Three Guys Attempt Record-Breaking Road Trip

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses a group of three individuals attempting to break the record for traveling through all 48 contiguous states in the United States. The current record is five days and seven hours, and the participants share thoughts on the logistics, challenges, and personal experiences related to long road trips.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Personal anecdotes

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire to tour the US for a year if resources allowed, highlighting a personal connection to the topic.
  • Questions are raised about the previous record's date and the impact of speed limits on travel time, suggesting that raised speed limits could facilitate faster trips.
  • Concerns are mentioned regarding the practicality of such a long trip, particularly the need for frequent stops, including for restroom breaks.
  • Another participant humorously suggests using special bags for convenience during the trip.
  • There are comments on the potential aftermath of the trip, including the need for car detailing due to odors from prolonged travel with multiple people.
  • Anecdotes are shared about a foreign engineer who drove extensively in the US, illustrating the experience of long-distance travel and the reactions of rental agents upon car return.
  • Calculations are provided regarding the expected fuel consumption and costs for the trip, reflecting on how fuel prices have changed over the years.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of personal experiences and opinions, but there is no consensus on the feasibility or desirability of such a record-breaking trip. Multiple viewpoints regarding the challenges and logistics remain present.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about fuel prices and vehicle efficiency, as well as the lack of specific details regarding the previous record's conditions.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in road trips, travel logistics, or personal anecdotes related to long-distance driving may find this discussion engaging.

Astronuc
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Road-Trippers Confident They'll Set Record
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90245843
Morning Edition, May 7, 2008 · Three guys are driving across the country in an attempt to break a record for traveling through all 48 contiguous states. The current record is five days and seven hours.

. . . .

The men are driving a Scion xB and by Tuesday morning had hit 27 states, with 21 remaining.

The plan — a route from Vermont all the way south to Florida, up to the Great Lakes and back down to the Southwest before rounding up to Utah . . .

http://greatamericanroadtrip.us/

If you're young, single and have time on your hands . . .
 
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If i had the funds and the time i would take a year out to tour the US, i have plenty of internet
mates that share my love of old Britbikes over there, what a year that would be.
 
I wonder when the previous record was set and what the speed limits were then? Raised speed limits certainly could help. I wonder what they plan for the return trip. I could never do a trip like that...I need to stop for too many potty breaks. :rolleyes:
 
Moonbear said:
I wonder when the previous record was set and what the speed limits were then? Raised speed limits certainly could help. I wonder what they plan for the return trip. I could never do a trip like that...I need to stop for too many potty breaks. :rolleyes:

Just use one of those special little bags.
 
_Muddy_ said:
Just use one of those special little bags.

I'm kind of thinking the guys on this road trip will be spending the week after they return getting the car detailed to get rid of all the odors that a group of guys trapped in a car together for 5 days straight without stops other than for gas can emit (I guess they will fuel the car and empty the bottles at the same time?) That, or watch for the car to appear on eBay.
 
I worked with an engineer from overseas who was visiting the US on behalf of his company. They paid for him to spend several months in the US for training. His family joined him for several weeks. Toward the end of his term, he went on a two week vacation, in which he rented a car with unilimited milage. He then drove around the US and put about 11,000 to 12,000 miles on the car. I would have loved to seen faces on the agents when he returned the car. :smile:
 
The website states they'll end up covering 7,500 miles by the end of it. If that's true, with the Scion XB's getting about 28mpg hwy, they'll end up consuming ~268gal of gas and spending almost right at $1,000! Thats assuming an average of $3.75 a gallon, though.

It's sad to think that barely ten years ago the same trip would have cost only ~$300. Even less than that if they were driving, say, an '88 base model Civic hatchback