Amazing car guy

[Leif in Calif]

I sent a friend the video of crossing Donner Summit that was posted by Dandy Dave in the post about snow vehicles. He's from the Midwest and said it reminded him of this gentleman, who was a sort of a legend in his home town of Ortonville, MN; Alex Semrau. One fact about him that makes it all the more remarkable is that he lost both hands in a farm machinery accident just before WWII. 

 

Tribune photo published December 3, 1954

Touring the country in his 1908 Buick, Alex Semrau of Ortonville, Minn., takes advantage of reduced gasoline prices in Ames Thursday and stops to gas up.  Semrau is heading for South Carolina and warmer climates this trip.  On his travels, he has been in 36 states.  His Buick has around 170,000 miles registered and some of its features are acetylene gas lamps for headlights, a four cylinder engine and complete air conditioning.  This Buick is refueling at Hibbs Phillips "66" managed by Herbert Hibbs and located at Lincoln Way and Elm.

[wayne sheldon]

Looks like an incredible life, well lived. In spite of adversity.

The 170,000 miles in one 1908 Buick might be a stretch? Although I know of a few cars from that era that claimed mileage well in excess of 100,000?