Prompt Cast
The History and Evolution of the Cannonball Run
TLDR The Cannonball Run is an illegal cross-country race that has been attempted since 1914, with the current record standing at 25 hours and 39 minutes. While the official period for record attempts may have ended, there is potential for new attempts using electric vehicles.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The Cannonball Run is a highly illegal quest to drive across the United States as fast as possible, with the first documented attempt made by Erwin Cannonball Baker in 1914.
02:15
The editor of Car and Driver magazine, Brock Yates, and his partner Dan Gurney won the first Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash race, completing the coast-to-coast drive in 35 hours and 54 minutes.
04:12
The last official unofficial Cannonball run took place in 1979, with the winner completing the race in a record time of 32 hours and 51 minutes, and this event inspired the 1981 film "The Cannonball Run."
06:14
The record for the Cannonball Run in 1983 required an average speed of almost 90 miles per hour, and in order to set a record, you need almost perfect conditions, including avoiding the police, planning an efficient route, and minimizing fuel stops.
08:20
The record for the Cannonball Run was shattered multiple times, with the current record standing at 25 hours and 39 minutes, achieved by a team driving a modified 2016 Audi S6.
10:48
The period for record attempts on the Cannonball Run may have ended, but new attempts may come from electric vehicles, with the potential for someone to modify an electric car with a massive extra battery to go the entire distance without charging and shatter the current record.
12:48
The host reads a positive review from a listener and jokes about finding the "Sixth Star" while referencing the movie "Cannonball Run 2."
