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When race car driver A.L. Riker crossed the finish line on April 15, 1900, he became the Automobile Club of America's first champion. Riker drove a battery-powered car he designed and built himself. And he rambled over fifty miles of rough road in just over two hours-a blistering 24 miles per hour average speed!
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Auto enthusiasts cheered Riker's victory. But in New York and other cities, many people weren't so thrilled with cars. In 1900, horse-driven carriages, pedestrians, and bicycles ruled American roads. Cars wowed the crowds at races, auto shows, and circuses. And autos were used by a few businesses to haul everything from ice to human passengers. But not everyone was ready to turn over city streets to these "rich man's toys."
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