Tips for a Fun Holiday Family Road Trip -- From the Only Guy to Drive Two Million Miles in the Same Car

Irv Gordon, Owner of the Record-Breaking 1966 Volvo P1800, Suggests Making The Journey as Enjoyable as the Destination

EAST PATCHOGUE, N.Y., Nov. 20 -- Taking a long road trip to visit family and friends this holiday season -- but dreading the hours behind the wheel? Take some advice from Irv Gordon, the only person to have driven two million miles in the same car, a 1966 Volvo: "this holiday season, make the journey as enjoyable as the destination."

Gordon, who has taken more road trips than just about anybody, is a 62-year-old retired science teacher from Long Island who gained worldwide notoriety last year when he turned his two millionth mile in his shiny red Volvo P1800 while driving down Times Square. Gordon takes delight in driving to Philadelphia for lunch, Montreal for dinner or California just for the fun of it.

"Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day all fall on Thursdays this year, so a lot of families are taking long road trips over their four or five day weekends," Gordon said. "Some folks are stressed at the prospect of driving 500 miles with a car full of hyper family members. Why worry? Holiday road trips can be the most wonderful time of the year to re-connect with your family and with this beautiful country in which we live."

To make your 2003 holiday family road trip a merry one, Gordon offers these fun tips:

   -- Have lunch in a small town.  "When the Interstate system was built in
      the '50s, it bypassed thousands of wonderful small towns. But they
      haven't gone away.  So, when you exit off the Interstate to grab
      lunch, don't just stop at the first fast food joint you see. Drive
      into the nearest town, usually about a mile off the Interstate. Eat
      at their town diner, talk with the locals, relax with the family,
      fill up at the local gas station -- you'll never forget it."
   -- Buy a CB Radio. "Remember the fun you had when you were a kid and
      your parents had a CB in their car?  Guess what -- CB's didn't go the
      way of disco; you can buy a portable one for your car for less than
      $50.  It's fun to listen to the banter, plus you can get weather and
      traffic updates."
   -- Holiday shop in a new town. "Stop off in a new town for your holiday
      shopping. Visit shops that you don't have in your own city. You can
      buy gifts for your family and friends back home that they otherwise
      wouldn't be able to find."
   -- Visit roadside attractions. "There's only one 'world's largest ball
      of twine,' and it's waiting for you to take a picture of your family
      standing next to it. Don't skimp on roadside attractions. It breaks
      the monotony and guarantees laughs."
   -- Take state highways. "Now you're talking. If you really want to enjoy
      the countryside, get off the Interstate, switch into a lower gear and
      take state highways. It may take longer to get there, but it gives
      your kids a chance to experience small-town America, and they'll
      thank you for it one day."
   -- Crank up the A.M. "When I learned that people were taking those new
      portable DVD players on road trips, I almost lost my mind. If you
      really want to be entertained while on the road, crank up the A.M.
      dial and tune into the local radio stations to enjoy their local
      flavor, programming and music -- you may also catch a song you
      thought you'd never hear again."
   -- Don't take the city bypasses. "Have you ever been approaching a city,
      only to find a sign for an Interstate 494, 265, etc., that makes you
      bypass downtown areas and cut through suburbs? Cities like
      Minneapolis and Memphis have three digit bypasses that never let you
      see their phenomenal skylines. What a shame. Unless it's rush hour,
      stay on the two-digit Interstate, drive through the city and take in
      the massive architecture and sparkling lights."
   -- Explore Waffle Houses. "Some say blues music, the game of baseball
      and the Constitution are the greatest things America has created. I
      say the Waffle House is a close fourth. Get a list of all the Waffle
      Houses on your route and check off each one you visit."
   -- Take a different route home. "When you go home the same way you came,
      you'll see the same buildings, signs and towns, only from the other
      side. If time and the maps allow, go home a different route. Your
      return won't be tedious and the sites your family sees will double."
   -- Safety first. "The best gift you can give your family this holiday
      season is making sure your car is serviced for your trip. That
      includes a thorough inspection by a qualified technician to service
      your brakes, tire pressure, fluids, filters, lights, etc. Pack an
      emergency roadside kit, put on snow tires, bring blankets and an ice
      scraper. And always buckle up."

Gordon purchased his P1800 in June 1966 from a neighborhood Volvo dealership for $4,150. His 125-mile daily commute to and from work, his passion for driving and his meticulous care for his car enabled him to clock the miles. In 1998, The Guinness Book of World Records honored Gordon's car as the vehicle with the "highest certified mileage driven by the original owner in non-commercial service." Gordon breaks his own world record every time he drives his celebrated car.