Humour: Cannonball Confusion

[WizO_Pounamu]

I got permission from the poster to tell you this. I thought it would be nice to know that efforts are not going unnoticed, even if honest mistakes are made.


You may or may not be aware that there is a thread for a TMP game in The Lab about a character wishing to revive the Cannonball. ([plug] If you don't know but like modern stuff, go check it out![/plug] ) Based on a real event, it does of course mention actual historical details.

A documentary maker with his own crosscountry background came across the thread. Mistaking the join date (2003) for post date (2005) and not knowing our setting date (2030), he posted to the thread requesting an update from the organiser (character Ming Li Xiang).

I have since advised him of the game.

From permission response:
You're right, I did a google search of "Red Ball Garage" and came
across your site. And, yes, it did sound real...although some of dates
didn't add up, like 2018. But, I was in a hurry and probably thought it
was some kind of car talk I was unaware of.

Sorry folks, but seeing as ISRP is fictional he's no longer interested in filming about it.

If anyone is curious about his documentaries which record and retell stories of human experience (including coast-to-coast) drop me an email. I'm sure he'd appreciate genuine interest.

- Pounamu

 

[Dontella]

*rolls*

I'm so telling my dad, who in his wild youth was in the Real thing..


EDIT: I sounded young for a moment.. dad.. heh..

 

[Ssussunriyh]

I am fully aware of the true history of the Cannonball-Baker-Sea-to-Shining-Sea-Memorial-Trophy-Dash, having based my thread posts largely on Brock Yates' book "Cannonball!" about the four real-life races (five if you include the first exploratory solo run, which personally I don't count as a true Cannonball race...)

Brock Yates has long since called it quits. He will hold no more Cannonball races for reasons of liability and public safety (especially these days, when people sue for millions at the drop of a coffee cup, and win.) In addition, the Cannonball name has become Yates' exclusive intellectual property, when used in reference to any type of automobile race. If you attempt to run such a race and publicize it as "The Cannonball," expect to hear from Yates' lawyer. (This might also include published works of fiction, but I'm not certain.)

The final nail in the coffin may have been an Australian version of the Cannonball, in which two Japanese drivers lost control of their Ferrari F40 at a checkpoint stop, and the resulting crash killed both drivers and several course workers. While unrelated to the original races, the Cannonball name was badly damaged in the ensuing publicity.

Yates does run the annual One Lap of America rally, which might be considered the evolutionary descendant of the infamous cross-country race. However, all actual racing in the One Lap takes place on various race tracks around the country, not on public highways where ordinary motorists could be put at risk.