Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash

The Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, widely known simply as the Cannonball Baker or Cannonball Run, was an unofficial, unsanctioned automobile race run five times in the 1970s from New York City and Darien, Connecticut, on the U.S. Atlantic coast, to the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, California.

Conceived by car magazine writer and auto racer Brock Yates and fellow Car and Driver editor Steve Smith, the first run was not a real competitive race, as there was only one team running, but intended both as a celebration of the United States Interstate Highway System and a protest against strict traffic laws coming into effect at the time.

Another motivation was the fun involved, which showed in the tongue-in-cheek reports in Car and Driver and other auto publications worldwide. The initial cross-country run was accomplished by Yates; his son, Brock Yates, Jr.; Steve Smith; and friend Jim Williams beginning on May 3, 1971. The first running was accomplished in a 1971 Dodge Custom Sportsman van, called the "Moon Trash II". The race was run four more times, on November 15, 1971; November 13, 1972; April 23, 1975; and April 1, 1979. Jack May and Rick Cline drove a Ferrari Dino (05984) from the Red Ball Garage in New York City in a world's record time of 35 hours and 53 minutes, on April 23–25, 1975, averaging 83 mph (134 km/h).

A remarkable effort was made by American racing legend Dan Gurney (winner of the 1967 24 hours of Le Mans), who won the second run in a Ferrari Daytona. Gurney said, "At no time did we exceed 175 mph." With Brock Yates as co-driver, it took them 35 hours and 54 minutes to travel 2,863 miles (4,608 km) at an average of approximately 80 mph (130 km/h), while collecting one fine. Snow in the Rockies slowed them down considerably.

The record for official Cannonballs is 32 hours and 51 minutes (about 87 mph), set in the final run by Dave Heinz and Dave Yarborough in a Jaguar XJS in April 1979. This New York to Los Angeles record was broken in 2006 by Alex Roy & David Maher, setting a time of 31 hours 4 minutes, as documented in the film 32 Hours 7 minutes.^[1][2] On October 19th 2013, Ed Bolian and his team, co-driver Dave Black, and passenger Dan Huang, made the trip in a Mercedes CL-55 in 28 hours and 50 minutes. ^[3]

The 55 mph (89 km/h) speed limit imposed as an energy-conservation measure by the 1974 National Maximum Speed Law and in effect for the last two Cannonballs was actually faster than the quickest average speeds of point-to-point travels of Erwin George "Cannon Ball" Baker in the first half of the 20th century. In 1933, Baker drove coast to coast in a Graham-Paige model 57 Blue Streak 8, averaging greater than 50 mph (80 km/h), setting a 53-hour 30 minute record that stood for nearly 40 years.

After the original Cannonball races were halted, Car and Driver began to sponsor a legitimate closed-course tour, the One Lap of America. Outlaw successors in the United States, Europe, and Australia continue to use the Cannonball name without Yates' approval.

The race

The object of the Cannonball Baker was to leave the Red Ball Garage on East 31st Street in New York City (later a venue in Darien, Connecticut; the now-defunct Lock, Stock, and Barrel restaurant, located in the Goodwives Shopping Center), usually after midnight, and drive to the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, California in the shortest time possible. Those were the only rules.

Nothing was specified as to the route, type of vehicle, number of drivers or crew, or maximum speed permitted. There was a gentlemen's agreement that the vehicle entered would be driven the entire distance, not having it transported on another vehicle, nor having an identical second vehicle hidden near the finish, etc. Speeding citations received along the way were the driver's responsibility and did not disqualify the vehicle, although having to stop to receive a ticket increased the vehicle's overall time.

The Cannonball Run was technically a race in that the fastest time was declared the "winner" and the results were announced in order of time, but times were not taken very seriously. It was found that sheer speed did not guarantee a first-place finish.

Inspiration

The Cannonball runs gained notoriety after the 1972 run, but it was Time May 5, 1975 story on the Jack May and Rick Cline race that solidified it in the public consciousness. To the surprise of many, the hilarious reports in Car and Driver were warmly received by the press and the public alike, rather than being condemned for being reckless.

Reportedly, the worst "accident" that occurred in all of the Cannonball runs was spilled lasagna aboard a motor home which made the trip in 57 hours, as Car and Driver Magazine detailed the November 1971 running in their March 1972 issue. That article was reprinted in its entirety in 2005, being chosen to represent the decade of the 1970s in the magazine's 50th anniversary series of article reprints.

In his memoir book about the races (see References), Yates reports that in the 1972 event, an all-female team consisting of Peggy Niemcek, Judy Stropus, and SCCA racer Donna Mae Mims ("The Pink Lady") suffered a crash near El Paso, Texas, resulting in a DNF (Did Not Finish.) The book contains a first-hand account by Mims, stating that their Cadillac stretch limousine veered off the road and rolled over after the driver fell asleep at the wheel. Although the car was destroyed and Mims suffered a broken arm, no other vehicles were involved in the crash, and this was the only serious accident in all the Cannonball races.

Yates began working on a screenplay, to be titled Coast to Coast, but was scooped by two unofficial films in 1976, Cannonball and The Gumball Rally. Eventually, an "official" Cannonball Run movie was made — The Cannonball Run — starring Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise with Yates in a cameo appearance. Two sequels, Cannonball Run II and Speed Zone, followed. A later USA Network television program, Cannonball Run 2001, was given official approval to use the name.

U.S. Express

After the last Cannonball, Rick Doherty, a veteran of the 1975 and 1979 races, organized a successor, the U.S. Express. Doherty won the first U.S. Express with co-driver and famous game designer, Will Wright,^[4] at the wheel of a Mazda RX-7. Their time was 33 hours, 9 minutes. The U.S. Express ran to the beach in Santa Monica, making it longer than the Cannonball. Despite the increased length, the fastest time recorded was 32 hours 7 minutes in the 1983 race, 44 minutes faster than the fastest Cannonball, and the "official" cross-country record until it was broken in 2006. 1983 was the last year of the U.S. Express.

In 1981 the U.S. Express ran from Long Island, New York, to Emeryville, California (bordering Oakland, California, at the east end of the Bay Bridge). Interstate 80 was largely the route of choice. The winning team in 1981 was the first time Express team of David Morse and Steve Clausman driving Morse's gray Porsche 928.

One unique road hazard experienced in the 1981 run was an early snowfall closing the Donner Pass for several hours to vehicles without chains, just as the U.S. Express cars were approaching. Their Porsche 928 carried special plastic chains and was able to proceed, while others had to wait for the pass to open. The team of David Morse and Steve Clausman competed the next two years. In 1982 (also to Emeryville) they endured several memorable police stops, and in the final U.S. Express run in 1983 to Newport Beach, they placed second.

Legacy

More than thirty years after the last official Cannonball, the issues raised, and the possibility of a full or partial revival, are still of interest to some motorists. Yates, in his book, recalled declining offers ever since the last race to revive the concept, and gave a number of reasons: It was unworkable, including increased police activity; increased legal liabilities on the part of any organizer; and increased year-round traffic and expanding urban areas, as well as warning of the obvious dangers of a race on public roads.^[5]

The Gumball 3000 gained publicity in the early 2000s as a similar event, sometimes held on coast-to-coast American routes, but paced over several times as long and with no time-based winner. While not a coast-to-coast event, The Bandit Run is a similar road marathon held yearly since 2007, when it marked the 30th anniversary of the film Smokey and the Bandit (produced by Hal Needham and starring Burt Reynolds, who would both make the first Cannonball Run movie four years later).

Alex Roy and David Maher set a new record of 31 hours and 4 minutes in October 2006.^[1] The 2008 documentary 32 Hours 7 Minutes documents the 1983 and 2006 record-setting runs.

Ed Bolian, co-driver Dave Black, and Dan Huang drove the 2,813.7 mile route from the Red Ball Garage to the Portofino Hotel in 28 hours and 50 minutes October 19–20, 2013, averaging 98 miles per hour, including the 15 minutes it took to get out of Manhattan in a 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG. The drivers stopped three times for fuel. The car was equipped with two specially installed 22-gallon auxiliary fuel tanks in addition to its standard 23-gallon tank, a total of 67 U.S. gallons (250 L). As proof, Bolian presented the complete GPS logs, unknowingly recorded by GeoForce, a global field equipment tracking company whose services Bolian had acquired to track his car.^[6]

Motorcycle runs

Some of the previous motorcycle records between these two cities:

1. Erwin "Cannonball" Baker drove his Ace motorcycle from LA to NYC in 6 days, 22 hours, and 52 minutes, in 1922.
2. Well Bennet rode a Excelsior/Henderson in 1922 to cross NYC to LA in 6 days, 16 hours, and 13 minutes.
3. Earl Robinson in 1935 did the run in 3 days, 6 hours, and 53 minutes.
4. Rody Rodenberg and his record of 71 hours and 20 minutes, June 17-20, 1936, on an 1936 Indian scout. This was disputed by Dot Robinson.^[7]
5. John Penton (of Penton racing fame)set a time of 52 hours and 11 minutes, for the Los Angeles to New York solo motorcycle run in 1959. The trek was made on a BMW R69S.^[8]
6. Tibor Sarossy, at the time a college student, set a record in 1968 of 45 hours and 41 minutes. Tibor used a homemade fuel cell made of jerry cans, which allowed for a reported four fuel stops. He also claims he never slept, though he did pass out from a diet of Hershey Bars and coffee at the produce inspection station in California. He averaged 58.7mph on a BMW R69S.^[9]
7. Fred Boyajian set a new time on October 11, 1969 with a time of 42 hours and 6 minutes. Fred used a beer keg to proved extra fuel. Evidence provided was Western Union telegrams at New York City and Los Angeles.
8. George Egloff in 1983 set the record of 42 hours, recorded by witnesses participating in the event.
9. Carl Reese left from West Valley Cycle Sales BMW Dealership in Winnetka, California at 3:15 A.M. PST on August 28th, 2015. Reese arrived at BMW Motorrad dealership in Manhattan, NY at 9:04 P.M. EST on August 29th, 2015. Traveling 2829 miles in 38 hours and 49 minutes, on a K1600GT BMW motorcycle. The trip was documented by notaries at both start and finish.

New era and electric vehicle records

In 1968, the Great Transcontinental Electric Car Race was held between student groups at Caltech and MIT.^[10][11] The Caltech team, led by EV pioneer Wally Rippel, converted a 1958 VW Microbus powered by Ni-Cad batteries. The MIT team converted a 1968 Chevrolet Corvair powered by lead cobalt batteries. The MIT team raced from Cambridge, Massachusetts to Pasadena, California, while the Caltech team raced the opposite direction. A network of 54 charging locations were set up along the 3311 mile route – spaced 21 to 95 miles apart.^[12] The race began on August 26, and ended on September 4th. Although the MIT team reached Pasadena first, they were towed part of the way. After assessing penalty points, Caltech was declared the winner with a corrected time of 210 hours 3 minutes.^[13]

With the introduction of long range EVs, such as the Tesla Roadster and in particular the Tesla Model S, coast to coast travel became more feasible. In January 2014, Tesla Motors completed the first coast-to-coast corridor in their supercharging network for the Model S. A team from Tesla Motors completed a 3427-mile route from Los Angeles to New York City run in 76 hours, 5 minutes. (Time included 60 hours, 8 minutes driving, and 15 hours, 57 minutes charging.)^[14] In July 2014, a team from Edmunds completed a slightly shorter 3331.9 mile route in 67 hours, 21 minutes. (Time included 52 hours, 41 minutes driving, and 14 hours, with 40 minutes charging.)^[15] The initial cross country supercharging route was sub-optimal for New York-Los Angeles runs, notably due to the link between Denver and Chicago running through South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin along Interstate 90.

Carl J Reese and co-drivers Rodney Hawk and Deena Mastracci took advantage of a newly opened corridor on Interstate 70 to drive the 3011 mile route from the City Hall Los Angeles to the City Hall New York City in 58 hours and 55 minutes April 16–19, 2015, a new record for EVs, in a 2015 Tesla Model S P85D. The drivers stopped 24 times for electric charging, with a total charge time of 12 hours 48 minutes. As proof, Reese presented 16 documents notarized on both ends, identifying drivers and 3 eyewitnesses: Matt Nordenstrom, Johnnie Oberg Jr, and Anthony Alvarado. Complete GPS logs recorded by GPSInsight (a fleet tracking company) were sent to Jalopnik, Guinness Book of World Records. GPSInsight provided GPS tracking equipment to the team to verify the event. Reese's team of 3 drivers broke Tesla Motors' (team of 15 drivers) previous record of 76 hours 5 minutes and Edmunds.com's (team of 2 drivers) previous record of 67 hours 21 minutes.^[16]

From October 18-21 of 2015, Deena Mastracci and Reese were joined by Alex Roy, with whom they beat Mastracci and Reese's prior record of 58:55 for an LA-NYC run in an electric vehicle with a total time of 57 hours, 48 minutes.^[17]

Semi-autonomous vehicle records

The first coast-to-coast autonomous record was set by employees of Delphi. Delphi engineers covered 3,400 miles, San Francisco to New York City, over a span of nine days.^[18]

Carl J Reese, Deena Mastracci, and Alex Roy set a new coast-to-coast record using Tesla’s new Autopilot function. The trio made the 2,995-mile journey in 57 hours, 48 minutes after departing from Redondo Beach, California, on October 18, 2015 at 9:15 p.m. PST and arriving at Red Ball Garage in New York on October 21, 2015 at 10:03 a.m. EST.^[19] The trip was completed with fewer than 14 hours of charging and 96 percent of the driving done by Tesla’s Autopilot system. This record was a first outside of manufacture testing, proving that automated systems can deliver people coast to coast safely in record time.^[20]

Results

+ indicates winners
* indicates overall record

Last name	First name	Run	Time	Place	Vehicle	Year
Adamowicz	Tony	2	36:47	2	Chevrolet Van	1971.5
Adelberg	Harvey	5	36:19	9	Mercedes-Benz 300 SD	1979
Alden	Al	5	32:59	2	Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9	1979
Allen	Gerald	5	36:20	10	Excalibur	1979
Ammerman	Craig	4	45:36	17	Travco Motorhome	1975
Arentz	Gary	5	39:10	19	Jaguar XJS	1979
Armstrong	Keith	5	39:20	20	Chevrolet El Camino	1979
Armstrong	Ted	5	39:20	20	Chevrolet El Camino	1979
Arutunoff	Anatoly	4	49:32	18	Bristol 410	1975
Arutunoff	Anatoly	5	40:33	24	Volvo 242 GT	1979
Atwell	Jim	4	38:56	7	Porsche Carrera	1975
Atwell	Jim	5	42:28	29	Porsche Carrera	1979
Baker	Clyde "C.J."	3	41:15	13	AMC Hornet	1972
Baker	Terry	5	35:58	7	Ferrari 308 GTS	1979
Behr	Steve	2	39:03	6	Dodge Van	1971.5
Behr	Steve +	3	37:16	1	Cadillac Coupe de Ville	1972
Behr	Steve	4	38:03	3	Dodge Challenger	1975
Behr	Steve	5	42:27	28	Porsche 928	1979
Bell	Roger	5	58:04	39	Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith	1979
Bernius	Terry	5	44:13	32	Lotus Esprit	1979
Blue	Doug	3	49:04	25	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	1972
Brennan	Peter	5	999DNF	45	Pontiac Firebird Trans Am	1979
Brock	Pete	3	37:33	3	Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL	1972
Brodrick	Bill	2	57:25	7	Travco Motorhome	1971.5
Brodrick	Bill	3	44:42	19	Travco Motorhome	1972
Brodrick	Bill	4	45:36	17	Travco Motorhome	1975
Brown	Bob	3	37:26	2	Dodge Challenger	1972
Brownell	Dave	5	61:51	40	Ford Panel Truck	1979
Browning	Bob	5	40:33	24	Volvo 242 GT	1979
Bruerton	Ed	2	37:48	5	AMC AMX	1971.5
Bruerton	Ed	3	39:42	8	AMC AMX	1972
Bruerton	Tom	2	37:48	5	AMC AMX	1971.5
Bruerton	Tom	3	39:42	8	AMC AMX	1972
Buffum	John	4	40:19	9	Porsche Carrera	1975
Buffum	Vicki	4	40:19	9	Porsche Carrera	1975
Cady	Jack	3	43:02	16	Ford Van	1972
Campbell	Bill	5	41:00	26	Ford Thunderbird	1979
Canfield	Bill +	3	37:16	1	Cadillac Coupe De Ville	1972
Cannata	Richard	4	44:23	16	Studebaker	1975
Carey	Bob	2	57:25	7	Travco Motorhome	1971.5
Carlson	Tim	4	40:37	11	Ford Van	1975
Catalano	Christine	5	35:17	6	Mazda RX-7	1979
Chapin	Kim	2	39:03	6	Dodge Van	1971.5
Cline	Rick +	4	35:53	1	Ferrari Dino 246 GTS	1975
Cooper	Bill	5	38:52	18	Ferrari 308 GT 350	1979
Corrizzoni	Tom	3	49:04	25	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	1972
Coumo	Richard	3	999DNF	33	Studebaker	1972
Cowell	Jack	3	37:33	3	Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL	1972
Crabbe	Paul	3	45:39	21	Opel Rallye	1972
Cripe	Tom	5	44:13	32	Lotus Esprit	1979
Crittenden	Jim	5	36:00	8	Buick Park Avenue	1979
Dainko	Rainer	3	40:55	10	Chevrolet Van	1972
Davidson	Stuart	5	46:48	36	Ferrari 330 GT	1979
Dawn	Wes	2	999DNF	8	MGB GT	1971.5
Dawn	Wes	3	39:35	7	Chevrolet Vega	1972
Dawn	Wes	4	38:16	4	Mercedes-Benz 450 SL	1975
Dawn	Wes	5	36:49	12	Cadillac Eldorado	1979
De Van	Fred	3	39:29	6	Mazda RX-2	1972
Defty	Peter	5	45:32	33	Chevrolet Suburban	1979
Denner	Tom	3	41:06	12	Chevrolet Vega	1972
Dennison	Scott	3	40:55	10	Chevrolet Van	1972
Doherty	Richard	5	35:17	6	Mazda RX-7	1979
Dornsife	Rod	5	42:27	28	Porsche 928	1979
Dunaj	Jon	5	36:19	9	Mercedes-Benz 300 SD	1979
Durst	Steve	3	999DNF	27	Chevrolet Vega	1972
Egloff	George	5	43:32	30	Suzuki 850 Motorcycle	1979
Ehrich	Terry	5	61:51	40	Ford Panel Truck	1979
Epstein	Wendy	5	43:32	30	Suzuki 850 Motorcycle	1979
Erickson	Morris	3	46:17	22	Opel Rallye	1972
Fassler	Paul	5	37:25	14	Porsche 930	1979
Faust	David	5	36:51	13	Chevrolet Malibu	1979
Feiner	Fred	3	999DNF	33	Studebaker	1972
Feiner	Fred	4	44:23	16	Studebaker	1975
Fergusson	Alice	3	42:08	15	Citroën DS 19	1972
Fergusson	Joe	3	42:08	15	Citroën DS 19	1972
Fernald	Steve	4	40:31	10	Volvo 164 E	1975
Field	Dick	5	32:59	2	Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9	1979
Fischer	Paul	3	41:01	11	Ford Torino	1972
Fischer	Paul	4	40:53	13	Ford Torino	1975
Fog	Steven	5	34:07	4	Pontiac Firebird Trans Am	1979
Frankl	Andrew	5	65:55	41	Ford Mini Truck	1979
Frasson	Joe	3	44:42	19	Travco Motorhome	1972
Fuchs	John	3	41:15	13	AMC Hornet	1972
Gafford	Tom	5	45:32	33	Chevrolet Suburban	1979
Gallagher	Jack	3	999DNF	34	Honda 600	1972
Garbarini	Steve	3	48:25	24	Datsun 240 Z	1972
Garcione	William	3	48:25	24	Datsun 240 Z	1972
Gilmartin	Richard	3	37:33	3	Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL	1972
Goodman	Kirby	5	36:51	13	Chevrolet Malibu	1979
Gould	Richard	4	41:35	15	Oldsmobile Cutlass	1975
Graham	Paul	5	39:45	22	Chevrolet Camaro	1979
Gregory	Fred	5	999DNF	45	Pontiac Firebird Trans Am	1979
Gurney	Dan +	2	35:54	1	Ferrari Daytona	1971.5
Hammil	Steve	3	999DNF	29	Porsche 911	1972
Harmston	Edwin	5	58:04	39	Rolls Royce Silver Wraith	1979
Harris	Richard	3	999DNF	33	Studebaker	1972
Harris	Richard	4	44:23	16	Studebaker	1975
Harrison	John	5	999DNF	44	Lotus Esprit	1979
Heinz	Dave +	5	32:51	* 1	Jaguar XJS	1979
Henry	Bill	3	41:06	12	Chevrolet Vega	1972
Herisko	Ron	2	36:56	3	Cadillac Coupe De Ville	1971.5
Hickey	Tom	5	32:59	2	Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9	1979
Hitchins	John	5	65:55	41	Ford Mini Truck	1979
Honegger	Pierre	4	39:22	8	Mazda RX-4	1975
Hopkins `	Danny	3	38:02	4	De Tomaso Pantera	1972
Hopkins	Hoppy	3	38:02	4	De Tomaso Pantera	1972
Hoschek	Gero	5	43:47	31	Jensen Interceptor	1979
Houge	Larry	3	46:17	22	Opel Rallye	1972
Hourihan	Bob	4	40:31	10	Volvo 164 E	1975
Howlett	Jack	4	38:45	6	Buick Electra	1975
Hunt	Jim	5	41:00	26	Ford Thunderbird	1979
James	Dirk	5	43:32	30	Suzuki 850 Motorcycle	1979
Jeanes	William	4	45:36	17	Travco Motorhome	1975
Jellison	Rich	3	57:19	26	Chevrolet Corvette	1972
Jenkins	Richard	3	38:37	5	Alfa Romeo Giulia	1972
Jessen	John	3	57:19	26	Chevrolet Corvette	1972
Jessick	Peter	5	40:53	25	Chrysler	1979
Johnson	Don	3	999DNF	31	Austin Healey	1972
Johnson	Gary	4	37:50	2	Chevrolet Pickup	1975
Jones	David	5	38:10	17	Chevrolet Blazer	1979
Kendall-Lane	Fiona	5	58:04	39	Rolls Royce Silver Wraith	1979
Kendall-Lane	Stephen	5	58:04	39	Rolls Royce Silver Wraith	1979
Kenny	Arnold	3	999DNF	32	Chevrolet Camaro Z 28	1972
Kepler	Fred	3	999DNF	32	Chevrolet Camaro Z 28	1972
Key	Robert	5	48:53	37	Shelby Mustang GT 350	1979
Kirby	Jim	5	36:40	11	Chevrolet Camaro Z 28	1979
Kopec	Rich	5	48:53	37	Shelby Mustang GT 350	1979
Kovaleski	Oscar	2	36:47	2	Chevrolet Van	1971.5
Kovaleski	Bob	4	36:40	11	Chevrolet Camaro Z 28	1979
Kozlowski	Tom	4	39:22	8	Mazda RX-4	1975
Lane	John	5	37:31	15	Porsche 928	1979
Leib	Dick	3	44:54	20	Pontiac	1972
Leonard	Tom	5	37:46	16	Chevrolet Camaro Z 28	1979
Lincoln	Sam	3	49:04	25	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	1972
Lloyd	David	5	36:00	8	Buick Park Avenue	1979
Locke	Pete	3	40:11	9	Chrysler	1972
Loveli	Bill	5	41:00	26	Ford Thunderbird	1979
Lynch	Leo	3	999DNF	30	Porsche 911	1972
Lynch	Leo	4	38:39	5	Porsche 911	1975
Mahler	John	5	37:46	16	Chevrolet Camaro Z 28	1979
Marbut	Tom	2	37:45	4	Dodge Van	1971.5
Marget	Pete	3	41:41	14	Datsun 510	1972
Marshall	Pierce	5	36:51	13	Chevrolet Malibu	1979
Martin	Charles	5	45:32	33	Chevrolet Suburban	1979
Martin	Chauncey	3	43:02	16	Ford Van	1972
Martini	Jeff	4	39:22	8	Mazda RX-4	1975
Martini	Jeff	5	36:49	12	Cadillac Eldorado	1979
May	Jack +	4	35:53	1	Ferrari Dino 246 GTS	1975
Mayo	Edward	5	38:10	17	Chevrolet Blazer	1979
McCarthy	Charlie	5	36:19	9	Mercedes-Benz 300 SD	1979
McConkey	Ron	4	40:43	12	Pontiac Firebird Trans Am	1975
McCoy	Jack	4	37:50	2	Chevrolet Pickup	1975
McCoy	Peggy	4	37:50	2	Chevrolet Pickup	1975
McGovern	John	4	41:35	15	Oldsmobile Cutlass	1975
McGovern	John	5	58:04	39	Rolls Royce Silver Wraith	1979
McGrail	Tom	3	44:42	19	Travco Motorhome	1972
McGrail	Tom	4	45:36	17	Travco Motorhome	1975
McMeekan	George	3	44:54	20	Pontiac	1972
McPherson	Glen	3	999DNF	31	Austin Healey	1972
McWhorter	Donald	5	41:17	27	Chevrolet Corvette	1979
McWhorter	Gerald	5	41:17	27	Chevrolet Corvette	1979
Menesini	Dennis	5	34:52	5	Chevrolet Pickup	1979
Menke	Vern	4	40:53	13	Ford Torino	1975
Menzel	Mike	5	999DNF[21]	46	Fiat 127[22]	1979
Micek	John	5	40:53	25	Chrysler	1979
Miller	James	3	43:45	18	Bradley GT	1972
Miller	Mark	5	34:52	5	Chevrolet Pickup	1979
Miller	Robin	3	39:35	7	Chevrolet Vega	1972
Mims	Donna Mae	3	999DNF	28	Cadillac Limousine	1972
Mockett	Doug	5	40:53	25	Chrysler	1979
Moody	Dave	3	41:01	11	Ford Torino	1972
Moore	Bill	5	40:53	25	Chrysler	1979
Morin	Holly	2	39:03	6	Dodge Van	1971.5
Morton	Tom	3	41:01	11	Ford Torino	1972
Morton	Tom	4	40:33	13	Ford Torino	1975
Moses	Sam	5	39:29	21	Ford Mustang Boss 302	1979
Mullen	Jim	5	40:11	23	Ferrari SWB	1979
Mullen	Joan	5	40:11	23	Ferrari SWB	1979
Needham	Hal	5	9DNF	43	Dodge Van	1979
Nehl	Tom	4	41:32	14	Porsche 911	1975
Nerger	Ursula	5	43:47	31	Jensen Interceptor	1979
Nichols	John	5	39:45	22	Chevrolet Camaro	1979
Nickel	Gil	4	38:16	4	Mercedes-Benz 450 SL	1975
Niemcek	Brad	2	36:47	2	Chevrolet Van	1971.5
Niemcek	Brad	3	9DNF	27	Chevrolet Van	1972
Niemcek	Brad	4	40:37	11	Ford Van	1975
Niemcek	Peggi	3	9DNF	28	Cadillac Limousine	1972
Nunn	Spike	3	41:41	14	Datsun 510	1972
O'Brien	Robert	4	41:35	15	Oldsmobile Cutlass	1975
O'Donnell	Bill	5	53:00	38	Cadillac Eldorado	1979
Olds	Fred +	3	37:16	1	Cadillac Coupe De Ville	1972
Olds	Fred	4	40:31	10	Volvo 164 E	1975
Opert	Larry	2	36:56	3	Cadillac Sedan De Ville	1971.5
Poggio	Massimo	5	999DNF[21]	46	Fiat 127[22]	1979
Parker	Pal	2	57:25	7	Travco Motorhome	1971.5
Parker	Pal	3	44:42	19	Travco Motorhome	1972
Parker	Pal	4	45:36	17	Travco Motorhome	1975
Pash	Phil	2	57:25	7	Travco Motorhome	1971.5
Patchett	Keith	5	72:54	42	BMW R 90/6 Motorcycle	1979
Pearson	Jack	4	38:45	6	Buick Electra	1975
Peeler	Jim	5	46:48	36	Ferrari 330 GT	1979
Perlow	Bob	2	9DNF	8	MGB GT	1971.5
Pfeifer	S.	3	47:28	23	Ford Pinto	1972
Pierce	Jeff	5	33:42	3	Pontiac Firebird Trans Am	1979
Pitt	Jesse	3	40:11	9	Chrysler	1972
Poston	Becky	2	37:45	4	Dodge Van	1971.5
Prentiss	Larry	5	46:37	35	Porsche Carrera	1979
Pritch	Mark	5	36:52	18	Ferrari 308 GT 350	1979
Pritzker	Nate	2	36:56	3	Cadillac Sedan De Ville	1971.5
Pryor	Bill	4	49:32	18	Bristol 410	1975
Pryor	Bill	5	40:33	24	Volvo 242 GT	1979
Quartararo	Tony	5	46:48	36	Ferrari 330 GT	1979
Race	Donald	5	53:00	38	Cadillac Eldorado	1979
Ralston	Benjamin	5	46:37	35	Porsche Carrera	1979
Ramsey	John	3	43:28	17	Ford Torino	1972
Rasmussen	Buzz	5	39:20	20	Chevrolet El Camino	1979
Regan	Ken	4	40:37	11	Ford Van	1975
Richardson	Tad	5	35:17	6	Mazda RX-7	1979
Riggs	Clyde	5	36:49	12	Cadillac Eldorado	1979
Robison	Charlie	5	34:52	5	Chevrolet Pickup	1979
Roder	Dick	3	40:55	10	Chevrolet Van	1972
Romine	Chris	5	35:58	7	Ferrari 308 GTS	1979
Rosenblatt	Joel	5	36:00	8	Buick Park Avenue	1979
Rost	Bob	3	38:37	5	Alfa Romeo Giulia	1972
Rowzie	Dan	4	38:39	5	Porsche 911 RSR	1975
Royer	Lyle	5	9DNF	43	Dodge Van	1979
Satullo	Sandy	4	38:45	6	Buick Electra	1975
Satullo	Sandy	5	36:49	12	Pontiac	1979
Satullo	Stuart	5	36:49	12	Pontiac	1979
Satullo II	Sandy	4	38:45	6	Buick Electra	1975
Satullo II	Sandy	5	36:49	12	Pontiac	1979
Scarlato	Jerry	4	45:36	17	Travco Motorhome	1975
Schmitt	Charles	5	53:00	38	Cadillac Eldorado	1979
Scott	Dick	3	9DNF	30	Porsche 911	1972
Scribner	Doug	3	49:04	25	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	1972
Sellyei	Louis	5	39:10	19	Jaguar XJS	1979
Sencenbaugh	Jim	5	45:32	33	Chevrolet Suburban	1979
Seneki	Alex	5	46:31	34	Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3	1979
Shugars	Dave	4	40:43	12	Pontiac Firebird Trans Am	1975
Sibio	Albert Jr.	5	36:40	11	Chevrolet Camaro Z 28	1979
Simkin	Daniel	5	36:20	10	Excalibur	1979
Smith	Gary	5	39:45	22	Chevrolet Camaro	1979
Smith	Ken	5	34:52	5	Chevrolet Pickup	1979
Smith	Steve +	1	40:51	1	Dodge Sportsman Van	1971
Snyder	Michael	5	33:42	3	Pontiac Firebird Trans Am	1979
Solski	Paul	3	39:29	6	Mazda RX-2	1972
Sportiche	Alain	5	46:31	34	Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3	1979
Spreadbury	Bill	3	47:28	23	Ford Pinto	1972
Stanner	Bud	3	37:26	2	Dodge Challenger	1972
Stanton	Chick	4	38:56	7	Porsche Carrera	1975
Stanton	Chick	5	42:28	29	Porsche Carrera	1979
Stephenson	?	3	9DNF	34	Honda 600	1972
Stevens	David	5	36:20	10	Excalibur	1979
Stropus	Judy	3	9DNF	28	Cadillac Limousine	1972
Taayjes	Bob	3	43:45	18	Bradley GT	1972
Talbert	R.A.	3	44:54	20	Pontiac	1972
Taylor	Justus	5	61:51	40	Ford Panel Truck	1979
Thibeau	John	3	45:39	21	Opel Rallye	1972
Trefethen	Jon	3	43:28	17	Ford Torino	1972
Truesdale	Loyal	5	72:54	42	BMW R 90/6 Motorcycle	1979
Turkovich	Bob	4	40:37	11	Ford Van	1975
Unkefer	Duane	3	43:02	16	Ford Van	1972
Villeneuve	Jacques	5	37:31	15	Porsche 928	1979
Visniewski	Scott	5	38:10	17	Chevrolet Blazer	1979
Walle	Ray	4	39:22	8	Mazda RX-4	1975
Ward	Ken	5	43:32	30	Suzuki 850 Motorcycle	1979
Ward	Steve	5	43:32	30	Suzuki 850 Motorcycle	1979
Warner	Bill	4	41:32	14	Porsche 911	1975
Waters	Randy	2	37:45	4	Dodge Van	1971.5
Weglarz	Dennis	4	40:43	12	Pontiac Firebird Trans Am	1975
Whiteside	Mark	5	34:07	4	Pontiac Firebird Trans Am	1979
Williams	Jim +	1	40:51	1	Dodge Sportsman Van	1971
Williams	Willie	5	38:10	17	Chevrolet Blazer	1979
Willig	George	5	39:29	21	Ford Mustang Boss 302	1979
Yarborough	Dave +	5	32:51	* 1	Jaguar XJS	1979
Yates	Brock +	1	40:51	1	Dodge Sportsman Van	1971
Yates	Brock +	2	35:54	1	Ferrari Daytona	1971.5
Yates	Brock	3	37:26	2	Dodge Challenger	1972
Yates	Brock	4	38:03	3	Dodge Challenger	1975
Yates	Brock	5	9DNF	43	Dodge Van	1979
Yates	Brock, Jr. +	1	40:51	1	Dodge Sportsman Van	1971
Yates	Pamela	5	9DNF	43	Dodge Van	1979
Ziegel	Robert	5	37:25	14	Porsche 930	1979
Zoeltner	Andreas	5	43:47	31	Jensen Interceptor	1979

References

1. David Shaftel (October 17, 2007). "Tale of Outlaw Racing, With the U.S. as a Course". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
2. "NY to California Race Documentary 32 hours 7 minutes". 32hours7minutes.com. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
3. http://jalopnik.com/meet-the-guy-who-drove-across-the-u-s-in-a-record-28-h-1454092837
4. "Sims Designer Had the Wright Stuff for Street Racing Way Back When", wired.com; accessed March 21, 2016.
5. Brock Yates, Cannonball! World's Greatest Outlaw Road Race. Motorbooks International. August 2003. p. 288. ISBN 0-7603-1090-4.
6. Doug DeMuro (October 21, 2014). "Here's The Data From Ed Bolian's Record-Setting Cross-Country Run". Jalopnik. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
7. American Motorcyclist. June 1999. p. 11.
8. "John Penton profile". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
9. Motor Cycle News. November 7, 1968. p. 9.
10. http://calteches.library.caltech.edu/276/01/bust.pdf
11. "E&S+".
12. Corporation, Bonnier (1 January 1969). "Popular Science". Bonnier Corporation – via Google Books.
13. "ev online - diary of a race".
14. "UPDATE - TRIP COMPLETE: Tesla Model S Coast-to-Coast Road Rally Play-by-Play Update - Inside EVs".
15. "Edmunds.com Tesla Drivers Set Record for Cross-Country Travel in Electric Vehicle".
16. Patrick George (April 24, 2015). "Article on Team "Uber Qik" Record-Setting Cross-Country Run".
17. Patrick George."Alex Roy And Two Members Of The Tesla Record Team Just Broke That Coast-To-Coast Record With Autopilot". Jalopnik.
18. "Delphi self-driving car goes coast-to-coast, autonomously - ExtremeTech".
19. Patrick George (October 21, 2015). "Alex Roy And Two Members Of The Tesla Record Team Just Broke That Coast-To-Coast Record With Autopilot". Jalopnik.com. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
20. Roy, Alex. "We Set A Cross-Country Record In A Tesla That Drove Itself".
21. Indio, CA
22. 1500 cc PBS Engine

External links

• "Gurney/Yates Cop First Cannonball", Brad Niemcek on the 1971 race
• Jack May, 1975 Cannonball champion with Rick Cline.
• "The Cannonball Dash" - Jack May and Rick Cline, 1975 champions (scanned image from Time, May 5, 1975, pg. 63, cannonballjack.com; accessed March 21, 2016.
• Charles Graeber (October 16, 2007). "The Pedal-to-the-Metal, Totally Illegal, Cross-Country Sprint for Glory". Wired Magazine.