August 10: The original Peking to Paris Race was won on this date in 1907

The Peking-to-Paris race of 1907 began as a challenge from a newspaper, daring anyone with a car to cover the 9,300 miles between the French and Chinese capitals. By the time the race began with five entrants in Peking (now Beijing), the organizers had bailed out and there were no official rules. After 62 days, Prince Scipio Borghese drove his Italia into Paris on this date in 1907, winning the top prize -- a bottle of Mumm champagne. Since then the race has been re-created many times, with varying degrees of success.