S
Ssussunriyh
Guest
The Cannonball was an infamous cross-country outlaw road race that inspired several movies like Gumball Rally and Cannonball Run. But none of the celluloid facsimiles can match the intensity (and occasional insanity) of the actual event upon which they were based: A ragtag collection of fast cars piloted by some of the finest drivers of their day, at rates of speed deemed unsafe (if not downright immoral) by politicians devoted to protecting people "for their own good" whether they wanted such protection or not - all the while avoiding the long arm of the law on public highways as they raced from one end of the continent to the other.
Yes, they actually did it in real life. Four times, in fact: 1971, 1972, 1975, and 1979. The winners in '79 set the all-time record: two car dealers in a '78 Jaguar XJS went coast-to-coast in 32 hours and 51 minutes.
The original purpose of the Cannonball was to demonstrate that people could drive on interstate highways at high speeds, safely and responsibly, without the draconian measures of law enforcement stifling the skill of an experienced and competent driver and the technological superiority of a thoroughbred sports car. If the car and the driver are capable of excellence, why should Big Brother government limit them to the mediocrity of the lowest common denominator?
At least, that was the official stated reason. In truth, it was a symbolic gesture of defiance to an authoritarian establishment, in keeping with the proudest American tradition of the rebel-without-a-cause. The real reason was to do it purely for the sheer unadulterated hell of it.
The start of the race was the Red Ball Garage, a typical commercial parking establishment in downtown Manhattan. The finish line was at the Portofino Inn at Redondo Beach, California, a noted hangout for racers and racing enthusiasts.
The actual guidelines of the Cannonball are incredibly simple. Each participating team is given a scheduled departure time and a time card. Upon departure, the card is punched at the Red Ball garage's time clock. Upon arrival at the Portofino Inn, the card is punched again at the front desk clock, and the difference in time zones is factored in. The team with the shortest elapsed time from start to finish is the winner.
Participants may drive any land-based vehicle of any configuration, with any size crew, taking any route they choose, at any speed they deem appropriate. The Cannonball has been run using everything from motorcycles to motorhomes, by professional race drivers and amateurs alike. Any difficulties with the law en route are your own problem. The only thing that matters is how much of your time they waste.
There is a gentlemen's agreement that said vehicle will actually be driven the entire distance. It would be considered poor sportsmanship to have it transported via truck, train, or plane to the west coast, to have a second identical vehicle stashed away, etc.
Other than that, There Are No Rules. (Oh, and there is no prize money, either. But you'll win the respect of your fellow Cannonballers, the admiration of automobile enthusiasts everywhere, and maybe even a nice trophy to decorate your mantlepiece...)
This bulletin is to announce the proposed running of the Fifth Occasional Cannonball. Participants will be selected on an invited basis by the organizers. For further details, contact Ming Li Xiang, unofficial chairperson of the Cannonball Revival Comittee.
