It is a 1902 special racer built by George Cannon, who was a student at Harvard University (and later worked for Grout Brothers steam cars). Cannon entered his car at a race meet at the Brighton Beach Race Track on Long Island, N.Y., in August 1902, but was not allowed to compete because of an obscure rule which required the driver to have exclusive control of the car (Cannon's car was steered by the helmsman in front, while the mechanic in the rear controlled the boiler, engine, throttle, brakes, etc.). Cannon was allowed (after a crowd protest) to make two exhibition trials, setting a new speed record for the mile in 1:07 3/5. Cannon's racer had a tubular frame and a 24 inch boiler with 1,050 tubes heated by a Forg burner. The stack provided a draft that could be controlled by the rear operator. More than 400 pounds steam pressure were carried. A two cylinder 3 1/2 x 4 inch Mason engine was geared one-to-one to a differential beneath the rear seat. The car had no body whatsoever and its weight was 1,000 pounds.
