MyE28.com

Actually picked up something interesting over at Bimmerforums.

The latest iteration of what was at least once known as the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, later known as just the Cannonball, or maybe just 2 or 3 guys in a car, ran cross country averaging 106. Averaging. Article says in some states they averaged over 120, for the entire state. Unreal. When they first did it in the 70s it sounded like fun, I did 2200 miles one time averaging 65 in the 55 days and felt like I was flying past most traffic, well, mostly because I was, but to average 40MPH more than that?

https://dnyuz.com/2020/05/24/cannonball ... -lockdown/

Someone sent me the one from a couple months ago (26 hours 38 minutes). Seemed they were staying out of the spotlight in case of a backlash. But there are a couple good videos on the guys who did in November in 27 hours 25 minutes. Didn't realize the record got broken 7 times in the last couple months.

The November crew had all the usual electronic wizardry AND a TCAS system (an aircraft collision avoidance system) to detect airplane speed traps. They said the CB radio was the most useless of the gadgets they had.

I recall being a Car and Driver subscriber when Brock Yates ran the magazine, He started the Cannonball Run in 1971, and completed the first one in just under 36 hours.

I was a newly commissioned Navy ensign at the time, seemingly awash in money after college, and was inspired to replace my motorcycle with an old MG. I bought one of the early radar detectors, and a CB radio for it.

The “official” race was 2825 miles, so to beat Brock Yates first time I’d have had to average almost 80 mph, a speed which the 4 cyl MG could just barely reach, followed by a cloud of burned engine oil.

I wonder if they delay releases of these due to statute of limitations issues.

I wonder if they delay releases of these due to statute of limitations issues.

Interesting you should bring up that topic, Matt. I am aware of at least two individuals, along with their co-pilot(s) who did the run---Red Ball Garage NYC to the Portofino Inn Newport Biatch in the couple of years after the epic Yates/Gurney shot. In both of these cases, neither one beat the 35+hour Yates/Gurney time. Close, but no Corona. No LE or automotive mechanical issues either.

Under the circumstances, those involved thought it best to keep their yaps shut. When the Great Fuel Embargo and 55mph pogrom arrived in 1974, farting in public, let alone driving 20 +over would set one up for serious jail time. So discretion was, and is, simply good judgment.

A few points worth noting: in the early 70's a great deal of the route was not Interstate. So averaging 80 per on 2-lanes was not a trivial undertaking.
Electronic countermeasures were marginal at best. Some CB, lame radar detectors. Best defense was having driven the planned route ahead of time and noted potential LE observation points.

A factor not often considered was the amount of time consumed in fueling stops; these reduce the avg speed significantly. So there was a bit of a tradeoff between over-the-road speed and a bit less velocity with better MPG. In the same vein, not getting cracked was essential. Therefore not going for big speeds proved to be a viable strategy, along with a low-visibility vehicle. In today's context, think an Altima sedan.