In 1908, 17 men participated in what was called the "Greatest Auto Race," a tough round-the-world drive. In 2008, a new Great Race will take place on the 22,000 mile roundabout way between New York and Paris. One of the participants in the Innovation Class of vehicles will be a 1967 Aston Martin DB6. That vehicle might not scream innovation, but thanks to a conversion process by Rich McKone of Peoria, Illinois, the classic ride will burn E85 on the trip.
According to a note sent to AutoblogGreen by Mike Ewing, the race's Director of Marketing and Communications, McKone is an avid car collector and decided to give his Aston the biofuel treatment to showcase the alternative fuel. The Bradley University in Peoria's Department of Engineering will work with McKone to collect some good ol' data on the way the car runs on ethanol during the trip. Perhaps they'd also like to see the specs from the ethanol-powered Aston Martin DBRS9 that won the British GT championship race at Snetterton England in early June.
McKone is not the only green racer in the 2008 event, and we'll bring you more as the event nears. For a picture of the 1908 race, click through the jump.
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[Source: Great Race]
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