A Fast History of the Cannonball Run 

I want Ed’s shirt, but that would be the day I get pulled over for speeding.

Ed stories get automatically liked

The Cannon Ball was a stagecoach route that ran from Dodge City to Wichita Kansas, on the road that would eventually become highway 54, which is still sometimes called the Cannonball. And those clowns did in fact tear through there every so often when I was growing up. I always thought the rally was named for that.

If I write a book one day, I'd want Ed to voice the audio-book.

I'm thankful for ed and rabbit

It's interesting to see a bit of video on the Cannonball Run. My grandmother brought me an issue of Car and Driver one day. On the cover was a strange box looking car called the Brubaker Box or something like that. It was VW based. Inside was the story of the 1971 Cannonball Run, complete with a map showing where each event mentioned in the rally occurred. Mentioning Yates, Gurney and the Ferrari Daytona doesn't begin to tell the whole story, but that couldn't be done in an hour. Yates and Gurney could very well have lost to a couple of guys in a drive-away car, a Cadillac Sedan de Ville for which they were given several very specific instructions, all of which they broke. When the race was completed, the car wasn't due to its owner for another couple of days. There was one team that filled a Chevrolet van with gas tanks in an attempt to run non-stop. Another team, with a Travco motor home at one point drafted a semi so hard their CB antenna pointed forward. Another part of that team's story involves swerving to avoid an accident and...lasagna. Yates was fed up with speed limits before the double nickel, which was a response to the first energy crisis in '73-74, and his editorial in that issue went into the why of that 1971 race. Those years (1974 in particular) included Motor Trend articles that prominently posted fuel mileage results, and explained why the Mustang II was their Car of the Year that year, and why it sold so well, at least that first year.

So cool to get all of this condensed down. We love Cannonball stories!!!

Ed’s story’s are my favorite

Rest in peace Captain Chaos

You guys need to just have an all out race.

When ever cannonball run is mentioned this guy is here

I've watched your Cannonball vids roughly 100 times because I grew up with those movies. THANK YOU!

The Cannonball spirit is indeed alive and well, and not just at the top levels of speed and criminality. A couple years ago and friend and I got in my 24 Hours of Lemons Opel GT and did our version of it. We drove that tiny yellow car nearly non-stop from CA to NYC because car shippers are scum. With that as a practice our run, we hung out at the Red Ball for maybe an hour, grabbed a bagel and schmear, then set out for our non-stop run back to CA. We weren't into the crazy speed aspect of this, but high 80's to low 90's for hours at a time was not uncommon, and honestly was a lot for the little 4-banger, plus we had to conserve enough of the car to make the Lemons race at Infineon a couple weeks later. It was also winter, a week before Thanksgiving, and temperatures were in the low teens at night. We froze. No heater. Because race car. Considering our long fuel stops to thaw and summon the courage to go out into the cold to continue on, and getting lost in the LA freeway system, I'd say our time of 10 minutes shy of 48 hours for the run was not bad. In summer we could have beat 40 hours, easy. Just outside of Oklahoma City two super-cars, nose to tail, passed us in fairly heavy traffic. Were they cannonballers? Once at the Portofino I asked if two such cars had come in recently and, yes, they had. Before leaving the Red Ball I asked if people did this much. Yes, all the time, mostly in summer, and two weeks earlier a group of 15 or so cars had gathered there and left together, headed for California. So, there are a lot of citizen cannonballers out there, doing this on their own terms, maybe or maybe not being serious about crazy speed or breaking records, and not really reenacting the Cannonball either. Rather, owning it and doing it their way, blending road trip, Cannonball, and just doing what many of our parents and grandparents did back when the freeway system was new, just getting out, stretching our legs, so to speak, and doing the whole country in one continuous swipe. Our take, it was budget endurance road tripping, much how Lemons is about budget endurance road racing. Friends in the Lemons and Opel communities followed us on social media. We had a GPS tracker and they could see where we were at any time. Once home again I started writing short articles about our trip. Our Opel friends wanted more, so I wrote a book, Horrible Idea. It's not an exciting read. How exciting could a story of two guys spending 5 days strapped into hard Kirkey racing seats in winter in an unheated car be? But, it is a road trip journal of sorts, mostly true, hopefully inspiring to someone who wants to attempt something like this. Link: www.kstreetstudio.com/writing/bookHorribleIdea.html

Can't get enough of Cannonball Run stories. I'll do a Cannonball Run in my country one day.

As soon as I read "Cannonball" on a VinWiki video!!!! I was like "ITS ED AGAIN!!!!..... smoke break!!! I'm watching it right now!!!"

And then there was Cannonball Run 2001, the TV reality competition. Probably deserves mention, but otherwise better forgotten.

Yes ! Another Cannonball Movie Part III. I would love it even though most of the original actors have passed away. And now I´m feeling depessed.

I have driven solo from SF bay area to Maine twice. My last trip in 2006 I made it from Randolph ME to Antioch CA in just over 3days.

Last time I was this early, Ed was still talking about his 2015 run. Over and over. And over...

It's on my bucket list to do a Cannonball Run. Doubt I'll ever be competitive, but it's just about the experience.

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoaaaaaaa. I must have been hiding under a damn rock where the hell did the Audi S8 and Corvette cannonball run come from we need interviews and videos ASAP.

Kinda had my own little cannonball going from LA to Vegas with my fastest time in just over 3 hours. Speed is just addicting.

Man, I bet there are a lot less tickets given out during that cannonball memorial run with the cops lol

One Lap is an amazing trip if you ever get the chance. It's not an event you want to run a beater on, and you'll need a codriver and a fair amount of money, but it's worth every penny. I ran the event in 2017 (if you watch Roadkill's coverage, on the lap in Memphis with Frieburger in the Hellcat, you see a smoke show and a spin, with an oil down... that was me lol). I'd like to attempt the coast to coast not so much as a record run, but in the spirit of the event.

This channel has made it one of my life goals to drive the cannonball run but over a week and see the country and many thing along the way, it sounds like an amazing trip just to see the country.

Last time I was this early, Casey's bladder was full and the roof of his high school was dry.

Good timing, I was at the Red Ball Garage yesterday.

Awesome video ED! Thank you for the shout out and continued support of Cannonball Memorial Run!

Thanks for all the history🏁🏁

A few years back I came close to buying that orange Dodge van that ran in the Four Ball Rally. Apparently the inside rear was loaded with auxiliary fuel tanks, a porta-john, and enough food and drinks to keep the drivers going for a long, long time. Alas though, my attempts to buy that van failed as we just couldn't reach a deal. Frankly though, I think the owner just wasn't serious enough to sell. It's ashame, cause that would have been a great follow-up story to this video. -Chris

They added the Bolian Clause in 2904 because Ed found the Safety part of the rules is big enough exception to drive a tanker ship through. Now only pre-ODBII vehicle qulaified.

I could watch Eds stories all day man would love to sit and have a beer with him and talk cars

I want to see the negotiations go down between Rawlings and ed lol

4:39 That van is a local legend.

I see cannonball i click

Thanks for this history lesson! I'm old enough that I was reading Car and Driver back then (I'm 66) and loved reading about those first races. And then the films came out... and I was in heaven! God bless Burt Reynolds and the many many stars who participated! I look forward to reading about what really happened during those early races in detail some day!

Taking a dump while watching this. Its gonna be a good poop

Oh, how I wish I could hop into a hot rod and drive cross country at full speed across the entire continent. That would definitely make the top of my bucket list.

Name's Sonny, My mom took me to see the gumball rally with Raul Julia pardon my spelling. I've had a fascination in all of these races. I have always wished I could have been able to afford to participate. But However not in my price range. You guy's ROCK. CONGRATS. ON THE NEW BABY ED & WIFE. THIS SITE IS THE BOMB. I LOVE THE STORIES. YOUR FRIEND AND FAN S.K. On a scale of 1-5 you have earned Sonny's 5'☠☠☠☠☠ Awards positivity love it.

Love Cannonball history

Before Car and Driver, there was Sports Car Graphic and before that, Spirts Cars Illustrated.. In the late 50s or early 1960s 2 writers/drivers ferried a Renault from LA to NYC.. once on the road, they tried to make it as fast as possible. THAT was the beginning.. People responded with trying to beat that time... eventually, it got organized and became the first Cannonball.. years after that first inspirational run in a junky French car. Now you know the rest of the story.

Last time I was THIS early, the $6 Million Dollar Man wasn't doing commercials for Honda... 'The Fall Guy' has truly fallen from grace. :(

Great Vid! Always love the Cannonball stories Ed !

Thanks for this man. Highlight of my life was a solo run to the Portofino.

2 new second place times in the last few months. Wow! They are creeping up on you Ed.

Always watch before work! Off to work now :(

Legendary

2:21 #8 Tom Kozlowski & Jeff Martini in the 74 Mazda Rx-4! Rotary EVERYTHING!!

One of the few channels I click like before watching ...

Hey Ed, just bought your book on Amazon, I've been waiting to get it, impatient to start reading it, and that's coming from someone who isn't really into reading ! Thank you again for the endless stories !

the ‘67 GT500 car that was built for the cannonball and US express... “Firefox” driven by a guy named RPM

RIP Burt Reynolds 🙏🏻

Early 4 ed club

I'd love to see periodic remakes. Keep the plot simple and fun, and get all the celebrities willing to do it, every decade or so.

That would make a GREAT reality show. Filming the next Cannonball Run race. :))))))

"24 hours of LeMans is the most brutal race ever." :Hold my oilcan

Well Said “Ed”🤓 We would all love to see it run again & see you in it ... YOUR THE TIME TO BE BEAT

the best yarn yet, thatnk you for taking the time to gather everything up and sharing it with the general public, im from a small ass town in the middle of nowhere newfoundland and i love this stuff, im a time junkie at heart and any chance to make some staeks im in, in my clan i hold the island title of less than 7 hours across the island with fuel up and a fat chick hit-on, funerals are the worst reason for a road trip but the journey is worth it, the haul back took no time 23 hours to the big smoke in time for my driving partners exam that mornin. be safe out there, and keep in mind its all about the journey not the destination, take a min meet the people and hear there story. take care

Goooood Morning Ed!

This is a great condensed history. =)

I wanna meet the guy who came in second in 86' with a saab 900 spy, that guy must have been a legend

Ed's stories always leave me feeling happier 😌

Everyone always talks about the movie "Cannonball Run" but as far as movies go it all started with "Gumball Rally".

God bless you Ed Bolian.

This is fuckin amazing.. Thank you.. I'd also would love to have the 79 XJS driven by the Daves Rawlings can be a prick but I have mad respect for him putting time tattoo on his arm,

When Ed says he “tried to buy a car” I assume that means his shrewd negotiation tactics didn’t work out as planned

I just wanna be Ed Bolian’s drinking buddy

Another great story by Ed! So when are we gonna get more rabbit?

A few years ago, in a Denny's in a small town near the Colorado/Kansas state line, I was having a late supper. The restaurant was nearly empty, just myself and one other fella that had come in a few minutes after I did. When I stepped outside to have a smoke before dessert, I saw an interesting car parked out front. It was an obviously expensive, very fast looking, imported black roadster that I was unfamiliar with, so I took a walk around it. The first thing I noticed was the Rolls Royce logo. Holy crap! The only six figure vehicles you'd normally see around there are usually green with John Deere on the side. The second thing I noticed was a lack of license plates. None on the front or rear. There was a number painted on the door and in small letters on one fender it said "Cannonball". I snapped a picture of the car with my phone, finished my smoke, and headed inside to take a leak and then find the fella and ask him about it, but when I came out of the head he and the car was gone.

I was hoping for more behind the scenes talks about the movies. darn!

Think about the 1983 U.S. Express event. David Diem & Doug Tuner in an underpowered (US emission / EPA / DOT) 1980 Rosso Corsa colored (easily spotted) Ferrari 308 GTS went in a record time of 32 hrs 7 min between Long Island, NY, to Emeryville, CA. They were stopped in Ohio and given a citation. Compared to modern sports sedans with more comfort and fuel economy was the last of the true sports car records. Plus lacking GPS, laser sensors, Wazs apps, Satellite Navigation, et al and relying on CBs, old radar detectors and Rand McNally maps. That is still damn impressive.

I've never heard of what the beef was with AJ Foyt. There had to be a reason that there was the character in the movie named Arthur J. Foyt and that noone could remeber his name.

I can't help but wonder if the no holds-bar Cannonball has been run. Best to leave that one to the tall tail car stories. Considering how the authorities in Arizona reacted to a RU-vid video, of a Mercy breaking 200 MPH on a Scottsdale freeway(that video was taken down). I have a question for you Ed, has any authorities tried to come after any of you guys after the events?

That shirt. 😭😭😭😭👌

Very Cool...My van, The Orange Quest is in this vid at about the 4.25 mark.

This just got added to my sub box ?

Brilliant

Awsome thumbs up.

I went and saw “The Gumball Rally” as a kid. Seeing a Ferrari Daytona racing that 427 S/C Cobra started a love affair with fast cars ever since

In another documentary, its told that Yates shut the original Cannonball Run down,since a friend of him had buy a car for entering the run,and that was a Lamborghini Countach, and when Yates saw the 200 mph speedometer,he tought it was getting to dangerous with such high speed cars.

Favorite channel

I’ve lived down the block from the Red Ball for 27 years and I’m embarrassed to say , I’m only finding out about that being the start point now !!!! Hope I see some of you there sometime ... soon ???? (;

Ed needs to teach a college course, Cannonball History 101. He’s very professor-like in this video, in the best way!

So informative I love it

If only they knew how crazy 2020 would be for cannonball runs

Love the videos ED, been here for a while really happy to see how far the channel has come

Keep on..keeping on!..

When you see Ed at the beginning of a video 🙌🏾

I remember the first time I saw a 75mph sign. I was in a geo metro going to Mexico!

It's not what you use it's how you use it 🎶

Why does everyone always forget about Cannon ball from 1976 with David Carradine? I mean its not the greatest movie ever, but its not bad either lol

Great video Ed! These stories are great.

When you get a tattoo of your time and it's not even the record.

1:16, that isn't a Dodge van but a 1968 Shelby GT500 that was modded for Cannonball rallies.

I'm surprised Fast and Furious franchise hasn't tried this.

I am a long haul trucker.I have made that trip thousands of times🤣

At 2:14, that's what a real goddamn man looks like.

I've been considering making a Summoning Salt style documentary about the history of the Cannonball/NY-LA record. For those unaware, Summoning Salt makes videos about specific video game speedrun records. I'd like to think a world record progression video for what I sometimes refer to as the Great American Speedrun in the style of Summoning Salt would be interesting.

THE BLUESMOBILE!!!!

If they ever make another Cannon Ball movie they need to throw you at least a cameo or Cut you a check!