The Daily Mail Trans-Atlantic Air Race was more than simply an air race. There were running races, high speed motorcycle or car races, speed boats on the Thames and helicopters dashing across cities. All followed by a flight across Atlantic, finished off by a similar chaotic race, on the other side. It was a madcap caper to bring the revolutionary 1960’s to a close and a competition of the type and character we are unlikely to see again. There were few restrictions on who could enter, even fewer on the modes of transport selected to rush them to their aircraft and no restrictions on what they could fly over the great ocean.

The newspaper had a history of promoting aviation and as a result increasing circulation. In 1909 The Daily Mail put up a prize of £1 000 for the first pilot to cross the Channel. Bleriot’s success on 25 July 1909 was commemorated 50 years later by the paper with the 1959 London to Paris Air Race, from Marble Arch to the Arc de Triomphe.

Ten years later a similar event was staged to mark the 50^th anniversary of the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight. On the 14/15 June 1919, Capt. John Alcock and Lt. Arthur Whitten Brown flew a modified First World War Vickers Vimy bomber, powered by two Rolls-Royce Eagle engines, from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Clifden, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. They won the £10 000 prize first put up by the Daily Mail in 1913.

The 1969 Transatlantic Air Race started from the top of the GPO Tower in London and ended at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City, or vice versa. The winners were those that completed the route in the quickest time in their class without transgressing any laws or regulations between May 4^th to 11^th 1969, inclusive. The rules stated that ‘you may make as many attempts as you wish in either direction under a single entry fee of £10 ($24), providing you use ‘the same route and types of conveyances each time’.

Issued on 25 July 1968, the revised rules declared that ‘this Transatlantic Air Race is open to all comers from any part of the world. Anyone can go in for it. Entries can be made by the Services, Companies, Organisations, tycoons with private “planes”, week-end fliers with light aircraft, and any general public who have the price of a cheap charter or ordinary air fare.’ Motor Sport Magazine quoted from the race rules when it highlighted that, ‘to many this will be the last great adventure left to the individual before the supersonic and "jumbo" jets take over the new era of mass travel.’

Brain Harpur, promotions director at the Daily Mail turned to John Webb for ideas as to how to commemorate the Alcock Brown flight. Webb, the creative genius behind British motor racing, had competed in the 1959 London to Paris race. Making use of the Silver Cities air ferry he completed the race in 2 hours 27 minutes and 14 seconds, a record that still stands. Webb’s suggestion was immediately accepted, and the 1969 Transatlantic race was on, with Peter Bostock of the Daily Sketch in charge of its organisation. Applying the same tactics used in 1959 to the 1969 race, John drove a Ford Cortina between the towers, which he had transported on a 707 freighter, registering a time of 9 hours 19 minutes.

Bringing the idea to fruition was a very difficult task. London’s park authorities refused to allow helicopters to land in any parks close to the GPO Tower, while the GPO was concerned about limiting public access during the race. New York City officials, although more helpful, also added to the organisers planning dilemmas. Some airlines seemed not to realise the marketing opportunities, the US military felt the race was a frivolous diversion during the Vietnam War and the executive jet manufacturers feared being overshadowed by the large airliners. Four days before the entry deadline only 40 entries had been received. For months the organising team had hidden the disappointing truth that the race was not attracting the 300 contestants predicted. On the last day the bubble burst. Corridors were packed in the three race offices in London and the New York office was swamped. As midnight on 18^th April approached the numbers looked promising, but a new problem arose. All the yellow entry forms had to be copied and distributed to the media and sponsors before they were despatched to the Royal Aero Club where they had to be verified. For three days and long nights, Bostock’s team processed the deluge of yellow paper. The press release announced that 397 entries were received. When the eight-day race was over 345 attempts had been made, 187 from London and 158 from New York.