Another new Cannonball Run record: 26 hrs 38 min Audi A8

[93nav]

Is this not being discussed? Article is two days old.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/a-team-exploited-the-coronavirus-pandemic-to-set-a-26-hour-38-minute-cross-country-record/ar-BB12nUOC?ocid=spartanntp

From the article, not much prep:

Judging by the photos that have popped up on social media, not much went into prepping the white Audi A8 for this most recent record-breaking journey. There were a pair of boat tanks strapped into the trunk, a tablet running a timing app duct-taped to the back of the driver's seat, and, according to Bolian's read of it, no visible laser jammer equipment to be seen anywhere. In his conversation with one of the drivers, Bolian got the impression that they figured it was a good time to go, so they just went.

Not everyone is happy about it, think it is appropriate.

[Bill Douglas]

A good discrete looking car to do it in.

But I'm surprised he didn't meet police on the road. Right now our roads are crawling in police.

[KNS]

I haven't read the article yet but I commented on the other Cannonball thread - a run during the pandemic would have an asterisk by it (as it should). It wouldn't be right to list them with the other runs who made the trip in normal traffic. Unfair advantage.

[berettafan]

Hmmm I would have to agree on the asterisk.

[Jeff Higgins]

Hmmm... not sure I would agree with the asterisk. What about traffic in the '70's, '80's, and '90's?

And as far as police on the road - I'm not seeing any at all. I've spoken with a number of my fellow car and bike enthusiasts, and we have all noticed their absence. I'm sure it varies regionally, but they just aren't out there in my area like they used to be. And yes, we might be taking advantage of their absence...

[javadog]

Agreed, traffic now is normally so much worse than when it began that the lack of traffic due to Covid might just have evened things up, compared to the 70's.

It's still nuts, as you'd understand if you'd covered any serious distance at way-beyond legal speeds.

I have to say, I've lost my enthusiasm for this sort of crap.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Sorta seems like cheating to me. Also the guys who did it in the E63 were much more prepared and safety conscious.

[Mr. Merk]

Just goes to show you don't really need a super car. About any car capable of 155mph could pull this off in the right conditions with a bit of luck and crew with huge balls.

Speaking of conditions, people are dogging on them for doing it during Covid. There's never a "good time" to do this, but in my opinion it's "safer" with less people on the road.

My wife and I took a drive yesterday in the 911, and the Staties were out in full force. We have two people from local PDs temporarily (we hope) staying with us. Most of the locals are told to sit at home or at the PD with their belts on until a call comes in. Forget about patrolling traffic!

I have a coworker who participated in the 2nd Cannonball Run in 1971. 4th place in a Dodge van at 37hr 45min. They even got arrested, but only made one fuel stop in St. Louis. Imagine a hopped up hippie van full of fuel, weed and someone else's wife averaging 76mph.

1971 Dodge Van, Modified—Drivers, Tom Marbut, Randy Waters, and Becky Poston, all of Little Rock, Arkansas. Everyone called them the “Little Rock Tankers,” because they'd mounted 190-gallon aluminum gas tanks in the back of their dazzling, new Dodge van.

Operators of the Sound ’N Sirloin restaurant in Little Rock, Marbut and Waters, plus Tom‘s girlfriend, Becky Poston, had put together their van after reading the exploits of Moon Trash II in C/D. Aside from its special paint and fuel system, the van was equipped with a 2.94 final drive, an outside exhaust system, a radar detector (which sounded an alarm at every airport, but never made a peep in the vicinity of the police) and a thickly rugged interior. Its 360 cu. in. engine had been fitted with a Holley 750 CFM carburetor. “Snoopy II,” as they called the van, had made a reconnaissance run from Little Rock to New York and back the week previous to the race. The Little Rock Tankers departed the Red Ball Garage at 12:22.

[ZOO]

I am laughing at putting an asterisk beside the time for an "outlaw" activity. Seems a bit paradoxical to me.

It's an achievement, I guess. Not one that I think needs a signal boost.

[Zeke]

I agree about the 'poor taste' comment. It's a diversion for entertainment that will affect very few.