New Cannonball Record Driving Coast-To-Coast In 27 Hours 25 Minutes

[cawimmer430]

This Trio Just Set New Cannonball Record Driving Coast-To-Coast In 27 Hours 25 Minutes


The Cannonball Record has been broken yet again by three enthusiasts and a kitted-out Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG with a phenomenal time of 27 hours and 25 minutes.

It was back in 2013 when the coast-to-coast record across the United States was famously broken by Ed Bolian and Dave Black with a time of 28 hours and 50 minutes, a time which absolutely smashed the previous record of 31 hours and 4 minutes held by Alex Roy and Dave Maher. As Road and Track details, setting this latest record wasn't easy.

The three guys in question are Arne Toman, Doug Tabbutt and Berkeley Chadwick. On November 10, they left Red Ball garage on the east side of Manhattan and headed across their 'northern route' that included the I-80 through Nebraska, I-76 down to Denver, I-70 to the middle of Utah, and the I-15 to Los Angeles before crossing the finish line at the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach in L.A. Their average speed was 103 mph (165.7 km/h) and they only made four fuel stops completed in just 22 and a half minutes.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6s9o6uIWZw


As mentioned, the weapon of choice was a Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG but not just any E63. This one was comprehensively modified and included an AMS Performance Alpha 9 package with upgraded turbocharges, intercoolers, and intake. A 45-gallon fuel cell was also fitted. Additionally, the trio used a Net Radar radar detector, a windshield-mounted Escort Max 360 radar detector, an AL Priority laser jammer system, and an aircraft collision avoidance system to help the record-setters monitor highway patrol aircraft.

The car was also lightly disguised so it looked like any other silver sedan and even featued a thermal scope used on a roof-mounted gimbal to detect the heat signatures of any police sitting on the side of the road. Finally, a crew of 18 spotters, who would drive hundreds of miles ahead of the E63 to scout the road for police activity and hazards, were used along the route.



Link: https://www.carscoops.com/2019/12/this-trio-just-set-new-cannonball-record-driving-from-coast-to-coast-in-27-hours-25-minutes/

[AutobahnSHO]

Haha love America!

[Eye of the Tiger]

Using a huge crew of spotters is borderline cheating.

[Soup DeVille]

Yeah. Its not a cannonball unless you dress appropriately and use one of the following vehicles;

A Dodge van with a wing on the back.
A Ferrari Daytona (must wear white turtleneck sweater and nylon racing jacket)
An ambulance marked "transcon medivac" (alcoholic doctor with revoked license optional)
A ferrari Dino with no rearview mirror
A Cadillac which has been borrowed from a friend and that you've sworn to never drive over 70 or at night
A Countach (but only if both occupants agree to wear pink and purple nylon jumpsuits)

[Eye of the Tiger]

I think a Fiesta Ecoboost with an auxiliary fuel tank would be ideal. It gets 45+ MPG with the cruise on 75.

[Soup DeVille]

A classic cannonball would be kinda cool; pre-1979 cars, one radar detector, no support crews.

I mean, its cool these guys were able to do what they did, but all the tech and support kinda detracts from it.

[Eye of the Tiger]

A classic cannonball would be kinda cool; pre-1979 cars, one radar detector, no support crews.

I mean, its cool these guys were able to do what they did, but all the tech and support kinda detracts from it.

I would like another post-'79 GM G-body..... with a pretty basic 383, a 700R4 with a manual valve body, and 2.73 gears so it can just idle down the highway ... blub blub blub blub blub

[MX793]

I recently watched the documentary on Alex Roy's record setting run from ~10 years or so ago.  The amount of prep he put into that was impressive.  Plotting the route, outfitting his car with night vision, multiple radar detectors and jammers facing both front and rear, tail/brakelamp disable switch.  Had all of the gear labelled so that it looked like stormchaser equipment in the event he got pulled over.  He did use a plane as a spotter for part of the trip, but apparently the guys who set the previous record back in the early 80s did the same.  He was on track to do it in under 30 hours but ran into some road construction and traffic.  Also had to pull off the highway and hide for a bit from the cops.

Some interesting interviews from people who competed in classic Cannonballs.  Including one guy who showed up in a Pantera and after some ignition wires came loose, his co-driver climbed out the window, onto the roof, and tightened things back up in the engine bay while the car was still moving at 75+ mph.

[AutobahnSHO]

I think a Fiesta Ecoboost with an auxiliary fuel tank would be ideal. It gets 45+ MPG with the cruise on 75.

yeah but it would be buzzing through gas super fast at 100mph+

[AutobahnSHO]

i was just happy to finally get Scrappy up to 2x the speed limit this morning. (40mph )

[Eye of the Tiger]

yeah but it would be buzzing through gas super fast at 100mph+

Once it gets over 100, I think the windshield trim starts catching air and flapping. 

[MrH]

I didn't understand the vinyl thing until I saw a picture of the car.  That's the most generic 700+ hp car ever.  If that flew past someone at 120 mph, most would have no idea what it was.

[FoMoJo]

I need to watch Gumball Rally again.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I need to watch Gumball Rally again.

Heck yeah you do. And then Cannonball, and the Cannonball Run 1 & 2, and Speed Zone

[CaminoRacer]

I didn't understand the vinyl thing until I saw a picture of the car.  That's the most generic 700+ hp car ever.  If that flew past someone at 120 mph, most would have no idea what it was.

Yeah I was really confused when I saw pictures of the rear end until they explained the vinyl. I don't pay a whole lot of attention to Mercedes' but I had never seen tail lights like that before. I guess they didn't mess with the front end since they needed the headlights and stuff to function normally?

[565]

wow max speed was 193... on public roads.

[GoCougs]

Gonna get a visit from law enforcement no doubt.

Not smart advertising it, esp. the various methods, some of which are sure to be quite illegal (jammers).

[giant_mtb]

Yeah. At this point it just seems like an idiot move. Douchebag move. Fucktard move.  I dunno, they'll get 6bajillion YouTube views on their dumbass shit that will afford them some good legal counsel.

[Soup DeVille]

Gonna get a visit from law enforcement no doubt.

Not smart advertising it, esp. the various methods, some of which are sure to be quite illegal (jammers).

A visit, maybe, but not much more.

There aren't in general, interstate speeding task forces that will track down a speeder on the other side of the country based on second hand information.

The federal stuff- FCC violations and such; well, they'd better lose that equipment in a boating accident.

[veeman]

There's been cases of people being arrested for reckless driving after the fact (based on YouTube videos)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/fox6now.com/2019/06/10/utah-man-arrested-for-reckless-driving-after-police-use-his-youtube-videos-as-evidence/amp/

Based on the planning/intelligence of these guys they may have consulted with attorneys before their stunt. Do they ever show their own speedometer in the videos posted? 

[Soup DeVille]

There's been cases of people being arrested for reckless driving after the fact (based on YouTube videos)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/fox6now.com/2019/06/10/utah-man-arrested-for-reckless-driving-after-police-use-his-youtube-videos-as-evidence/amp/

Based on the planning/intelligence of these guys they may have consulted with attorneys before their stunt. Do they ever show their own speedometer in the videos posted? 

In that case, they had multiple videos (with time stamps and speedometer) in the same jursidiction and complaints called in.

[CaminoRacer]

Yeah nothing is gonna happen. They're fine. I don't think anyone has gone after previous cannonballers after the fact.

[giant_mtb]

I would assume most of the driving takes place at night when the roads are much less busy?  Or are they just crankin' 24/7 with 2-3 guys driving as a team?

(and no, I will not just click the video to find out. I do not support this BS)

[12,000 RPM]

Fuck these guys and to a lesser degree the fellow clout demons that encourage them.

[Soup DeVille]

I would assume most of the driving takes place at night when the roads are much less busy?  Or are they just crankin' 24/7 with 2-3 guys driving as a team?

It was 27 hours straight. I don't think they could have scheduled 27 hours of nighttime.

[giant_mtb]

It was 27 hours straight. I don't think they could have scheduled 27 hours of nighttime.

Oh. Right.

You and your fax.

[GoCougs]

A visit, maybe, but not much more.

There aren't in general, interstate speeding task forces that will track down a speeder on the other side of the country based on second hand information.

The federal stuff- FCC violations and such; well, they'd better lose that equipment in a boating accident.

One doesn't have to be tracked down to be charged with a crime.

[Payman]

I don't see this as a couple jackasses trying to see how fast they can get across the country, with no planning or any thought of safety. I find it impressive they were able to methodically plan the logistics and then actually pull it off in this day and age. I give them props.

[Soup DeVille]

One doesn't have to be tracked down to be charged with a crime.

Its speeding, not a RICO indictment.

[giant_mtb]

Its speeding, not a RICO indictment.

Sure, but it's multiple counts in multiple states of reckless driving at speeds that would normally lose you your license or get you shot as a black man.