The Laugh That Launched a 2,700 Mile Quest
12 March 1998
The Laugh That Launched a 2,700 Mile QuestLetterman's Jab Sparks Young Montana Car Salesman's Cross-Country Trek to Redeem Hyundai's Honor MISSOULA, Mont., March 12 -- On a recent Late Show, David Letterman poked fun at Hyundai by comparing it to the hapless Mir space station. Connor Ryan, a salesman at Missoula Hyundai in western Montana, took offense at the remark. He e-mailed the talk show star to set him straight about the Korean carmaker's quality, but Dave refused to respond. So like any good car salesman, Connor wants to put Dave behind the wheel of a 1998 Hyundai Tiburon so he can see for himself what a great car it is. It's just that Connor has to go a little out of the way for this test drive -- 2,700 miles, to be exact. The spunky salesman makes no bones about his mission. For Connor, it's "Dave or Bust!" "Look, it's obvious Dave Letterman just hasn't been in a Hyundai," said Connor Ryan. "Because if he'd had the pleasure of driving a Hyundai, he'd see how much more practical it is to own in New York City than a Russian space station. If I'm not mistaken, Mir won't fit into a compact spot" Connor is leaving Missoula today and plans to arrive in New York City on March 18. He's going to be visiting with Hyundai owners along the way and asking them to sign a petition for Dave to drive the car. And he's going to be sending Dave a daily journal of the adventure along with video shot from the HYUNDAI-CAM. You can't miss Connor on the road. His bright silver Hyundai Tiburon says "Dave Or Bust!" all over. From Missoula, he'll be heading east making stops in Billings, Montana; Casper, Wyoming; Denver, Colorado; Wakeeney, Kansas; Hutchinson, Kansas; Springfield, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Reading, Pennsylvania, Hershey, Pennsylvania and South Brunswick, New Jersey. Connor promises to keep everyone up-to-date on his adventure by posting a diary of the trip on Hyundai's Web site at http://www.HyundaiUSA.com and by recording a daily message on the "Dave or Bust Hotline" at 888-678-DAVE. "I can't wait to get Dave behind the wheel of this beautiful Tiburon," explains Connor about his odyssey, "but if Dave doesn't want it, maybe his Mom will. She has better taste anyway." SOURCE Hyundai U.S.A.