The people who built Cummins

Barnum and Bailey Days

After regaining funding for the Cummins Engine Company, Clessie Cummins devised a series of public demonstrations to showcase the reliability and performance of his diesel innovations. He referred to this period as his 'Barnum and Bailey Days.'

Indianapolis to New York City

In January 1930, Clessie drove a diesel-powered Packard to the National Automobile Show in New York City. Before setting out, he alerted the press, ensuring the public followed the ambitious attempt in real time. He and chief engineer Hans Knudson departed Indianapolis on January 4, 1930, determined to arrive by 4 p.m. on January 6. Despite winter weather and mechanical challenges along the way, the team pulled up to the show entrance at 3:58 p.m.—just two minutes ahead of schedule. The next morning, New York newspapers highlighted the achievement and emphasized the remarkable fuel cost of only $1.38 for the entire trip, reinforcing diesel’s efficiency and value.

Coast-to-Coast

The following year, Clessie and his crew outfitted an Indiana Truck with the new Model U engine and set out to prove the durability and long-distance capability of diesel power. Alongside teammates Dave Evans and Ford Moyer, Clessie aimed to match—and ideally beat—the time set by a gasoline-powered General Motors truck on a coast-to-coast run. Starting from New York City at midnight on August 10, the team encountered both major and minor setbacks on their way to Los Angeles, yet still completed the journey in just 97 hours and 20 minutes of running time. They beat the GM record by 6 hours and 39 minutes. Over 3,214 miles, the diesel truck averaged 15.75 miles per gallon, with a total fuel cost of only $11.22—another powerful demonstration of efficiency and economic value.

Indianapolis Race Track

In 1931, Cummins Engine Company developed the Model H, its first engine designed specifically for the trucking industry. To prove its reliability and set a new benchmark for diesel performance, Clessie attempted to break the endurance record previously held by a Marmon passenger car for a non-stop run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Beginning on December 12 at 2 p.m., the team kept the truck in motion continuously for 336 hours, concluding the run on December 26 at 2 p.m. Despite mechanical problems that had to be resolved while the vehicle remained in motion, the engine performed consistently throughout the two-week test. The highly publicized stunt became a defining moment for Cummins, positioning the Model H as a dependable, high-performing solution that would fuel the company’s growth for years to come.