Longest journey in a toy car, world record set by Cassie Aran and Lauren Lee
Key West, Florida, United States--Two women, Cassie Aran and Lauren Lee, completed their 596-mile drive in motorized toy cars, down the coast of Florida, from Jacksonville to Key West, to support their fundraising campaign aimed at helping and rescuing animals, while setting the world record for the Longest journey in a toy car, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.
"Two women, Cassie Aran and Lauren, completed their 500-mile drive down the coast of Florida in an attempt to claim the Guinness World Record for “Longest Distance by Toy Cars.” The woman chronicled the extraordinary adventure — that took over three months — on social media to support their fundraising campaign aimed at helping and rescuing animals. Cassie and Lauren started their journey at Friendship Fountain in Jacksonville and finished at the Southernmost Point Buoy in Key West. They drove a total of 596 miles in total," the News4Jax reports.
"The two had to overcome many trials and tribulations, one of which included the unfortunate news that they would have to forfeit their chance at winning the title unless they paid Guinness World Records. According to Cassie, Guinness emailed the women during their attempt saying they “were no longer allowed to raise money towards saving animals unless they paid them $16,000.” Cassie and Lauren decided to make the hard decision to forfeit their chances of snatching the title in order to donate more money to help different organizations that raise money for animals.
"Cassie and Lauren decided to make the hard decision to forfeit their chances of snatching the title in order to donate more money to help different organizations that raise money for animals. “We are so incredibly sad that we had to make the decision to choose between the record title and saving animals...but I know we made the right move,” Cassie said in a post on her YouTube Channel. “I hope so many animals get saved from kill shelters and get the life they deserve because of this very sad decision. I hope you guys will still stay here for our 600-mile journey to the finish line in Key West. I love you guys and I’m going to go cry now..but I still stand by my decision 1000%.”
"The City of Key West on Saturday welcomed two 29-year-old Florida women who just complete their record setting 500-mile journey in motorized toy cars," the City of Key West -- Government says.
"Cassie Aran and Lauren Lee were greeted by a supportive crowd at the Southernmost Point, including Commissioner Clayton Lopez and City Manager Al Childress. They drove the toy cars from Jacksonville to Key West.
"Two 29-year-old Florida women who have been best friends since Kindergarten embarked on a 500-mile journey together, and not by way of automobiles or other traditional forms of transportation, but rather motorized toy cars," the USA Today says.
"Cassie Aran and Lauren Lee have been doing challenges and documenting them on social media for years, including traveling 45 miles in Heelys and kayaking in a cheap inflatable kayak to an island in Tampa Bay, but this time they wanted to do the "next big thing."
"Although the initial plan was to break the Guinness World Record, the women learned halfway through their journey that they would have to pay $16,000 to have their names in the records book. "We received an email from (Guinness World Record) essentially saying it's free to attempt any record, but since we were raising money, it technically put us into a different category," Lee said. "We weren't just individuals doing this anymore, it put us into a corporate category."
"Two lifelong best friends have just completed a nearly 600-mile journey in motorized toy cars. Cassie Aran and Lauren Lee, both 29, drove 596 miles from Jacksonville to Key West, Florida – a trek along the entire east coast of the state," the
WYMT says.
"The women began their record-long journey over three months ago and arrived at their final destination in Key West on Saturday. In a Facebook post, the City of Key West Government posted photos of Aran and Lee celebrating their arrival.
"According to a report from WJXT, Aran and Lee were attempting to set a Guinness World Record for “Longest Distance by Toy Cars.” However, the two will not officially be certified by Guinness World Records because of a financial dilemma. During their journey, the women received a notification from Guinness that they were “no longer allowed to raise money towards saving animals unless they paid them $16,000,” according to Aran."
"Two friends decided to embark on a 500-mile trip in toy cars with their hearts set on achieving a new Guinness World Record in the longest distance traveled in the novelty vehicles. Lauren Lee and Cassie Aran, of Florida, set about making the drive from Jacksonville to Key West in Freddo's 'Rocket' convertible model, branded as the 'world's fastest' two-seat toy cars - with Lauren riding a blue version, and Cassie in a red one," the Daily Mail says.
"While the two maintained upbeat, can-do attitudes, the journey has been plagued with technical difficulties - both in the toy-car maintenance and the logistics of safely storing the vehicles overnight. Any uneven terrain - which they frequently encountered on the less-than perfectly maintained sidewalks of Florida - posed a threat to the integrity of the cars, with the mechanics located on the underside, with little protection. They also often struggled to get the cars in and out of hotel elevators at the end and start of each day."
"The best friends are braving the elements in compact convertibles, traveling from Jacksonville to Key West. Their atypical road trip is estimated to last around two months," the Fox 35 Orlando reports.
""We pick the safest route we could," Lee said. "It took us over a week in a real car to figure out the exact route we were allowed to take for this and submit it to Guinness World Records and have it approved."
"The pair have encountered a few bumps in the road – literal and otherwise! A battery mishap set them back. Aran and Lee had to order new cars and begin their world record attempt again. Wear and tear on the kids’ toys is also proving to be an issue."
Photos: Longest journey in a toy car, world record set by Cassie Aran and Lauren Lee
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