Prompt Cast
The Cannonball Run: A Cross-Country Race Filled with Speed, Comedy, and Zany Experiences
TLDR The Cannonball Run is a legendary cross-country road race in the US that started as a serious competition but turned into a comedy. Participants drive fast, elude the cops, and have zany experiences, leading to the creation of a movie based on the race.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The Cannonball Run is a cross-country road race in the United States where participants drive fast and elude the cops to win.
03:57
The Cannonball Run movie was originally intended to be serious, as it was based on a real cross-country race, but it ended up being a comedy; the race was inspired by a real race in the 1970s that took place during a time when America was shifting towards prioritizing safety over fun and speed.
07:56
The speed limit of 55 miles per hour was set in response to the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s, which caused a spike in gas prices and led the US to rethink its dependence on foreign oil.
12:00
The Cannonball Run was named after Cannonball Baker and originally called the Cannonball Dash, but was later shortened to avoid illegal implications, and the first official Cannonball race involved the Polish Racing Drivers of America and seven other groups.
16:03
The first official Cannonball race started in New York and ended at a hotel in Redondo Beach, with the only rules being that there could only be one car and as many drivers as desired, and the winners completed the race in 35 hours and 54 minutes.
20:04
The Cannonball Run race gained more attention and participants in subsequent years, with corporate sponsorship and a record-breaking time, eventually leading to the creation of a movie based on the race.
24:08
In the final Cannonball Run race, the participants had some zany experiences, such as using an ambulance as their vehicle and having to tow it across the finish line, and there were also real-life inspirations for some of the characters in the movie adaptation of the race.
28:30
In this section, the host and his friend share personal stories about getting pulled over for speeding, with the host's experience being particularly bizarre.
32:38
The host and his friend rented a car to drive to Vermont to see a movie, and they ended up speeding at 102 mph and barely making it to the movie on time.
36:25
The hosts have raised over $4,500 in 10 days from fans who supported kiva.org, and they encourage listeners to contribute as little as $25 to become a member and potentially get their money back.
Categories:
Society & Culture
