The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-30
GROSS COUNTRY
TRIP STARTED
BY REQ
Fassett, Veteran Driver, h
Plotting Sedan Bus to
West Coast

Old timers In the automobile 81.
dustry are doing q good deal Of
renniniscing these days, the occasion
being the first trans-continen
motor bus trip which now Is being
made BY a new REQ sedan type
cross-country bus which is being
plotted from coast to coast by Dave
Fassett, veteran REQ driver, who
bears the distinction Of having
driven IN the first trans-continental
auto tour away back In 1gO6.OB.
1T is interesting to compare the
present-day conditions with those
which were encountered by the
drivers In those early days ana the
!accounts Of the Journey made by the
famous REQ "Mountaineer'' seem
more like those OF the journeys OF
the old 'Forty-niners,' says r. G.
Rueschaw, sales manager Of the
REQ Motor Car Company.
Significant Of Development.
1.-THE fact that Fasset ii now
driving the new REQ bus from New
York to the western coast carries
particular significance and that long
period which has elapsed since
Fassett's first and most famous trip
down to the present time has been
q period OF astounding development
and equally astonishing experiences
by this indprnitAble motorist." says
Rueschaw.
1T win be OF particular interest
to compare the trip Of the REQ
Bus with its luxurious equipment
and complete appointments with
that early voyage made by Fassett
which started from Herald Square
on August 10, 1905.
surely, the present trip win lack
many Of the hazardous experiences
and daring featsI which were man
fully borne in those early days,
but It ID Of no less interest for all
that.
1.-THE trip Of the REQ Mountain.
eer" was q double trans-continental
tour begun under the auspices Of
the American Motor League, for the
purpose Of ascertaining the mileage
between towns, recording the alti-
tude, nature Of the ground, depth
Of fords, grade percentage Of hills
and mountains and sending in daily
reports on the conditions Of the
roads, bridges, mountain passes and
sandy stretches OF the Bitter Creek
and Great American desert.
Incidentally, 1t also was de-
signed to awaken an intelligent pub
lie sentiment in favor of at least one
good road across the continent
built and maintained under the SUI
pervision Of the Federal Govern
ment. The route which was laid
out for this little sixteen horsepower
REQ touring car was from New
York to San Francisco and on to
Los Angeles, returning to the East
by the way Of Albuquerque, st.
Louis and Indianapolis.
Typical Experience.
'Fassett's experience between
Flagstaff and Winslow, Arizona,
may be regarded az typical. The
distance is almost nothing on the
map and yet, only thirteen miles
out OF Flagstaff, he was caught in
one Of the most furious snow
storms Of the year, completely
showed In, and. after having been
unable to make furthur progress
over the steep roads because OF the
sudden failure OF his gasoline sup
ply, he was forced to stop upon the
road without food or shelter and
there he was found hours later, al.
most frozen to death, by search.
ing party. He had used what little
gasoline he had left to build q fire
and the smoke from this was what
led the searches from Flagstaff to
the REQ.
The new REQ Bus IL now on the
first lap Of its trans-continental
voyage which will terminate at San
Francisco. Cities along the route
between New York and Chicago
which win be visited by the new REQ
are Albany, Schenectady, Utica, Sy.
racuse, Rochester. Buffalo, Erie.