The future Route 66 through the Inland Empire briefly became a crossroads of the world in spring 1908.

During that time, the highway was traveled by two automobiles heading in opposite directions, both involved in long-term competitions to demonstrate how well their vehicles, and passengers, would endure the rugged roads of the day.

The most prominent of the cars was the Italian-made Zust, one of six automobiles competing in a race from New York City to Paris. The 1965 motion picture “The Great Race” was loosely based on this competition.

On March 31, the Zust, with two drivers and a mechanic, reached Claremont along today’s Route 66. It was then escorted into Los Angeles by a caravan of Italians for a banquet in their honor. The Zust team came through Southern California to avoid crossing the difficult Sierra Nevada, which the other contestants chose to do.

Eventually the Zust did reach Paris (racers went across the Pacific by boat) after seven months of difficulties. It was one of only three cars to finish, though it was two months after the winner.

While crossing “the San Bernardino desert,” the Zust crew met J.M. Murdoch, who was scouting the desert for roads to be used in his plan to break the cross-country automobile driving record. His scheme — prompted by a wager — was to drive his Packard to the East Coast, accompanied by his wife, three children and a mechanic, reported a story of the trip in the Camden, New Jersey, Courier Post on Aug. 1, 1908.

Apparently gaining some useful advice and directions from the Zust crew, Murdoch made preparations for his trip, which began April 24, 1908, from Pasadena.

Without the publicity that went along with the Zust arrival, Murdoch and family anonymously drove out Route 66, over Cajon Pass and made an impressive 173 miles. They stopped to camp the first night after reaching what Murdoch called “Galic Lake” — probably Garlic Spring, a mostly foul water source on the road northeast from Barstow to Death Valley, in what today is the Army’s Fort Irwin.

They spent a second day at Resting Springs, east of Tecopa in Inyo County just above San Bernardino County’s northern boundary. The Packard then drove north into Utah and mostly followed the transcontinental railroad line east. It reached New York City on May 26, completing the trip on the 33rd day, breaking the existing cross-country record by 18 hours.

The published story of the trek failed to include any comments from the Murdoch kids about their obviously uncomfortable trip nor how many times their dad was asked, “Are we there yet?”

Smugglers take to the air

Smugglers started embracing a creative bit of technology — the airplane — to evade capture in 1927, and a local newspaper suggested it was time immigration authorities took to the air to fight them.

An editorial in the Riverside Enterprise spoke of the need for aerial patrols after reports that two airplanes landed on the same day in Murrieta and Yorba Linda carrying smuggled Chinese nationals into the U.S.

“Airplanes are being used in large and increasing numbers to smuggle Chinese, liquor and other forbidden commodities,” wrote the Enterprise.

After a plane crashed in Murrieta on March 4, 1927, authorities found the passengers — four Chinese passengers and one Native American — hiding in brush but the pilot had escaped. That same day, witnesses said another plane landed in a Yorba Linda field, but the pilot apparently had arranged for automobiles so his Chinese passengers got away before police could arrive.

Almost three weeks later, another airplane carrying three Chinese people ran out of fuel just north of San Bernardino with the pilot and passengers being arrested, reported the Los Angeles Times of March 22. The pilot said they were en route to Modesto.

All the planes had apparently taken off from an area south of the Mexican border town of Mexicali. Recent rains of that period left rural landing fields very muddy, making it easier for authorities to capture the smugglers once they set down.

“For more than six months, Riverside County officers have been speculating on the identity of an aviator flying a large plane making periodical trips over the valley. The ship was seen two or three times a week,” wrote the Redlands Daily Facts, March 5.

Those Chinese people who were captured were sent to court and found guilty, sentenced to 3 to 6 months in jail and then returned to their native country. The pilots and owners of the aircraft were also arrested and their planes confiscated.

Rex Smith, the pilot of the plane that landed near San Bernardino, was convicted of smuggling and jailed for four months. He was a well-known character, once accused of flying to freedom convicted murderer Clara Phillips, a former Pomona resident who busted out of a Los Angeles jail in 1922.

The owner of Smith’s plane, George F. Sargenti, was convicted and sentenced to a year in jail on March 9, 1929, for his part in the smuggling operation, reported the Times the following day. Two earlier juries in his case had failed to reach a verdict.

The Enterprise editorial suggested that March Field in Riverside would be a good headquarters for housing an aerial border patrol, using several confiscated aircraft to battle the smugglers.

It said immigration authorities had done a good job patrolling the border on the ground. “But the air has been left free for aviators to come and go as they please,” said the editorial. “They seem to have turned this liberty into license.”

Palomares tour

The Historical Society of the Pomona Valley has scheduled tours of its historic Palomares Adobe on Sunday. The tours are from 1 to 5 p.m. and cost $5. The adobe is at 491 E. Arrow Highway, Pomona.

Tickets must be purchased in advance at pomonahistorical.org

Joe Blackstock writes on Inland Empire history. He can be reached at joe.blackstock@gmail.com or Twitter @JoeBlackstock. Check out some of our columns of the past at Inland Empire Stories on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IEHistory.