Now that many people are staying at home worldwide and the roads are also quieter than usual in the US, a number of as yet unknown persons saw the ultimate opportunity to update the ‘coast-to-coast’ record that has been pursued by many. That seems to have worked, but there is also criticism.
Now that many people are staying at home worldwide and the roads are also quieter than usual in the US, a number of as yet unknown persons saw the ultimate opportunity to update the ‘coast-to-coast’ record that has been pursued by many. That seems to have worked, but there is also criticism.
Officially, nothing is known about the newer record, or who is responsible for the lightning-fast ride. The 26-hour and 38-minute time was shared on Instagram by someone apparently sitting close to the fire, along with a photo of the white Audi A8 allegedly driving the ride. However, according to insiders who have seen and analyzed evidence, such as in the video below former record holder Ed Bolian (28 hours and 50 minutes), it seems plausible that time is right.
The current calm seems an ideal starting point for a lightning-fast and highly illegal ride from coast to coast, but at the same time not everyone is happy with the alleged record. As Road and Track also emphasizes, some find cheating and others simply look stylish or disrespectful. Bolian, however, does not dare to accept such a conviction: “that would be as if the cocaine dealer tells the heroin dealer that he is a bad person,” he refers to the illegal nature of such a race, anyway.
The record has been held since November by Arne Toman, Doug Tabutt and Berkeley Chadwick, who cut the distance in a Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG in 27 hours and 25 minutes. The ride is traditionally run between the Red Ball Garage in New York and the Portofino Inn hotel in Los Angeles, although there are a number of routes to choose from.
It is important not to underestimate what is involved in such a ride, or how fast it actually goes. With the mentioned E-class, the Toman team drove an average of 165 km / h, including stops. Anyone who has ever tried to drive fast on a long drive knows that this is almost impossible. That is why the cars are extensively prepared prior to the sample tour and include extra fuel tanks and numerous navigation equipment and radar detectors.
Also, the taillights are sometimes partly taped to make the car less recognizable and there is often a “kill switch” for the brake lights, so that in an emergency you can slow down to discreet speeds. In recent years, pursuers of the record have also engaged dozens of people who stand as spotters along the route, assist with refueling or even keep an eye on things from the air and propose alternative routes where necessary.
Cannonball runs are almost as old in the US as the motorized transport itself. The name “Canonnball” underlines that point, because it refers to the nickname of Erwin Baker, a man who already held the first record in this field in 1915. Numerous events and record attempts have passed over the decades, which along with the necessary films and books has added to the appeal of this long-distance run.
Photo: Rehv Mark