He wanted to build a horseless carriage that everyone could own.  He needed money to do that.  Then, when he found out about the $1,000 prize being offered for the winner of the new sport of car racing, he decided to enter. He and a mechanic named Spider Huff put a 28 horsepower motor in his car, and raced against the American car racing champion - the Daredevil, Alexander Winton.

This is a Step Into Reading book, level 3, for children who are ready to read on their own, but it is also a stimulating read aloud story for younger children.  It has exciting characters, a compelling plot and simple sentences.  The bright, cartoonish illustrations by Richard Walz add outstanding visual impact to the story.