Post by Lee on Mar 28, 2018 12:06:52 GMT
The “Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash” was conceived by Brock Yates (auto journalist) and Steve Smith (Car and Driver editor) as a celebration of the United States Interstate Highway System and a protest against strict traffic laws coming into effect at the time. The name payed homage to American motorcycle and automobile racing driver Erwin George "Cannon Ball" Baker who was famous for his record-setting point-to-point drives during the early part of the 20th century. It was an unofficial, unsanctioned race that took place five times during the 1970s, a 2800 mile race that challenged the best drivers to see how fast they could travel across the breadth of the United States. From the start in the busy streets of New York City to the sun and sand of Redondo Beach, California, the highways of America were the setting for the greatest outlawed race there has ever been.
The first run took place on May 3, 1971 and was not a race as there was only one team running, consisting of Yates; his son, Brock Yates Jr, Steve Smith and friend Jim Williams in a 1971 Dodge Custom Sportsman van, called the "Moon Trash II".
The second run on November 15, 1971 saw a remarkable effort by American racing legend Dan Gurney (winner of the 1967 24 hours of Le Mans), who won in a Ferrari Daytona. Gurney is reported as saying "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 at an average of approximately 80 mph, while collecting one fine. Apparently snow in the Rockies slowed them down considerably.
There were 3 more runs on November 13 - 1972, April 23 – 1975 and with the final one taking place on April 1 – 1979.
Forty-six teams competed in the final ’79 race, with a hodgepodge of car nuts, speed freaks, and adventure seekers. The choice of vehicle varied and every team had a different game plan. Some set off, taking it easy and obeying the speed limits until they reached the open road. Others decided to go full out from the very start in the hope of achieving an early lead, but risking getting caught at the very beginning. Apparently one competitor took a route that involved crashing through a fence in his Chevy Pickup to get onto the Connecticut Turnpike. Others thought a more subtle approach was best, with some knowing that the police would easily spot a sports car tearing down the road attempted to disguise their car. One racer competed in a souped up ambulance, complete with a doctor and patient, the plan worked and the team fooled many police, although the van eventually broke down and was unable to make the finish. Another competitor when pulled over claimed to be an off-duty police officer, it didn’t work and with it being a criminal offense, he found himself in handcuffs and out of the race.
It wasn’t just the grueling pace against the clock, police and mechanical mishaps the competitors had to face, many truck drivers were annoyed by the racers flying by at 120 with headlamps blazing, some even tipped off the police or tried to obstruct competing cars. Despite everything, of the forty-six teams that started, forty-two of them made it to the finish. Although there were in excess of fifty speeding tickets picked up, there were no major accidents, the winning car was a Jaguar XJS which managed an average speed of 87 mph and won the race in the record time of 32 hours and 51 minutes.
This race inspired the “Cannonball Run” films as well as a number of events.
The first run took place on May 3, 1971 and was not a race as there was only one team running, consisting of Yates; his son, Brock Yates Jr, Steve Smith and friend Jim Williams in a 1971 Dodge Custom Sportsman van, called the "Moon Trash II".
The second run on November 15, 1971 saw a remarkable effort by American racing legend Dan Gurney (winner of the 1967 24 hours of Le Mans), who won in a Ferrari Daytona. Gurney is reported as saying "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 at an average of approximately 80 mph, while collecting one fine. Apparently snow in the Rockies slowed them down considerably.
There were 3 more runs on November 13 - 1972, April 23 – 1975 and with the final one taking place on April 1 – 1979.
Forty-six teams competed in the final ’79 race, with a hodgepodge of car nuts, speed freaks, and adventure seekers. The choice of vehicle varied and every team had a different game plan. Some set off, taking it easy and obeying the speed limits until they reached the open road. Others decided to go full out from the very start in the hope of achieving an early lead, but risking getting caught at the very beginning. Apparently one competitor took a route that involved crashing through a fence in his Chevy Pickup to get onto the Connecticut Turnpike. Others thought a more subtle approach was best, with some knowing that the police would easily spot a sports car tearing down the road attempted to disguise their car. One racer competed in a souped up ambulance, complete with a doctor and patient, the plan worked and the team fooled many police, although the van eventually broke down and was unable to make the finish. Another competitor when pulled over claimed to be an off-duty police officer, it didn’t work and with it being a criminal offense, he found himself in handcuffs and out of the race.
It wasn’t just the grueling pace against the clock, police and mechanical mishaps the competitors had to face, many truck drivers were annoyed by the racers flying by at 120 with headlamps blazing, some even tipped off the police or tried to obstruct competing cars. Despite everything, of the forty-six teams that started, forty-two of them made it to the finish. Although there were in excess of fifty speeding tickets picked up, there were no major accidents, the winning car was a Jaguar XJS which managed an average speed of 87 mph and won the race in the record time of 32 hours and 51 minutes.
This race inspired the “Cannonball Run” films as well as a number of events.
