Brock Yates

Brock Yates is executive editor of Car and Driver, an American automotive magazine.

Related Topics:
Editor - Car and Driver - American - Automotive - Magazine

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Yates was inspired by Erwin G. "Cannonball" Baker, (1882-1960), who travelled across the USA several times, to initiate the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. This illegal cross-continent road race was a protest against the 55 MPH speed limit. The first race was won by him and former race driver, Formula One and Le Mans winner Dan Gurney in a Ferrari. It took them 35 hours, 53 minutes to drive from New York to Los Angeles. Brock Yates wrote The Cannonball Run film with the intention of the lead role going to Steve McQueen, however when he died the film was shelved for 3 years. After a series of flops, motion picture studio 20th Century Fox suggested Burt Reynolds take on another "car" movie role. Reynolds refused but after one more flop decided to take the role. It is well known Brock Yates was not pleased with the final outcome of his film as it was originally written from a more realistic "true to the race" vantage point. The race also served as inspiration for the movies Cannonball (1976), The Gumball Rally (1976), Cannonball Run (1981), and Cannonball Run II (1984).

Related Topics:
Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash - Formula One - Le Mans - Dan Gurney - Ferrari - New York - Los Angeles - Cannonball - The Gumball Rally - Cannonball Run - Cannonball Run II

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