South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-24
BREAKS RECORDS
FOR DIRT ROADS
Duluth Test of Franklin
Shows 1891 Miles in Il
Hours Running Time.

BY covering the distance of 1924
miles in % hours and 80 minutes.
elapsed time, and in Il hours and
81 minutes actual running time. J.
T. Peacha, jr.. OF Duluth. Mimi.
driving a Franklin roadster this
week broke the worlds records for
dirt roads. Details of the remark
able run were received in South
Bend today by Arnold Spielberg,
local agent for the Franklin car.
The run was planned about
week in advance and was the re-
suit OF a $500 wager that the car,
which was previously used as
pathfinder car for a Duluth news
paper. could not make over 700
miles in % hours The car had
been on a hard run of more than
200 miles 70 Ashland and back only
two days before and there was no
time for overhauling the engine.
Outside of tuning up the motor nc
preparations had been made for
the grilIng test. J. T. Peacha, jr..
drove the entire distance and was
accompanied by A. II. Peacha. me
chanician; Stewart DeMars, repre-
sentative &C the Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Co, with which tires the
car was equipped, and A. W.
Tracy. automobile editor of the Du-
luth Herald. The run was made
with the sanction OF the Duluth au-
tomobne club Andavits were oh
tanned as TO the time of the arrival
at each terminal by witnessing Off
Gals. The run covered three diff
ferent Minnesota cities and return.
Hills Slow Progress.
On the trip to the first city and
return, high hills. sharp turns and
sandy roads slowed up the progress.
On the run 10 the second city, the
fastest time of the entire trip was
made, 261.9 miles was covered in
seven hours and "a minutes. This
was done in spite OF detOurs over
infreouently used roads. The de-
tours were made in order 20 avoid
travelling over any but dirt roads.
When the car started on the last
leg OF its run, the hour was II
O'Clock midnight, but that did not
delay the enthusiastic crowds of
Duluth motorists from waiting at
the Interstate garage where the
tourists were TO stop for gasoline.
A large crowd was waiting and
royal reception was given the party
on every stop. reports the Duluth
Herald.
Crowds met the car and automo-
biies were lined up along the roads
on both sides. and occupants cheer
ed as the car passed. Advance no
tice OF the coming Of the car was
sent along the route 10 81. Paul.
and at every town the party was
given an ovation.
Tells OF the Trip.
After the road test Mr.. Peacha
said
This stunt has all Duluth on its
toes. on the face OF it the stunt
looks impossible. but it was dead
easy and 1 am positive I can make
$50 miles over the same road. In
the entire 729 miles we never
changed a tire. although today
when we were looking the tire over.
we discovered piece Of file about
two and a half inches long that had
been driven through both tire and
tube. but it was SO tightly bedded
that IT did not leak"
Pages of the extraordinary run Of
Mr.. Peacha appeared i'm the Duluth
papers and the Associated Press
used the story of the feat in the
middle west. The Duluth Herald
editor not only regarded the high
mileage as astounding. but he calls
the sturdy air-cooled motor Of The
Franklin car n revelation. No
mishaps occurred and The only