BURLINGTON — In a few days, Burlington resident Dave Milem will embark on the race of a lifetime — literally.

Milem and three friends will leave Lawrence County for Philadelphia, where they will join 119 other antique car enthusiasts taking part in this year’s Great American Race.

The road race, a cross-country competition of time and endurance for classic cars is a 4,100-mile rally-race from Pennsylvania to San Rafael, Calif., and takes place over 14 days in 14 states and 46 cities.

Milem’s crew, self-dubbed “Out on Parole” is the only Lawrence County team to ever take part in the adventure and for the retired Burlington contractor, it is a three- year dream come true.

An antique car enthusiast, he had applied to get on the list of participants before. This was his first opportunity to join the exclusive pack. He and fellow Lawrence Countian Buddy Pitzenbarger and Owensboro, Ky., brothers Jim and Ben Warren, have spent months getting a 1920 Ford Speedster ready to make what is probably the trip of its lifetime as well.

“It’s been a project just getting ready for this,” he said. “We had a lot of safety issues to address, such as seat belts, and we had to have a fire extinguisher and turn signals.”

An assortment of spare parts has to be assembled in case of breakdown, too. The engine was overhauled and wheels were balanced. The car has also been fitted with a top — something not on the car when he purchased it.

“This should keep the rain off of us,” he said. “But the main thing I was concerned about was the sun beating down while we were out there.”

The trip is a local effort from start to finish. Three area businesses are sponsoring Milem’s trip: J&H Erectors of Portsmouth, Engines Inc., of South Point and Southern 52 Excavating of South Point.

“I’m doing this because I know Dave. Dave called and told me what he was going to do and asked if I would sponsor him and I said I would. He’s a good fellow. But really, that car is too pretty for what he’s going to do with it,” J&H Erectors President Don Hatsell mused. “We’re working on a couple of buildings in South Point and he brought the car down for us to see it the other day. It’s just too pretty for it to be driven across country.”

Milem said it is the opportunities to meet new people and see new places that he is most looking forward to.

“You know you’re going to meet people along the way. … That’s going to be great,” he said. “We’re going to see a lot of beautiful country, and every evening and every noon we’ll stop and there will be a rally in the different towns.”

The race will end in California July 8.