Henry Ford and Ed (Spider) Huff Driving the Ford Sweepstakes Racer at Grosse Pointe, Michigan, October 10, 1901

Henry Ford and Ed "Spider" Huff driving Sweepstakes, Ford's first race car, to victory over Alexander Winton at the Grosse Pointe Race Track, a horse racing track, Grosse Pointe, Michigan, October 10th, 1901. After several other cars dropped out, the race pitted the then unknown Ford against Alexander Winton who, in 1901, was one of the most well-known and successful automobile manufacturer in the country. After Winton's car developed mechanical problems, Henry Ford, with Ed Huff crouching on the side board manually lubricating and fueling the car, won the race. Ford used the notoriety from the race to gain financial investors who helped fund his second car company, the Henry Ford Company, in 1902.