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The Real Story of the Legendary Street Race: The Cannonball Run

Howard Powell

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Published in Quarter Million Quarter Mile: The Real Story Of The Legendary Street Race

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Quarter Million, Quarter Mile: The Real Story of the Legendary Street Race

by Robert Blackwell

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Language	:	English
File size	:	2206 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	40 pages
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In the annals of automotive history, few events loom as large as the Cannonball Run. This legendary street race, which took place in the 1970s and 1980s, was a test of endurance, speed, and sheer audacity. And at the heart of it all was one man: Brock Yates.

Brock Yates: The Father of the Cannonball Run

Brock Yates was a journalist, author, and race car driver. He was also a visionary who believed that there was more to racing than just turning left at high speeds. He wanted to create a race that would be a true test of a driver's skills and a car's capabilities. A race that would be unlike anything the world had ever seen before.

In 1971, Yates wrote an article for Car and Driver magazine titled "The Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash." The article outlined his plan for a race from New York City to Los Angeles, a distance of 2,800 miles. The race would be open to any car, any driver, and any route. The only rule was that the winner had to be the first to reach Los Angeles.

Yates's article caught the imagination of the public. Soon, he was inundated with inquiries from people who wanted to participate in the race. Yates realized that he had tapped into something special. The Cannonball Run was going to be a reality.

The First Cannonball Run

The first Cannonball Run was held in November 1971. Thirty-five cars and 70 drivers lined up at the starting line in New York City. Among the participants were some of the biggest names in racing, including Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, and Stirling Moss.

The race was a wild and woolly affair. The drivers pushed their cars to the limit, often breaking the speed limit and running red lights. The police were out in force, but they were often powerless to stop the racers. The Cannonball Run was a free-for-all, and anything goes.

The first Cannonball Run was won by Dan Gurney and Brock Yates in a Ferrari Daytona. They completed the 2,800-mile course in 35 hours and 54 minutes, an average speed of 78.7 mph. The race was a huge success, and it quickly became a legend.

The Cannonball Run in the Movies

In 1981, the Cannonball Run was immortalized in a movie starring Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, and Farrah Fawcett. The movie was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to introduce the race to a whole new audience.

The movie version of the Cannonball Run was a bit more tame than the real thing. The drivers didn't break as many laws, and the police were less aggressive. But the movie still captured the spirit of the race: the excitement, the danger, and the sheer joy of driving.

The Legacy of the Cannonball Run

The Cannonball Run was a one-of-a-kind event. It was a race that tested the limits of man and machine. It was a race that captured the imagination of the public. And it was a race that will never be forgotten.

The Cannonball Run may be gone, but its legacy lives on. The race helped to popularize street racing, and it inspired a whole generation of drivers. Today, there are still many people who dream of taking part in a Cannonball Run of their own. And who knows? Maybe one day, they will.