The Real Great Automotive Race

Four reasons why marketers of investment and trust services should check out this interactive salute to the 1908 automobile race from New York to Paris:

1. It's an incredible story. In 1908 no one had yet driven across the U.S. in winter. That coast-to-coast trip was only the first leg of this impossible challenge. Must have been a piece of cake compared to Siberia.

2. The NY Times ( which co-sponsored the race) has constructed a remarkable presentation, complete with photos and links to the original news reports from the Times archives (now freely available). Result: a content-rich digital diary/scrapbook. The Internet may be breeding worthwhile new media at last.

3. Just imagine creating similar interactive presentations relating to the financial world as educational and marketing tools: "The Evolution of Global Investing," "Hedge Funders at Work and Play." And, of course, that old favorite, "Wall Street Lays an Egg."

4. Many high-net-worth guys love old cars. Maybe you even have a client who's planning to participate in the 2008 sequel to the Great Race.