2011 Greeting the 49in7 car in Surrey BC Photos by Cam Hutchins Click on any image to see the thumbnail gallery.

Dave Schaub of Los Gatos California has found a very cool way to turn his hobby into a money raising method for The Local Ronald MacDonald house.  Driving a 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster through every one of the 49 continental states seemed like a good way to raise money....but in the shortest time possible seemed like a great way!!! He did the event in 2009 over 9 days but figured out how to do it in a few days less.
 

After 7 days, 14 hours and 21 minutes, 8,680 miles, 542 gallons of gas and an average of 63.7 mph Schaub arrived in Hyder, Alaska on Saturday Sept 10. Surely this is a record that will not easily be equalled by another single driver for a long time or until roadways are significantly improved sometime in the future. Just a couple of days into the trip  Schaub heard the road into Hyder was closed due to a flood wiping out the road. The road was going to be closed for a long time so Schaub called his friend and builder of the car, Roy Brizio for advice on somehow incorporating Hawaii into the time frame to make up the 49th State.

Thoughts of commercial and private flights for Schaub and the 32 were replaced with a temporary bridge which was open only once per day. Plans had to be in place to allow the crossing of the bridge to be at the right time and a choice had to be made whether to drive to Sea tac airport south of Seattle to hopefully fly to Hawaii or to drive up through BC and hope for the best. It did work out to drive to Alsaka so the Hawaii portion will have to be added to a future rip.
 
Plans for the trip have taken a long time and other than preparing the car and gathering donations, planning the route and physical training are also important. Running and walking many miles daily to prepares for the 18 hours a day sitting in a car and the carefully planned route allows for gas and food to always be found right on the route.
 The car is a 1932 Ford Roadster using a Wescott ’32 roadster body on a custom chassis built by Brizio Street Rods and powered by an Edelbrock crate engine, Edelbrock 650 cfm carb, and B&M Turbo 350 transmission. American Racing Wheels, and PPG Deep Black two-stage paint make this the quintessential 32 highboy and would make any HotRodder proud to own, but to know it ran flawlessly for the whole trip is awesome.
 
Now that the epic voyage is complete Schaub  is stopping to "smell the roses" and collect more donations. After leaving Alaska he drove to the Art Brumpton's house in Surrey for a meet and greet with members of the BC Hot Rod Association and other local Hot Rodders.  Locals donated money and signed the car and a BCHRA sticker proudly adorns the side of the radiator shell.

  Sponsors bought space on the car for their logos and individuals can sign a "Louvre" or any other spot for a donation and it is hoped that $150,000 up from the 116,000 raised in 2009. The website www.49in7.com and offers an easy way to make a donation to this project and the donation page will be open until Feb. 2013.

Bye Cam Hutchins