He set the record at the Daytona Beach Road Course in the 81-liter triple-engined internal combustion White Triplex 'Spirit of Elkdom'.

During trial runs for the record, Keech suffered burns first as a radiator hose burst, and later on after being reached by exhaust flames from the front engine.

White hired Lee Bible, who rolled the car and died in his second attempt to set the record.

Louis Meyer was leading the race, until he lost oil pressure on lap 157.

Keech passed for the lead as Meyer's engine refused to fire after he went to the pits to get more oil.