May 25, 2026: The Dirt Racers

Back in 1909 there was a race, the first of its kind.

The Ocean to Ocean Automobile Endurance Contest stretched 4,100 miles from New York to Seattle. Since automobiles were a new invention, the contest promoted these motorized marvels.

It wasn’t pretty. In those days, no highways existed and horses still ruled the roads. The route relied on wagon trails and dirt paths between towns. Breakdowns happened constantly, and when rain fell, wheels sank into axle-deep mud. A four-thousand mile sputtering adventure.

1909 doesn’t seem very long ago. The timeline is a reminder of how quickly technology can improve, especially when considering how cars have taken over modern society.

But even more amazing… we went from horseless carriages to stepping on the Moon in roughly sixty years. From dirt roads to a lunar landing in only decades.

Because time is deceiving, you can live through revolutions you barely notice. The present always feels permanent. Change arrives gradually, then all at once.

Every advancement begins by looking a little ridiculous. A future person will read about smartphones the same way we read about wagon trails.

Life seems to move slowly while living it and shockingly fast when remembering it.