Sept. 28, 1930: After 42 days on the road, James B. Hargis and his mechanic, Charles Creighton, returned to New York City and laid claim to a new automobile record, The Times reported.

The two men had driven round trip to Los Angeles in a Ford roadster -- in reverse. The car was left running the entire time, the newspaper said.

“Throughout these 42 days, Hargis and Creighton traveled night and day at an average speed of 10 mph, sleeping in a specially constructed seat in their roadster,” The Times said.

“However, in Los Angeles, the boys gave themselves a 48-hour rest while their motor chugged on while crowds gathered around the car, which was making such a unique endurance record.”


“Before the boys left New York,” the newspaper said, the Texas Co., maker of the Texaco products used on the run, removed the low, intermediate and high gears from the transmission.