Vegetable oil powers cross-country trip
Tom Holm, host of the "Adventure Highway" TV series, has set a record of sorts -- driving cross-country in a truck fueled by vegetable oil.
Holm started March 10 at the Huntington Beach pier in California with little hope of driving his 2005 Chevy Silverado truck to Coney Island, N.Y., the Orange County (Calif.) Register reported.
Not only did he and his camera crew complete the trip, but they did it despite a snowstorm in Arizona, a fire area in Texas and a tornado in Missouri.
Holm told the Register he stopped at restaurants and filled his tank with vegetable oil that was about to be thrown into the trash. He said getting free vegetable oil was vital, since it is sold in supermarkets for about $2.30 a gallon.
The trip was technically uneventful. There was no engine trouble, he didn't run out of fuel, and got 14 miles per gallon of vegetable oil, the Register said.
Holm also gained a measure of fame. He now holds the world record for vegetable oil-powered travel.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International