placed Chevy breathing down its neck. The Ford completed the Time Trial in 66m 12s, the Chevy chalking up 67m 47s, helping the Ford consolidate its lead, which now stands overall at 37h 9m 21s, compared with the Chevy crew’s 37h 16m 25s.

In third place, the Rolner’s Bentley has a total of 37h 17m 42s, just over a minute off the pace of the Chevy. A surprise fourth is the Swiss team of Mani Dubs and Robi Huber in the 1932 Rockne Six 75. This American saloon has excellent long-travel suspension that rides the bumps and crests most impressively. The British crew of Bill Cleyndert and Mark Van Hees in a 1929 Ford Model A Speedster hold an excellent fifth place among the Vintageants.

Meanwhile in the Classics division, the lead has become the battle of the Aussies as the ex-1974 World Cup Rally winning Citroen DS23¸ driven by Robbie Sherrard and Peter Washington, races for the top spot against 81-year-old Gerry Crown and teammate Matt Bryson in their 1973 Leyland P76.

In the first trial, the Leyland was victorious. In the second, the Citroen took the lead. The total overall was 7h 34m 15s for the Citroen, with the Leyland on 7h 36m 17s, with two VW Beetles close behind. The 1970 Beetle of American’s John and Brett Layzell is third, over a minute adrift, with Garrick Staples and Hayden Burvill and their 1969 marque in fourth with a total of 7h 38m 11s - a minute and a half ahead of the 1965 Porsche 911 of Peter Lovett and Tim Smith. Car 100, the 1973 Holden pick-up, crewed by Peter St George and David Gainer is fifth.

While some drivers and cars are focused on winning, others just want to survive the day let alone the 33-day long challenge, with newcomer-crews getting to grips with the complexities of navigating by GPS using their Garmins, combined with the Tulip-style route book and excellently illustrated map book.

The rare Chevrolet Stylemaster suffered a broken half-shaft in the axle, requiring a truck, while the big Mercury Park Ward was side-lined with gearbox and axle problems, collecting maximum penalties. The Bentley of car 11 stopped early into the Time Trial with a blown clutch but fortunately had a spare. The big La France stopped a few kilometres into the second Time Trial with the enormous rear axle moving on its spring mountings, which with some fettling and axle-straps, was brought back to life.

For more results, rally reports and exclusive picture galleries of the Peking to Paris Rally and information on future Endurance Rally Association events, visit www.endurorally.com.