On Sunday 5 November 68-year-old Lord Clarkson and co-driver, Australian Carl Wallace, became the first people to drive in 20 US states in 24 hours (without air travel) covering 1,609 miles (2,588kms) in a rental Hyundai Santa Fe from Kittery (Maine) in the North-East United States through New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois to finish over the Cairo Ohio Bridge in Kentucky, arriving with 26 minutes to spare.
Their achievement broke the previous record of driving through 19 US states in a 24-hour period, without air travel, set in 2003 by the late & great Barry Stiefel, behind the wheel of a rental Mercury Grand Marquis. Sadly, Barry passed away in 2007.
To further prove they made the actual trips, Carl & Lord Clarkson used a Garmin 66 GPS log, a Garmin tandem dash cam and geo-tagged pictures & videos for the whole 1,600 mile trip as evidence of their feat.
The trip ended when the pair made it to the Cairo Ohio River Bridge the Illinois and Kentucky border, 23 hours and 34 minutes after the trip began.
Carl's driving expertise ensured a smooth trip, incurring a single traffic infringement. The only scares were swerving round a large deer at 2am in Connecticut and, within 4 miles of the finish, an apparent high speed pursuit by three police cars, which turned out to be a false alarm.
The celebrations and presentations were a soberly quiet affair with a fewer than expected media presence. Television crews were not encouraged!
The only colour were the bright yellow commemorative T-shirts, which are still available whilst stocks last.
Carl was a late stand-in for racing driver Aaron Telitz, who was called-up at the eleventh hour for Aston Martin testing at Daytona Raceway.
This record will now be submitted, supported by comprehensive Garmin geo-tagged continuous Geotech photos in each state and a 2-way video of the whole journey to the Elite Records authority and The Guinness Book of Worl Records for verification.
This new record differs from the well-documented record of Aaron Frantz and Eric Hausman, who visited 23 US states in 23 hours and eight minutes in 2018, taking 3 flights.
Please contact:
(Lord) David Clarkson
(+61)405 970399
Do you smell it? That smell. A kind of smelly smell. The smelly smell that smells smelly.
Quote from: Rothman on November 15, 2023, 06:46:30 AM
Do you smell it? That smell. A kind of smelly smell. The smelly smell that smells smelly.
Love the smell of bot in the morning.
Lord? The last "Lord" around here was a car horn enthusiast.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 07:51:38 AM
Lord? The last "Lord" around here was a car horn enthusiast.
I gotta admit, I've been honking my horn a lot whenever I play GTA V, mostly in return whenever the NPCs honk. I guess it's better for those lines of code to get honked at than to get the average GTA treatment.
Did you guys stop for any point or did you do what the crazy astronaut did when she wanted to confront her boyfriend's wife and had to drive a thousand miles to do so?
The Dark Side of the Force is strong with this one.
Why does it matter what kind of car was used, or that it was a rental? (Looks like a product placement was missed by not naming the rental company/ies)
"I never thought this would happen to me, but ..."
Quote from: GaryV on November 15, 2023, 08:57:13 AM
Why does it matter what kind of car was used, or that it was a rental? (Looks like a product placement was missed by not naming the rental company/ies)
Doesn't matter that it was a rental, but it would be more impressive if the feat were done with the guys jammed into a Smart Fortwo rather than stretched out in a land yacht.
I can't be the only one who has pondered about the peeing logistics? I'm assuming a bottle or two would be involved.
pooing would not be cool
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 11:02:02 AM
I can't be the only one who has pondered about the peeing logistics? I'm assuming a bottle or two would be involved.
Snapple is your friend (assuming you can get the lid secured).
In fairness...if you can moderate your liquid intake, then it may be possible to time stops such that one person refuels the car while the other person runs in for a quick loo visit.
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on November 15, 2023, 01:17:18 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 11:02:02 AM
I can't be the only one who has pondered about the peeing logistics? I'm assuming a bottle or two would be involved.
Snapple is your friend (assuming you can get the lid secured).
They certainly do have a generous bottle cap width.
Quote from: kphoger on November 15, 2023, 11:06:25 AM
pooing would not be cool
But probably not wide enough to accommodate a bowel movement. I would assume this would be like a race car where the driver just soils themself rather than get out of the car.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 01:19:30 PM
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on November 15, 2023, 01:17:18 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 11:02:02 AM
I can't be the only one who has pondered about the peeing logistics? I'm assuming a bottle or two would be involved.
Snapple is your friend (assuming you can get the lid secured).
They certainly do have a generous bottle cap width.
Quote from: kphoger on November 15, 2023, 11:06:25 AM
pooing would not be cool
But probably not wide enough to accommodate a bowel movement. I would assume this would be like a race car where the driver just soils themself rather than get out of the car.
Or do like I do when climbing mountains -- ingest enough coffee that all evacuation happens before beginning your endeavor.
Quote from: SectorZ on November 15, 2023, 08:55:02 AM
Did you guys stop for any point or did you do what the crazy astronaut did when she wanted to confront her boyfriend's wife and had to drive a thousand miles to do so?
My guess is that Lord Clarkson is no longer in the building.....this is a lord that is NOT omnipresent. To quote evidence, they could only make 20 states in 24 hours.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on November 15, 2023, 01:33:49 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 01:19:30 PM
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on November 15, 2023, 01:17:18 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 11:02:02 AM
I can't be the only one who has pondered about the peeing logistics? I'm assuming a bottle or two would be involved.
Snapple is your friend (assuming you can get the lid secured).
They certainly do have a generous bottle cap width.
Quote from: kphoger on November 15, 2023, 11:06:25 AM
pooing would not be cool
But probably not wide enough to accommodate a bowel movement. I would assume this would be like a race car where the driver just soils themself rather than get out of the car.
Or do like I do when climbing mountains -- ingest enough coffee that all evacuation happens before beginning your endeavor.
Alternatively...after you go through a colonoscopy prep, it can take a bit before your bathroom habits return to normal.
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on November 15, 2023, 01:52:42 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on November 15, 2023, 01:33:49 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 01:19:30 PM
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on November 15, 2023, 01:17:18 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 11:02:02 AM
I can't be the only one who has pondered about the peeing logistics? I'm assuming a bottle or two would be involved.
Snapple is your friend (assuming you can get the lid secured).
They certainly do have a generous bottle cap width.
Quote from: kphoger on November 15, 2023, 11:06:25 AM
pooing would not be cool
But probably not wide enough to accommodate a bowel movement. I would assume this would be like a race car where the driver just soils themself rather than get out of the car.
Or do like I do when climbing mountains -- ingest enough coffee that all evacuation happens before beginning your endeavor.
Alternatively...after you go through a colonoscopy prep, it can take a bit before your bathroom habits return to normal.
Between a colonoscopy and a cappuccino, I'll stick with the latter.
https://youtu.be/j6zmQgolwSQ?si=QbojGj3qQnluhr_I
Quote from: JayhawkCO on November 15, 2023, 01:58:27 PM
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on November 15, 2023, 01:52:42 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on November 15, 2023, 01:33:49 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 01:19:30 PM
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on November 15, 2023, 01:17:18 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 11:02:02 AM
I can't be the only one who has pondered about the peeing logistics? I'm assuming a bottle or two would be involved.
Snapple is your friend (assuming you can get the lid secured).
They certainly do have a generous bottle cap width.
Quote from: kphoger on November 15, 2023, 11:06:25 AM
pooing would not be cool
But probably not wide enough to accommodate a bowel movement. I would assume this would be like a race car where the driver just soils themself rather than get out of the car.
Or do like I do when climbing mountains -- ingest enough coffee that all evacuation happens before beginning your endeavor.
Alternatively...after you go through a colonoscopy prep, it can take a bit before your bathroom habits return to normal.
Between a colonoscopy and a cappuccino, I'll stick with the latter.
Still, the prep part including bowel inducing laxatives could in theory be used to give the driver a solid 48 hour plus window.
This of course doesn't fully explain how someone would maintain a speed of 67 MPH for 24 hours. Fuel stops would be a significant speed reduced even if the driver was speeding significantly. It would also include a lot of luck not to hit a random unplanned for traffic jam.
Is this a legit post?
Quote from: dclarkson62@outlook.com on November 15, 2023, 01:09:03 AM
On Sunday 5 November 68-year-old Lord Clarkson and co-driver, Australian Carl Wallace ...
Sunday, 5 November ... Makes me wonder if Lord Clarkson used the same DST->Standard time change to cheese an extra hour for the trip? (To be fair, Barry Steifel used the same exploit - although he called it "one day" rather than "24 hours").
And haven't we already met our quota of "Lord C" posters?
Quote from: dlsterner on November 15, 2023, 06:09:56 PM
Quote from: dclarkson62@outlook.com on November 15, 2023, 01:09:03 AM
On Sunday 5 November 68-year-old Lord Clarkson and co-driver, Australian Carl Wallace ...
Sunday, 5 November ... Makes me wonder if Lord Clarkson used the same DST->Standard time change to cheese an extra hour for the trip? (To be fair, Barry Steifel used the same exploit - although he called it "one day" rather than "24 hours").
And haven't we already met our quota of "Lord C" posters?
The original "Lord C" is seemingly has his hands full these days:
https://fb.watch/ol2sFkn7pd/?mibextid=TOrFJN
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on November 15, 2023, 03:37:13 PM
Is this a legit post?
Post a photo of the post and we'll be able to better judge its legitimacy.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on November 15, 2023, 03:37:13 PM
Is this a legit post?
Not likely with the OP but inquires into the peeing and pooing logistics in this "hypothetical run behind the wheel" are.
In answer to Max Rockatansky's comment . Makes me wonder if Lord Clarkson used the same DST->Standard time change to cheese an extra hour for the trip? (To be fair, Barry Steifel used the same exploit - although he called it "one day" rather than "24 hours"):
Barry did 21 states in 26 hours (1 day). That equated to 19 states in 24 hours.
We therefore had 24 hours (midnight to 10pm) because Summer time ended and we traveled to Central time. We took 23 hours 34 mins finishing at 21.34
This record will be accredited by the Guinness Book of Records and Elite World Records, supported by a Garmin 66 GPS log, a Garmin tandem dash cam and geo-tagged pictures & videos for the whole 1,600 mile trip.
All the forum toilet jokes are childish.
David Clarkson, Sydney
He's an angry bot.
Looks like he lost his lordship.
Are you able to post some of the pictures you took in Virginia? What route did you take in the state?
Quote from: dclarkson62@outlook.com on November 16, 2023, 02:38:03 AM
All the forum toilet jokes are childish.
David Clarkson, Sydney
If you want to discuss toilet jokes, we should introduce you to bandit. He's our resident stinker about all things Poo.
Quote from: dclarkson62@outlook.com on November 15, 2023, 01:09:03 AM
Carl was a late stand-in for racing driver Aaron Telitz, who was called-up at the eleventh hour for Aston Martin testing at Daytona Raceway.
I've been unable to find any documentation that Daytona has had any testing for any racing series in November.
Wait, I thought this guy was a Scottish Lord?
Also, was there a diaper or two involved?
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 16, 2023, 08:55:16 AM
Wait, I thought this guy was a Scottish Lord?
Also, was there a diaper or two involved?
Don't ask that. It's childish you know.
This is a legitimate user. Please don't "bite" the new people. It may seem a bit unusual that he's bragging about himself, but someone has to be that person. I think most of the hostility in this thread is the OP looking like a spambot (such as having username be his email address) despite not being one and the people posting here not changing once it became clear this was a real person.
Imagine if we talked to Ken Jennings in 2010 disparagingly for not believing he was who he claimed he was.
Yeah, I'm not buying it without some substantial proof. It isn't as though I didn't do a cursory search for this guy and the claimed record before posting.
Chances are this person would have provided more proof initially or posted more when he was asked if any of this was legit. Maybe it's just me, but I rather not make the assumption a random new user is telling the truth when the claims don't meet the initial smell test.
The claim is also very dubious to me of being the first to drive around 20 states in 24 hours. The feat sounds way too easy given discussions of other marathon drivers on here -- even with our own people on the forum's trip reports and whatnot.
Shoot, I'd be surprised if multiple county clinchers haven't already done so.
We've had threads about that before. For example:
Most states you can drive through in 24 hours
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=10274.0)
Most states you've visited in one day (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=26228.0)
If you can find anyone in those threads claiming to have visited twenty states in a day, then please link to it.
What gets me is that the speed is way too fast for 24 or 26 hours without elaboration. While "childish" perhaps the questions about bathroom breaks are valid when the claimed speed is over 60 MPH. There has also been questions about fueling up and avoiding random traffic jams. All of these require some baseline explanation if we are to even find any of this semi-plausible.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 16, 2023, 03:27:19 PM
What gets me is that the speed is way too fast for 24 or 26 hours without elaboration. While "childish" perhaps the questions about bathroom breaks are valid when the claimed speed is over 60 MPH. There has also been questions about fueling up and avoiding random traffic jams. All of these require some baseline explanation if we are to even find any of this semi-plausible.
Just some back-of-the-envelope math here...
Assume 400 miles per tank of gas. This seems reasonable for a Hyundai Santa Fe (17 gallons per fill-up @ 23.5 mpg).
Assume, therefore, only three mid-trip fill-ups. Assume 12 minutes per fill-up. This makes 36 minutes total for pit stops.
This leaves 22 hours 58 minutes of actual driving time.
For 1609 total miles, this comes to an average of almost exactly 70 mph.
Even factoring in occasional traffic backups, that doesn't seem unreasonable if they planned their route carefully ahead of time to miss the busiest highways at the busiest times.
Quote from: kphoger on November 16, 2023, 03:57:26 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 16, 2023, 03:27:19 PM
What gets me is that the speed is way too fast for 24 or 26 hours without elaboration. While "childish" perhaps the questions about bathroom breaks are valid when the claimed speed is over 60 MPH. There has also been questions about fueling up and avoiding random traffic jams. All of these require some baseline explanation if we are to even find any of this semi-plausible.
Just some back-of-the-envelope math here...
Assume 400 miles per tank of gas. This seems reasonable for a Hyundai Santa Fe (17 gallons per fill-up @ 23.5 mpg).
Assume, therefore, only three mid-trip fill-ups. Assume 12 minutes per fill-up. This makes 36 minutes total for pit stops.
This leaves 22 hours 58 minutes of actual driving time.
For 1609 total miles, this comes to an average of almost exactly 70 mph.
Even factoring in occasional traffic backups, that doesn't seem unreasonable if they planned their route carefully ahead of time to miss the busiest highways at the busiest times.
The entire drive at that avg. speed would be, well, illegal I guess? People shouldn't come here bragging about violating traffic laws for an entire 24 hours either.
Quote from: SectorZ on November 16, 2023, 04:02:50 PMThe entire drive at that avg. speed would be, well, illegal I guess? People shouldn't come here bragging about violating traffic laws for an entire 24 hours either.
We have had more than a few discussions here expressing disdain for some current speed limits; and it is possible to have that disdain without going all the way to endorsing high-speed reckless driving. And in some venues, admiration (and skepticism) has been expressed towards those claiming notable times for Cannonball Runs.
As to the purported childishness of the bathroom questions...while we certainly joke about the subject, there actually is legitimate interest when it comes to the logistics of pulling off such a drive, including the handling of the obvious biological functions.
If the OP really did pull off the feat, I would be interested in hearing more of the details, etc.
Quote from: SectorZ on November 16, 2023, 04:02:50 PM
The entire drive at that avg. speed would be, well, illegal I guess? People shouldn't come here bragging about violating traffic laws for an entire 24 hours either.
I'm not so naïve as to believe that
any such driving record is ever accomplished while obeying all the speed limits.
The speeds seem completely reasonable. In many of the states that would only be the speed limit. For much of the start of the (alleged) drive it would be 5 or 15 over, and in those states neither speed on the highway would get much notice. In states with 70 mph limits, keeping it under 80 is the norm. So he's very likely driving at routinely acceptable speeds.
Regarding fuel & bathroom breaks; if the route was very carefully planned, then likely fuel stops were regularly planned. Picking stations ahead of time that are easy off-ons with convenient bathrooms isn't that hard to do. And face it - they're probably guys. Use a bottle in the car and it eliminates bathroom time.
Regarding travel times: Again with some planning not hard to do. Non-holiday. No rush hours. Minimal family travel days. So that leaves both Saturdays and Sundays in much of the fall. If he did it during the time change to gain that extra hour, it all checks out.
I'm not saying I will totally believe the claim, but some of the questions being raised make me wonder if people here have ever planned anything, or just jump in the car and go.
On trips like these, I've wondered about the possibility of using (say) four cars, fully gassed up and parked at strategic points along the route. When running low on fuel, just change cars. You would just have a support crew that takes care of planting the fully gassed cars and retrieving the abandoned empty cars (and abandoned piss bottles).
Maybe that's cheating; maybe it isn't.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 16, 2023, 03:27:19 PM
What gets me is that the speed is way too fast for 24 or 26 hours without elaboration. While "childish" perhaps the questions about bathroom breaks are valid when the claimed speed is over 60 MPH. There has also been questions about fueling up and avoiding random traffic jams. All of these require some baseline explanation if we are to even find any of this semi-plausible.
Meh. The speed isn't the issue for me. Seems plausible to drive 1,600 miles in 24 hours.
Rather, the weird tone in the OP, using the title Lord and then dropping it, posting a phone number, and the questionable significance of driving into 20 states in 24 hours...it's weird.
And, of course, the legitimacy of Guiness' World Records isn't half what it used to be, anyway.
Thanks to Hunty, Irish,Max R, Rothman, kphoger, jeffandnicole
Photos and details on Twitter (X) @USARecordDrive
States were: (column headings are cum miles, sector files, number of new states)
Maine 1 1 1
New Hampshire 18 17 2
Massachusetts 106 88 3
Rhode Island 113 7 4
Connecticut 258 145 5
New York 283 25 6
New Jersey 361 78 7
Pennsylvania 405 44 8
Delaware 430 25 9
Maryland 571 141 10
Virginia 581 10 11
West Virg 595 14 12
Virginia 924 329
Tennessee 1129 205 13
Georgia 1133 4 14
Tennessee 1152 19
Alabama (CT -1) 1317 165 15
Mississippi 1348 31 16
Tennessee 1461 113
Missouri 1493 32 17
Arkansas 1495 2 18
Missouri 1588 93
Illinois 1595 7 19
Kentucky 1597 1 20
You're welcome.
Quote from: dclarkson62@outlook.com on November 16, 2023, 06:36:16 PM
Thanks to Hunty, Irish,Max R, Rothman, kphoger, jeffandnicole
Photos and details on Twitter (X) @USARecordDrive
States were: (column headings are cum miles, sector files, number of new states)
Maine 1 1 1
New Hampshire 18 17 2
Massachusetts 106 88 3
Rhode Island 113 7 4
Connecticut 258 145 5
New York 283 25 6
New Jersey 361 78 7
Pennsylvania 405 44 8
Delaware 430 25 9
Maryland 571 141 10
Virginia 581 10 11
West Virg 595 14 12
Virginia 924 329
Tennessee 1129 205 13
Georgia 1133 4 14
Tennessee 1152 19
Alabama (CT -1) 1317 165 15
Mississippi 1348 31 16
Tennessee 1461 113
Missouri 1493 32 17
Arkansas 1495 2 18
Missouri 1588 93
Illinois 1595 7 19
Kentucky 1597 1 20
Looked at your post on X, and gave you a follow.
Looks like you took I-81 most of the way through VA.
What surprises me is that you couldn't squeeze in Vermont, but I guess that would have made Rhode Island harder to hit.
Quote from: dclarkson62@outlook.com on November 16, 2023, 06:36:16 PM
Tennessee 1129 205 13
Georgia 1133 4 14
Tennessee 1152 19
Definitely took I-24 through Georgia right there...
QuoteAlabama (CT -1) 1317 165 15
Mississippi 1348 31 16
Tennessee 1461 113
...and then through US 72, headed north on US 45, back into Tennessee (hey, it borders 8 states) and onto US 412 / I-155.
The success of beating Barry's great effort was setting off on a Sunday at midnight.
The route was Kittery (Maine), Worcester, Cub World Scout Camp (Rhode Island) diverting from I-395, New Haven, Port Chester, Fort Lee, Bristol Township School District, Newark (Delaware), thru Maryland to Mechanicstown (West Virginia). Then the long run thru Virginia and Tennessee (Roanoke, Bristol Casino, Knoxville) to Chattanooga, Huntsville & Corinth.
So clipped Georgia & Alabama. Then up the 412, thru Tennessee for the 3rd time into Missouri & West Kennett Arkansas. The last leg was up the I-55 & 57 to Cairo Illinois and over Cairo Ohio River Bridge into the 20th state Kentucky at 9-34pm local time. Although jeffandnicole and disterner were correct in it being changeover Sunday (as Barry Steiffel had done in 2003), the extra hour simply meant we had to finish pre-10pm (see reply 25).
On SectorZ's comment about fuel we refuelled 5 times but each stop was approx 5 mins. In Australia we have to pay inside but the credit card option means you can have a piss and refuel in as little as 4 minutes, which we did.
Thanks to MikeTheActuary for conceding our trip could be true. I devised and amended the route with Michael of Sydney (an Australian actuary). My email address is visible. Happy to share endless data, geotech 24hour Garmin Dual Cam Tandem videos using 256GB memory cards (1GB films 4 minutes) and the Garmin 66 satellite GPS tracker.
I presume OP means elderly! I have run 4 marathons and climbed within 600m of the top of Everest.
davewieking - correct - Brattleboro Vermont and Rhode Island would cost us 1-2 hours.
Hunty22 From WV we simply took the 81 South.
NWI_Irish96 in reply 29 "unable to find any documentation that Daytona has had any testing in Nov"
please refer to
https://www.imsa.com/news/2023/11/14/preliminary-team-and-driver-lineup-revealed-for-62nd-rolex-24-at-daytona/
I hope that clarifies some of the sceptics' posts.
If anyone wants photos etc please email dclarkson62@outlook.com I am unsure how to post many formats to aaroads forum.
There's a bit of stuff on twitter @USARecordDrive
and I will post a commemorative T-shirt to the first 2 who email me and give a shipping address!!
A little PSA to directly quote someone:
[quote][/quote]
"You'll just have to take our word for it that we broke the record. Please buy our stuff."
Quote from: dclarkson62@outlook.com on November 17, 2023, 06:26:08 PM
I presume OP means elderly! I have run 4 marathons and climbed within 600m of the top of Everest.
OP = original post(er), i.e. the first post in the thread, or the person who posted it.
This is impressive but not actually that impressive - if you just plug the route into Google and specify a departure time of 12 AM it says "24 hours." Speed a little bit but not crazy fast to offset restroom and fuel stops and you're there.
I would bet any pair of two competent drivers could pull this off- that said it's still cool to actually do it so good job.
Thank you Corco. Appreciated.
I have today started trials for my next 24 hour world record
https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/05/australia-Guinness-World-Records-pub-crawl/1441701809097/