Cannonball Record Broken During Coronavirus - 26 Hours 38 Minutes:
Only a few months have passed since we reported that the New York-to-Los Angeles Cannonball record was broken. It's allegedly been broken again. The 26 hour, 38 minute time—which beats the record set in November by more than 45 minutes—appears to be legitimate, according to Ed Bolian, a Cannonball insider and driver who set his own 28 hour, 50 minute record in 2013. Alex Roy, who set the first modern NYC-to-LA record in 2006, also said the new claim is credible based on his analysis of multiple sources.
"It was not me," Bolian was quick to point out to Road & Track, eager to quell an Internet-generated rumor that perhaps he had been the one to pull it off.
[...] All we know about this new set of scofflaws is that there were three, maybe four of them, and that they were driving a white 2019 Audi A8 sedan with a pair of red plastic marine fuel tanks ratchet-strapped into its trunk. They started at the Red Ball Garage in New York City at 11:15 pm on April 4, and ended less than 27 hours later at the Portofino Hotel & Marina in Redondo Beach, California, the traditional start and end points of a Cannonball attempt.
We also know that their timing was awful. It doesn't seem likely that the new record-holders were keen to have news reach the public so soon, especially at a time when so many people are understandably on edge. But an exuberant friend posted a picture of the Audi on Facebook this week—situated among a number of other high-dollar cars, with its trunk open to show the auxiliary fuel tanks—along with the team's alleged time. Within a day, hundreds of people had shared the post, and social media chat groups were abuzz with Cannonball aficionados offering up opinions on the matter. (The Facebook post has since been removed; it's reproduced here via screengrab.)
"Do I think this is the best use of time while the country is staying in during a pandemic?" Bolian asked in an interview with R&T. "Probably not, but for me to say it's awful is like a cocaine dealer saying a heroin dealer is awful."
Also at NYTimes
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @05:45AM (12 children)
But no road blocks etc to prevent people from traveling far and fast for no good reason?
So I guess it's still pretty easy to spread the disease around in the USA.
(Score: 3, Funny) by aristarchus on Tuesday April 14 2020, @06:34AM (9 children)
Rolling over the corpses of the Covid-19 victims, with their fluid filled dreams of dominance, and really sick biker homosexual biker gay sex. But the Juice the precious juice. What ever happened after then end of MadMax, Road Warrior, any way? Just went back to normal Australia, but without the Interceptors? Or are we foreshadowing Tina Turner?
(Score: 1) by Sulla on Tuesday April 14 2020, @07:08AM (1 child)
Not that theres anything wrong with that
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9OH1yEnENG0 [youtube.com]
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @07:25AM
Of course, other than Bikers, and Tulsi Gabbard [pastemagazine.com], or all Gabbards [honolulumagazine.com], hating queers. Nothing wrong other than the violence inherent in the system. Fucking faggot bikers and Samoan Surfers! As if no one could tell!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @08:02AM (1 child)
Haven't yet watched that one, but I do know that Mad Maxine works mainly as a journo nowadays.
Not that this has any relevance, but again I'm as on-topic and informative as the parent comment.
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by aristarchus on Tuesday April 14 2020, @08:12AM
Furry Road? Playing with Alt-Right wolf characters, these days.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday April 14 2020, @09:04AM (4 children)
Moved in NZ [youtube.com]? Because, s'riously [youtube.com], traditions [youtube.com] and all that [youtube.com], those sheep sh...ers [youtube.com]?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by driverless on Tuesday April 14 2020, @10:01AM (3 children)
Naah, you're thinking of his crazy NZ cousin Groucho Blondini [youtube.com].
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday April 14 2020, @03:01PM (2 children)
Meh, they upgraded [youtube.com]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by driverless on Tuesday April 14 2020, @03:14PM (1 child)
No they didn't. There was only one Goodbye Pork Pie ever made, and that was in 1981. Anyone who claims otherwise is on the same kind of drugs as people who claim that there was more than one Highlander movie, or that Metallica released any albums after 1988.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday April 14 2020, @03:28PM
A case of too bad they never made any sequels [xkcd.com], eh?
Ok, you convinced me, I'll look for the one and only Good Bye Pork Pie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Tuesday April 14 2020, @07:21AM (1 child)
Australia [abc.net.au] and New Zealand [nzherald.co.nz] have lots of police out stopping people - not [nsw.gov.au] just [nsw.gov.au] at borders.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday April 14 2020, @08:21AM
Why drive when you can row [abc.net.au]?
Besides, top cops need to do something too [7news.com.au]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 3, Funny) by maxwell demon on Tuesday April 14 2020, @06:02AM (1 child)
I don't know why you would record the sound of a cannonball in the first place, but clearly the one who broke that record should be required to replace it. :-)
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday April 14 2020, @08:05AM
I don't know why you would record the sound of a cannonball in the first place, but clearly the one who broke that record should be required to replace it. :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday April 14 2020, @09:29AM (8 children)
I always wanted to do this. My idea is for a motorcycle though. Strap one of those marine engine gas tanks onto the back of the bike, like these guys did. Run a bike that gets better than 50 mpg, with a 5 gal fuel tank, and 12 or 15 gallon marine fuel tank. Two stops along the way, and it's doable.
I've made many coast-to-coast runs, at speed, but never on something that does serious speed. And, no, 100 to 120 mph isn't serious speed, you have to be able to reach 150 before you can even pretend to be serious.
Hail to the Nibbler in Chief.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @10:13AM (1 child)
> 100 to 120 mph isn't serious speed
says the meatbag who would get damaged in a 25mph to 0 deceleration :D
The cannonball is good for the movies and the record during the pandemic is good for the cannonball.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday April 14 2020, @10:54AM
This meatbag would love the chance to tag along with this guy . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe0igW8jNyU [youtube.com]
Hail to the Nibbler in Chief.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday April 14 2020, @12:55PM
Didn't you watch the movie?
Butterflies.
Україна досі не є частиною Росії Слава Україні🌻 https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/06/24/7408365/
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday April 14 2020, @01:00PM (2 children)
So, there's a serious strategic problem while Cannonballing... as soon as you start to exceed 100-120mph speeds, you attract the attention of EVERY officer of the law who happens to notice you. First: you're an outlier, haven't seen anyone moving that fast in over 10 years! Next: you're a challenge, how will we stop this one? Finally: if you manage to elude early attempts at capture, you're obviously dangerous and merit additional resources interjurisdictional cooperation, etc.
I've never been ticketed for anything over 80mph, but I've been stopped many times while going much faster - they generally just wanted to know what the deal was and as soon as they understood that nothing bad was connected to the speed they just kicked me loose, sometimes with a written warning. (All of this at least 7 years in the past, mind you.)
Україна досі не є частиною Росії Слава Україні🌻 https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/06/24/7408365/
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday April 14 2020, @01:31PM (1 child)
Yes, there is strategy involved. Having driven truck for several years, I've used a few. Know your route - as in, you've driven this route many times, and you already know where to slow down. It works pretty well. You can lure someone into running interference for you - Corvettes are famous for their need to pass a big truck, and stay ahead of that big truck. You can let the 'Vette get out ahead of you a couple miles, and just tag along all night long - or until a cop pulls him over. Running with a radar detector and a police scanner helps a lot, though you may not hear them over the motorcycle's engine and wind noise. A phone app might help.
Back in the bad old days, I didn't have any of that. I just rode, and took my chances, then made a snap decision whether to run from the cop, or pull over.
Hail to the Nibbler in Chief.
(Score: 3, Informative) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday April 14 2020, @03:00PM
I only ever "ran" once - he hadn't put his blue lights on yet so it doesn't really count, but... I was doing 70 in a 45, around 1am on a 14 mile long island where I'd bet the only two vehicles on the road were me and the cop. He came around the bend toward me and I had the "oh shit" moment, let off the gas, I saw his brake lights come on and him start to U turn as he disappeared around the bend behind me. Suddenly, I realized that his jurisdiction ended about 1/2 mile ahead on the bridge, so I floored it again (100hp sedan, I might have made it up to 75mph) until I reached the short bridge, then I slowed to 30mph which was the limit on the other island. He came up over the bridge when I was maybe 1/4 mile into "not his island" and did a big U turn to go back home.
Other times, I figured it would go better if I didn't make them call in backup, and it usually did.
Україна досі не є частиною Росії Слава Україні🌻 https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/06/24/7408365/
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @04:34PM (1 child)
> Run a bike that gets better than 50 mpg,
Doesn't exist...mileage is much worse at high speeds. I don't have any data, but a couple of comments here suggest that race bikes like at the Isle of Man get 10-12 miles/gallon (that might be Imperial gallon, it doesn't say): https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/180mph-fuel-consumption-on-a-motorcycle.2168504/ [anandtech.com]
I did a quick Google route for this new unofficial Cannonball* and it looks like they averaged about 105 mph for the ~2800 miles. To me that means they had to be going 150+ out west on empty freeways.
It's true that if you really streamlined a bike the mileage would improve greatly, but I've ridden heavily faired vehicles and they are very sensitive to cross winds. Which is why speed records are often set at dawn or dusk when wind speeds are very low.
* yes, it's capitalized--the event was named after Cannonball Roberts who made cross country runs in the early 1900s.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday April 14 2020, @05:24PM
Gotta disagree. I've had a Honda GL500 for years. 54 mpg, give or take just a little, no matter whether I'm pushing it to the limit, or cruising around like an old man. My boy's Yamaha 650 gets real close to 60 mpg, and I've never ridden it unless I was hammering it. 56 to 59 mpg, which is slightly better than my GL. Now, the GL has a top speed of 100 mph, but that 650 will run right up to 170 mph, on the stretches of road where I pushed it hardest. If I actually had a long straightaway to see what it will do, I suspect it will read about 195. I don't really think it will top 200, but it still has more get up and go at 170.
Those race bikes are in a different class than the bikes I'm talking about. They are super bikes, and they are designed and engineered for raw freaking POWER, with control being a secondary consideration. I would expect them to get super shite for mileage, LOL. But, it doesn't take a super bike to to flirt with 200 mph.
That Anandtech article is somewhat amusing. Some of those guys seem to know what they are talking about, while others are just talking out their asses.
Running with my "gang" back in my Navy days, the KZ-1000 determined when we made fuel stops, because he got the worst fuel mileage. Running moderately hard, he got about 27 mpg, running hard, he got about 20 mpg. Virtually all production bikes since those days have improved fuel mileage, some of them drastically. Fuel injection, among other things, make dramatic changes to how much those hogs drink.
I genuinely believe that I could run a Cannonball or similar route, achieve speeds in excess of 150, and still get close to 50 mpg most of the time. But, you couldn't just hop on any old bike, and do that.
Of course, it's not really worth arguing about, unless I get off my ass and do the thing, right? Then I could either prove, or disprove what I believe. :^)
Hail to the Nibbler in Chief.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @02:39PM (8 children)
I know that this may not be a popular opinion among some, but these people should be in jail. It is not, as Runaway claims, "awesome." It is beyond reckless. I'm not some "nanny state" loon -- but let's be honest with ourselves and recognize that these sorts of stunts needlessly endanger innocent people who didn't sign up for this as they unknowingly travel public roads.
I'll give them slight credit for doing this at a time when the roads are significantly more empty than usual. I know the typical attempts at this try to time it to get empty roads as much as possible for a lot of the run too.
But that doesn't excuse endangering numerous other drivers. Suppose you're chugging along on a highway going 65 mph, and you want to pass that guy going a little slow in front of you. So you pull into the left lane.
There are lots of things you might expect to see on a highway and a lot of hazards to look out for. You look in your mirrors before making a lane change, observe the traffic around you, etc. You might be prepared for that guy who might be riding in your blind spot, so you check there. You might be concerned about the fact that the car in front of you is weaving a bit into other lanes. You might wonder what that biker behind you is going to do.
One thing you are definitely NOT going to be prepared for is a car overtaking you in that left lane at 120+mph the speed you are going. No, I don't mean the car is going 120mph. I mean that inevitably in some parts of these runs, the cars usually end up going near to 200 mph for some distances.
Have you ever pulled to the shoulder of a highway? And then, after you were stopped, tried to accelerate to join traffic again? Then you know what it's like to look in your driver's side mirror and see cars passing you at maybe 60-70mph faster that you are going. How fast and crazy it can be to see them coming up so quickly. Most of us aren't really used to reacting and maneuvering in such a situation, which already is potentially quite dangerous.
Now imagine a car that in relative speed is going nearly double that speed-difference faster than you. Except, unlike when you pull from the shoulder, you're not expecting a car to be there, going that fast. How the hell can anyone be prepared for or expect that insanity when making a lane change on a highway?
I realize that people who do these runs take lots of precautions, employ spotters, etc. But they are driving on public roads and they can't anticipate everything. They have no right to endanger unsuspecting drivers in such a way.
And while others celebrate their achievements, I don't believe we should give such people any press -- it encourages others to make more attempts. You might as well go out and celebrate someone who went out on the highway and randomly started shooting a gun down the public highway. I mean, they had spotters and a scope where they checked to try to make sure no one was in their way. Would that make it okay? What if instead of a bullet, they had a several-thousand-pound projectile that could ram into someone unexpectedly? Does that excuse it somehow, just because it's trying to imitate a stunt from a movie...?
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @04:39PM (7 children)
All your arguments are perfectly logical, but there is a problem. As far as I know, no one has been seriously hurt during any of the Cannonballs, starting with Brock Yates' original in the '70s.
The key is that the interstate highway system is damn safe, it only seems scary-unsafe because it's so big that there are bound to be some accidents.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @04:46PM
Forgot to add that we knew Brock Yates and heard him give a talk about the idea at a sports car event, some months before the first Cannonball. Long before the 'net, he gave his talk to various racing groups to build interest and attract competitors. If we wanted we could have had an entry...but for various reasons didn't do it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @05:59PM (2 children)
Do tell [youtube.com]*.
By your logic none of the Space Shuttles could have been destroyed because none of them had ever had a fatal problem. Until Challenger.
I don't care how many controls they have. If fatal accidents can happen on racetracks where conditions are as controlled as they can be then allowing driving like that in public is an accident waiting to happen. All it takes is for something like a defect in a tire that wouldn't reveal itself until speeds cross over 100, and all the perfect planning in the world is useless.
This is entirely separated from the notion that such idiocy is in the midst of nationwide calls to stay at home. So they're not only reckless idiots in terms of driving, but also idiots about caring about public health. OK.
* yeah, none of those were Cannonballers. But it helps to actually see high speed collisions and how they occur to understand how narrow the margins of error are and how easily death comes with higher speeds. And to realize how fucked up these people must be to want to try what they do in public. And Google Maps says the fastest route is 2,811 miles. That means an *average* of 105.54 mph for the 26 hours and 38 minutes. Yeah. Stupid.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @08:04PM (1 child)
Actually, your YouTube link to all the accidents tends to support my point that the Interstates are pretty safe. Only a few of the scenes shown were on divided Interstate highways. Most were surface streets, a few with snow or other bad weather (which is avoided by Cannonballers). The video makers had to dig pretty deep, even selecting several commercial vehicles that appeared to lose brakes--I nearly got squashed by a dump truck at the bottom of a steep hill like this--but none of these apply to Interstate traffic.
Of the Interstate accidents, one seemed likely to be loss of control by an inexperienced driver, the one passing on the left shoulder that got off into the median and was launched by the bridge approach. Similar for the one that went down the right shoulder and hit the parked vehicle. A couple of others were driving against traffic, another bone head move.
While perhaps not universally true, Cannonballers often have racing experience and/or high performance driver training. During an attempt they are hyper alert, focused on driving, not their phones.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @06:25PM
The video I chose wasn't intended to show that interstates are safe or not. The interstates are generally safe because there are speed limits with respect the conditions of the road, physics, and the skills of the average driver. (No, I don't really care about the comparisons to the Autobahn. It is what it is, and the US Freeways are what they are. Replicate the Autobahn here and you would get a different rate because most American drivers are trained stupidly.)
The video was mainly intended what fatal accidents look like. It also shows the obvious point that the higher the speed the less margin for safety. Plus the pretty horrific outcomes that can result because all that extra speed build up extra energy that kills people when it all goes wrong.
How does a cannonballer handle it when someone is coming up the wrong way on the Interstate? Obviously, slow down and avoid if the driver can in time.
And the other point is that accidents can occur even when a driver is hyper alert and focused on their driving. It can happen purely by accident because of a mechanical fault, or it can happen because the other guy does something unexpected and stupid.
It's a stupid idea to try. Period.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 15 2020, @12:13AM (2 children)
Just because no one has been seriously hurt doesn’t mean it isn’t reckless. (And can you be sure about all possible unofficial/unsuccessful attempts that have happened over the years?)
The highway system is safe, but that doesn’t mean driving in an unreasonable fashion on it is therefore safe.
And it only seems “unsafe” because vehicle related accidents are indeed one of the leading causes of accidental death, as well as serious injuries. Driving everyday is one of the most risky things most people do... propelling yourself around at high speeds. I cannot understand how you would claim that introducing unexpected high speed craziness into such a system would be “safe.”
Nothing is perfectly safe, and I’ll agree with you that one can be too risk averse. But driving is already one of the most dangerous (probably the most dangerous) things that most people do regularly. This just introduces a public menace on a public roadway, where other drivers didn’t agree to the extra risk.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 15 2020, @03:08AM
Or you go to Germany where portions of the Autobahn still have no speed limit...
Germans are taught to use the fast lane for passing, not hogging.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 15 2020, @02:41PM
Yeah those who die or get caught might not announce their successful cannonball run.
Whereas those who announce their cannonball runs in advance might have their attempt slowed down a bit by the cops.