Trans-USA Challenge Shatters North America Driving Record

July 13, 2005 (PRLEAP.COM) Business News
The Trans-USA Challenge driving team has broken one of the most
hallowed long distance driving records in the world. The journey
began at the northern-most point in the United States accessible by
road, Deadhorse Alaska. From there, the Trans-USA team drove to Key West, Florida, the southern-most point. The entire trip, which mapped
out at 5440 miles, took only 82 hours and 24 minutes, shattering the
1996 record of 96 hours.

The Trans-USA team was comprised of two Americans, Jason Miklian and
Scott Roecker. For their expedition, the team equipped their 2005
Volkswagen Jetta TDI with several enhancements, including both a
Dieselgeek Panzer skid plate and fuel tank modifications to limit
possible delays. These enhancements, along with shrewd map reading,
enabled the two man team to shatter the previous time. In the words
of Miklian, "We feel that this record is now impossible to beat."

In achieving this record, the team followed the strict rules
established by the Guinness Book of World Records for road events. Per Guinness regulations, a radar detector was forbidden and the team received no speeding tickets during the journey. According to Scott Roecker, "We knew that this
record could be broken without excessive speed. We diligently
followed the rules of the road, and truly beat this record only
through some good luck with weather and traffic, limited breaks and
lots of Red Bull."

Not everyone was so certain that this record could be broken.
According to the official witness in Deadhorse, Alaska, the record was
impossible to break. "Never gonna happen" was repeated every time
Roecker mentioned what their plan was. Despite this early skepticism,
the Trans-USA Challenge driving team was able to meet their goal.

The trip is a charity event to raise awareness for the National
Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC). Several distinguished individual
sponsors have combined with generous corporate assistance to ensure
the logistical success of the trip, providing both supplies to the
Trans-USA team and cash contributions to the NCVC. The Trans-USA
Challenge hopes to raise several thousand dollars for the NCVC in
conjunction with this event.

About the Trans-USA Challenge.

The Trans-USA Challenge concept was first formulated in late 2004 by
Jason Miklian and Scott Roecker in an effort to raise awareness for
charitable organizations while at the same time setting some of the
most grueling and demanding driving endurance records known to man.
2006 plans will include an effort to break the world record for
fastest land circumnavigation of the planet.

About the National Center for Victims of Crime.

The NCVC is the nation's leading resource and advocacy organization
for crime victims. Since 1985, the NCVC has worked with more than
10,000 grassroots organizations and criminal justice agencies serving
millions of crime victims. Additional information can be found at
www.ncvc.org.