The Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash: A High-Speed Legacy Across America
The Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, often referred to simply as the “Cannonball Run,” is a legendary and somewhat notorious car race that has become an iconic piece of American automotive history. Its origins, purpose, and lasting legacy continue to capture the imaginations of automotive enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies alike. This race, born out of a desire to push the limits of speed, endurance, and human determination, has transcended its outlaw roots to inspire a cultural fascination with cross-country racing.
Origins of the Cannonball Run
The Cannonball Run traces its origins to a man named Erwin George “Cannonball” Baker. Baker was a motorcycle and car racer in the early 20th century who set numerous long-distance driving records, including a coast-to-coast record of 53 hours and 30 minutes in 1933. His nickname, “Cannonball,” was a nod to his relentless pace and fearless approach to endurance racing. Baker’s feats inspired generations of drivers and racers who sought to break speed and endurance records.
The modern Cannonball Run, however, was conceived in 1971 by automotive journalist Brock Yates and his friend Steve Smith as a protest against strict federal speed limits and increasing government control over the automotive industry. Yates, a writer for Car and Driver magazine, was a vocal critic of the 55 mph speed limit imposed by the National Maximum Speed Law, which he believed stifled the spirit of driving and adventure. He envisioned a race that would recapture the thrill of driving fast and free across America.
Yates named the race in honor of Cannonball Baker and established the first Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash as a cross-country, no-rules driving competition. The goal was simple: drive from the Red Ball Garage in New York City to the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, California, in the shortest time possible. There were no official routes, no support teams, and no formal rules other than to complete the journey as fast as possible.
The First Cannonball Run
The inaugural Cannonball Run took place in May 1971, with just a handful of participants. Brock Yates himself participated, driving a Dodge Custom Sportsman van. His team included Steve Smith, Jim Williams and Brock’s son, Brock Jr.
The first actual race was won by Dan Gurney, a renowned Formula One and sports car driver, and Yates. They completed the journey in a Kirk White Ferrari Daytona, crossing the country in an astonishing 35 hours and 54 minutes. Gurney famously quipped, “At no time did we exceed 175 mph,” a tongue-in-cheek admission that speed limits were entirely ignored during the race. The race attracted a colorful cast of characters, including professional racers, automotive journalists, and adventurous amateurs. Each team chose their own vehicle and plotted their own route, hoping to outsmart and outrun the competition while avoiding law enforcement along the way. The second place finishers, barely an hour behind them, was a Chevrolet Sportsvan driven by Tony Adamowicz, Oscar Kovaleski and Brad Niemchek – the Polish Racing Drivers of America racing team.
The success of the first Cannonball Run quickly gained attention, and subsequent races were held in the years that followed. The 1972 Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash was the second official Cannonball Run and marked a significant point in the evolution of the race, further solidifying its outlaw status and cultural significance. The race saw an increase in participants, media attention, and public interest.
In the 1972 race, Yates returned with the same Challenger he drove in 1971, though this time he co-drove with Steve “Yogi” Behr. Despite not winning this run, the car’s participation in the race cemented its place in Cannonball Run lore, helping to reinforce the image of muscle cars as capable, high-speed vehicles that could endure long-distance, high-speed runs across the U.S.
Though the 1972 run didn’t break the previous year’s record, it helped establish the Cannonball Run as an annual underground event that captured the rebellious spirit of driving fast and free across the country. It continued to serve as a form of protest against government-mandated speed limits and increasing automotive regulations, aligning with Yates’ original vision of pushing back against perceived constraints on the freedom of the open road.
The 1972 race also received more media attention, thanks in part to Yates’ connections in the automotive journalism world. This added publicity helped cement the Cannonball Run’s place in American pop culture, ultimately contributing to the later success of books, movies, and other media inspired by the race.
The Move to Darien, Connecticut
One notable change occurred in the final official Cannonball Run of 1979, when the starting location was moved from the iconic Red Ball Garage in New York City to the Lock, Stock & Barrel restaurant in Darien, Connecticut. This move was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it represented a subtle shift in the spirit of the race, as the Red Ball Garage had become symbolic of the urban, gritty, high-octane environment associated with the race’s early days. By moving the start to Darien, a quieter, more suburban location, it allowed participants a less conspicuous starting point away from the heavy traffic of New York City.
Darien’s proximity to New York City made it an ideal location for staging, while also offering an opportunity for racers to quickly hit the highway and get out of urban congestion. The Lock, Stock & Barrel restaurant, with its relaxed atmosphere, served as a fitting place for participants to gather before embarking on the grueling, high-speed race across the country. While the move might have seemed like a minor logistical tweak, it was another reminder of the rebellious, ever-adapting nature of the Cannonball Run.
The Rules—or Lack Thereof
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Cannonball Run was its complete lack of formal rules. Unlike traditional races, there were no fixed routes or checkpoints. Participants were free to choose whatever path they deemed fastest, whether that meant taking back roads to avoid police or sticking to major highways for higher speed limits. Teams were allowed to use whatever equipment they wanted, including radar detectors, CB radios, and even police scanners to evade law enforcement.
Vehicles ranged from high-performance sports cars like Ferraris and Porsches to unlikely choices like vans and sedans. The race was not just about raw speed; it was also a test of strategy, endurance, and resourcefulness. Drivers needed to carefully plan fuel stops, rest breaks, and even bathroom breaks, as every minute counted. Many teams would alternate drivers to minimize downtime, driving nonstop through the night to shave precious hours off their time.
While the Cannonball Run was technically illegal—speeding, reckless driving, and evading police were common occurrences—its participants reveled in the rebellious nature of the event. The race embodied a spirit of defiance against the constraints of government regulation and the mundane realities of everyday life. It was a celebration of freedom, adventure, and the open road.
The Cannonball Run in Popular Culture
The Cannonball Run’s outlaw reputation and high-speed thrills quickly made it a topic of fascination in popular culture. The 1979 race that left from Darien inspired several movies, most notably the 1981 film The Cannonball Run starring Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Jamie Farr and many others, which portrayed a comedic and highly fictionalized version of the race. The film’s success led to two sequels and cemented the Cannonball Run as a pop culture phenomenon.
The race also inspired numerous books, documentaries, and television specials that chronicled the daring feats of its participants. While the official Cannonball Run races ended in 1979, the race’s legacy continued to inspire a new generation of drivers who sought to break the transcontinental record. Modern attempts, often referred to as “Cannonball Runs” in homage to the original race, continue to this day, with drivers pushing the limits of technology and skill to set new records.
Modern Cannonball Records
Despite the risks and legal ramifications, modern drivers have continued to pursue the cross-country speed record set by the original Cannonball Run participants. Advances in automotive technology, GPS navigation, and fuel efficiency have allowed teams to break previous records. Notably, in 2013, VINWiki founder Ed Bolian and his team set a new record, completing the coast-to-coast journey in 28 hours and 50 minutes in a modified Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG.
Arne Toman’s 2020 Cannonball Run was one of the most notable and controversial attempts in modern times. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when traffic across the U.S. was at historic lows due to lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, Toman and his team took advantage of the unique conditions to set an astonishing new record for the cross-country journey. Driving a modified 2016 Audi S6, Toman, along with his co-driver, Doug Tabbutt, and spotter, Berkely Chadwick, completed the coast-to-coast trip from New York City to Redondo Beach, California, in an incredible 25 hours and 39 minutes.
This feat broke the previous record by nearly an hour, with their average speed hovering around 110 mph and top speeds reaching well above 150 mph. Their car was heavily customized for the run, featuring extended fuel tanks, night-vision cameras, radar detectors, and even a disguise kit to make the Audi look like a more innocuous Ford Taurus to evade law enforcement.
The Legacy of the Cannonball Run
The Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash remains one of the most legendary and controversial races in automotive history. While the official race may no longer take place, its spirit lives on in the hearts of car enthusiasts, adventurers, and thrill-seekers who dream of testing the limits of speed and endurance on the open road.
The race represents more than just a competition; it symbolizes a rebellion against authority, a celebration of the freedom of the American highway, and a testament to the enduring appeal of high-speed adventure. For many, the Cannonball Run will always be a reminder of a time when driving fast and free across the vast expanse of the United States was the ultimate expression of freedom.
The Cannonball Reunions
Left to right: Cars and Coffee Darien founder Eric Richmond, Cannonballer Brock Yates, Jr, Cars and Coffee Darien event director Michael Lindgren and One Lap of America participant Jim Bardia.
The annual reunions, held in Darien, Connecticut, are a lesser-known but significant tradition for the original participants and enthusiasts of the Cannonball Run. Hosted every year in October by the founders of Cars and Coffee Darien, these gatherings serve as a nostalgic homage to the race’s rich history and provide an opportunity for former participants, fans, and automotive enthusiasts to come together and celebrate the legacy of the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash.
The reunions are hosted at the original 1979 starting point – the Lock, Stock & Barrel restaurant in Darien – and have become a cherished tradition. They allow past Cannonballers to reminisce about their daring cross-country journeys, share stories of close encounters with law enforcement, and relive the adrenaline of pushing their cars to the limit. Darien serves as an ideal location, considering the pivotal role it played in the last official race in 1979, when the starting line was moved there from the Red Ball Garage in New York City.
These events often feature a mix of classic cars, many of which were used in past races, as well as modern high-performance vehicles. It’s not just about the race but also a celebration of the Cannonball spirit: freedom, adventure, and the joy of driving. Attendees share memories and discuss the evolution of the event, from its humble beginnings as a rebellious race across America to its ongoing influence in automotive culture.
While the Cannonball Run itself remains illegal, these annual reunions provide a legal and more subdued platform for fans and racers to keep the race’s spirit alive. The gatherings are an opportunity to honor the daring drivers who risked everything for the thrill of breaking records, and they help to preserve the legacy of one of the most infamous races in American history. The town of Darien, in hosting these events, has become a symbolic part of the Cannonball lore, anchoring the nostalgia of the race in this quiet Connecticut community.
