The Rearview Mirror: A Cheesy Movie and a Real Race

Cannonball Operate: a tacky movie about a famous race. Operate four moments concerning 1971 and 1979, this 7 days in 1975, the third race was received by Jack May possibly and Rick Cline in their Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, in 35 several hours and 53 minutes, beating the file by one moment.

Even though the serious race died with its creator, the famous Brock Yates, senior editor of Vehicle & Driver magazine, a lot of have tried using to revive it. Nonetheless, there was only one “Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash,” its title coming from Erwin G. “Cannon Ball” Baker, who established 143 cross-place driving data among 1915 and 1933.

“Every automotive competitors in the planet is encumbered by a thicket of complicated principles,” Yates wrote in 1971. “The Cannonball Baker had but a single — All opponents will push any motor vehicle of their choosing, above any route, at any velocity they judge functional, concerning the setting up level and vacation spot. The competitor ending with the cheapest elapsed time is the winner.”

There was no prize dollars only the S-K “Nutmaster” trophy — a free of charge-kind sculpture of wrenches, hammers and pliers fabricated and donated by the S-K Resource Enterprise.

Why the 3rd race matters

For fans of a fast and furious lifestyle, the race has become legendary. Yet the third race issues for one cause: it is the only a single recorded for posterity by one particular of its driving teams: retired U.S. Military colonel Jim Atwell and Checkered Flag Porsche salesman Chick Stanton, both from Virginia Seashore, Virginia.

They knew of the occasion, run in 1971 and 1972. But Yates, who made the decision who would take part, place the race on hold in 1973 owing to the Arab Oil Embargo, and after yet again in 1974 mainly because of the enactment of the 55-mph velocity limit.

That didn’t cease Atwell and Stanton, who do a follow operate from the Crimson Ball Garage in Manhattan, in which the race begins, to The Portofino Inn in Redondo Seaside, California, where it ends, having meticulous notes in an accounting ledger.

Dashing coastline-to-coast in 36 several hours and 6 minutes, 12 minutes brief of the Cannonball document, they gain a coveted location in the subsequent race, operate in 1975. 

To give on their own the most effective prospect of winning, Atwell procured a new 1975 Porsche 911 Carrera. He also borrows his daughter’s portable Craig cassette tape recorder to record their operate. It continues to be the only dwell recording of the initial race. 

The starting up line

Competitors could go away at any time through the starting date. As the pair hold out to start out, Atwell turns to his driving companion. “We’re heading to capture Yates involving below and Columbus,” he explained on the recording.

“Alright, the stamp is remaining affixed,” Stanton explained as a Cannonball sticker is affixed to the windshield. “There it is Jim, let us go.”

Tires squealing, motor revving, pulses racing, the Porsche’s roar reverberates throughout the garage as Atwell and Stanton discover their way on to the street. They make the initial site visitors light-weight.

Man proposes, God disposes

Whatever luck the pair had faded on achieving Pennsylvania. “The weather’s been tough as hell,” Atwell suggests. “A large amount of rain, scud, floor fog and the fields are flooded on the two sides of the highway.”

When compared to their 1973 operate, they’re already running slower. The rain persisted via to the Midwest, intensifying the strain prompted by the din of the Citizens Band radio, the radar detector and the Porsche’s non-cease cacophony of engine drone, highway noise and a barking exhaust. 

“Although the CB radio is a terrific warning product, it is a ache in the ass to have to hear to it continually,” Atwell suggests. “We’re both heading to be deaf by the time we get to Los Angeles.”

What the Cannonball demands

It is hard to overstate the problem of taking part in The Cannonball Operate. Motorists experienced to retain a substantial charge of pace with minor having, drinking or sleeping. They experienced to carry various driver’s licenses, in scenario they have been pulled in excess of and their license taken. And in an period in advance of ATMs, they experienced to have countless numbers of bucks in funds to fork out for speeding tickets that resulted. Two other racers had been now been nabbed.

“And now, we’re tiptoeing like hell out of Oklahoma,” Stanton grumbles, slowing down to 75 mph. 

“We’re hoping to behave ourselves lengthy enough to get out this state,” Atwell states. 

“That’s not effortless when you have been in the damn state for 10 hours,” Stanton replies, laughing.

Closing in on a legend

“We’ve occur throughout all the states with out a bit of issues,” Atwell claimed, noting that the 911 had produced it simple. Getting a Porsche, it is developed with endurance racing in mind. That, and a bit of luck, located them in California with out the big challenges that had befallen other Cannonball members. 

“We haven’t had to action on the brakes sharply, or slow the motor vehicle sharply, or swerve to keep away from any individual we haven’t even experienced a near pass up with any kind,” Atwell claimed. “It’s been a extremely sleek and uneventful vacation.”

“It was entertaining,” Stanton suggests as the pair get to the Portofino in 38 hours and 58 minutes. Averaging 74.5 mph, they spot 7th out of 18 cars. Among the those people who experienced also run the race was Invoice Warner, founder of The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, driving with Tom Nehl, an seasoned racer and IMSA veteran. But the winners are Jack May well and Rick Cline driving a Ferrari Dino 246 GTS across the nation in 35 several hours and 53 minutes, beating the document held by Gurney and Yates.

“It was over,” Yates wrote at the time. “The Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Sprint had entered the annals of sporting trivialities, leaving long run generations to decide what it meant, if something.”