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, if not outlaw, automobile race run four times in the 1970s from New York City to Los Angeles. Conceived by car magazine writer and auto racer, Brock Yates, and fellow Car and Driver editor, Steve Smith, in 1971, the run was not a real competitive race with high risks, 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.

Related Topics:
Automobile - Race - 1970s - New York City - Los Angeles - Brock Yates - Car and Driver - Steve Smith - 1971 - United States - Interstate Highway

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As it was found out, the newly imposed 55 mph speed limit was actually slower 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-Page model 57 Blue Streak 8, setting a 53.5 hour record that stood for nearly 40 years. If this could be done by a single man driving on bad roads and through villages, a team of two or more experienced (and even professional race) drivers, driving a modern car on safer and wider intersection-free highways which by-pass towns, should be able to do it quicker without taking unacceptable risks apart from getting a speeding ticket, by cruising at 90 to 100 mph.

Related Topics:
Erwin George "Cannon Ball" Baker - 1933 - Graham-Page model 57 Blue Streak 8

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Another motivation was the fun involved, which showed in the tongue-in-cheek reports in Car and Driver.

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The initial cross-country run was accomplished by Yates, son Brock Jr., Smith, and friend Jim Williams beginning on May 3, 1971. It was run four more times, on November 15, 1971; November 13, 1972; April 23, 1975; and April 1, 1979. The most remarkable effort certainly was by American racing legend and winner of the 1967 24 hours of Le Mans, Dan Gurney, winning the second run in a Ferrari Daytona by driving up to 170 mph once. With Brock Yates as co-driver, it took them 35h and 54min to travel 2876 miles at an average of 80 mph, while collecting one fine.

Related Topics:
May 3 - 1971 - November 15 - November 13 - 1972 - April 23 - 1975 - April 1 - 1979 - Dan Gurney - Ferrari - Daytona

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The standing record time of 32 hours and 51 minutes (about 87 mph) was set in the final run by Dave Heinz and Dave Yarborough in a Jaguar XJS.

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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.

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