RE: Someone has done the Cannonball in 27hrs 25mins
Discussion
Horsey McHorseface said:
I wonder if they had blues and twos fitted, and used when a situation dictated?
Apparently not according to the 2nd video vin wiki posted. They did however have an escort from a biker friend in California who had some crazy bright lights to try and flash people out of the way.AmosMoses said:
Horsey McHorseface said:
I wonder if they had blues and twos fitted, and used when a situation dictated?
Apparently not according to the 2nd video vin wiki posted. They did however have an escort from a biker friend in California who had some crazy bright lights to try and flash people out of the way.Muzzer79 said:
In fairness, believing in "Speed Matters" doesn't necessarily mean believing in tanking a Merc across the country at high speed.
There's a time and a place for Speed. Speed only kills at an inappropriate time. One might argue that 193mph on the public road is an inappropriate time.
Don't get me wrong, this is really cool but I am a little torn. If only for the fact that the more times this record is chased, the higher the speed goes.
I wonder what the reaction would be if someone had broken the record for crossing the UK and averaged over a ton on our network?
This guy gave it a good shot https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5779073/C...There's a time and a place for Speed. Speed only kills at an inappropriate time. One might argue that 193mph on the public road is an inappropriate time.
Don't get me wrong, this is really cool but I am a little torn. If only for the fact that the more times this record is chased, the higher the speed goes.
I wonder what the reaction would be if someone had broken the record for crossing the UK and averaged over a ton on our network?
Bob-2146 said:
I really enjoyed that read. Thanks for sharing.Bob-2146 said:
They really wanted that record, didn't they? I suppose that for them the planning added to the fun 
ZX10R NIN said:
Just one thing did the other cars have a modified tank?
The last few record holders certainly have had auxiliary tanks in the boot, so as to minimise the time taken refuelling. There’s been all sorts of mad discussions about how to manage fuel in a Cannonball, from positioning tankers on the route, NASCAR-style quick-fill systems, a diesel car with a massive tank for a one-stop run etc etc. Most have ended up shunning too much complexity and just gone for a big fast saloon car with a second tank, and four or five stops at regular (hopefully quiet) gas stations en route.
Cheezus kryste, so much PC whinging bo11ox on here these days - why are you still reading PH?? My claim to 'cross country America' fame is crossing from San Jose to NYC in 49 hours and 15 minutes on my own in a Honda Accord 'driveaway' in mid-March back in 96. It wasn't planned, but I was hoping to make NYC by St. Patrick's Day (4 days away), and once I got going - the madness to keep going non-stop took over.
A total distance of 3024 miles, only stopping for fuel, food, fluids and to pee (and one speeding ticket in Nevada!). To those complaining about danger to the public, I can assure there was NOTHING on those roads the entire time, apart from leaving SJ and then again in NYC.... NOTHING in between. To those on about the dangers of fatigue, well in my mid-stretch, I drove solid for 22 hours without sleep/rest until I could take no more and grabbed a couple of hours in a service stop before launching in to the last leg. Granted, that sounds utter lunacy now, but I was only 25 and lacking sense/fear: All I needed was caffeine from coffee or diet cola (no Monster or Red Bull back then!). With this attempt, there were actually THREE of these guys in the car, and the adrenaline alone would be more than enough to keep them focussed, so absolutely zero chance of the driver falling asleep at the wheel.
Incidentally, I drove over 360 miles in 24 hours yesterday taking my old 944 S2 from Dublin (Holyhead) to Sheffield and back: Over 4 and a half hours to get from Sheffield to Holyhead on the way back - a distance of only 168 miles. Crawling on those motorways for mile after mile was soul destroying - I was literally beginning to stress out with the feelings of being trapped on those b@$tard fu€&1ng roads, just trying to get back to Holyhead to catch the ferry home: trust me, there is no bloody danger of anyone trying a cross-country record in the UK..... the traffic is literally evil!!
I could go on, but I've drivelled enough. Seems no matter what the story/achievement/endeavour is - if it's got anything at all to with burning petrol or speed, it's getting shot down by the self-appointed morality police. Yes, things need to change, but FFS - are we not allowed just ONE last haven here on the internet, where we can let loose with our hedonistic pleasures of excessive speed and gargling fuel?? Can you not please just leave Pistonheads for the rest of us, so we can continue desperately hanging on to the last vestiges of a rapidly declining motoring world, before it's all gone and replaced by autonomous unicorn-fart powered electrobubbles?
A total distance of 3024 miles, only stopping for fuel, food, fluids and to pee (and one speeding ticket in Nevada!). To those complaining about danger to the public, I can assure there was NOTHING on those roads the entire time, apart from leaving SJ and then again in NYC.... NOTHING in between. To those on about the dangers of fatigue, well in my mid-stretch, I drove solid for 22 hours without sleep/rest until I could take no more and grabbed a couple of hours in a service stop before launching in to the last leg. Granted, that sounds utter lunacy now, but I was only 25 and lacking sense/fear: All I needed was caffeine from coffee or diet cola (no Monster or Red Bull back then!). With this attempt, there were actually THREE of these guys in the car, and the adrenaline alone would be more than enough to keep them focussed, so absolutely zero chance of the driver falling asleep at the wheel.
Incidentally, I drove over 360 miles in 24 hours yesterday taking my old 944 S2 from Dublin (Holyhead) to Sheffield and back: Over 4 and a half hours to get from Sheffield to Holyhead on the way back - a distance of only 168 miles. Crawling on those motorways for mile after mile was soul destroying - I was literally beginning to stress out with the feelings of being trapped on those b@$tard fu€&1ng roads, just trying to get back to Holyhead to catch the ferry home: trust me, there is no bloody danger of anyone trying a cross-country record in the UK..... the traffic is literally evil!!
I could go on, but I've drivelled enough. Seems no matter what the story/achievement/endeavour is - if it's got anything at all to with burning petrol or speed, it's getting shot down by the self-appointed morality police. Yes, things need to change, but FFS - are we not allowed just ONE last haven here on the internet, where we can let loose with our hedonistic pleasures of excessive speed and gargling fuel?? Can you not please just leave Pistonheads for the rest of us, so we can continue desperately hanging on to the last vestiges of a rapidly declining motoring world, before it's all gone and replaced by autonomous unicorn-fart powered electrobubbles?
Niffty951 said:
It's hard to answer these arguments, but it's fundamentally about being responsible. It's about knowing when and when not to, being intelligent about it and understanding the risks. Not simply accepting what you are told. I work in a creative job in a creative environment, if I simply accepted things for the way they were without ever questioning or testing it I would be useless and fired.
The only thing that separates this video from a daily commute on the auto bahn is the law (and these guys were far more cautious). Try persuading a committee of people to raise a speed limit for all, but is the outcome the right one? Is 70mph the fastest you can travel in a car safely? It looks to me when I set the cruise control at 72mph like 95% of people feel otherwise. It isn't that everyone is driving dangerously. It is that we are capable of independent thinking and risk management.
Not every person driving to work at 100mph is a sociopath, just as not everyone driving at 52mph is making better risk choices for their own lives and the lives of others.
This should be about celebrating the spark of life that makes us human and different, that took us beyond the caves and into space. They may not be advancing civilisation directly by their actions but if it can remind us we are alive. Make us ask fresh questions and rejuvenate the spark inside with such stunts, for nothing but joy, then I say well done to them!
The worst risk of all is that we lose all individuality of thought. We do nothing for fear of offence and let ourselves be told by others how we should live out our lives. Then die without having ever really grown or lived at all.
Absolutely, 100% this! I couldn't have put it better myself. It's a relief to know there are still some intelligent individuals with the gift of independent thought out there.The only thing that separates this video from a daily commute on the auto bahn is the law (and these guys were far more cautious). Try persuading a committee of people to raise a speed limit for all, but is the outcome the right one? Is 70mph the fastest you can travel in a car safely? It looks to me when I set the cruise control at 72mph like 95% of people feel otherwise. It isn't that everyone is driving dangerously. It is that we are capable of independent thinking and risk management.
Not every person driving to work at 100mph is a sociopath, just as not everyone driving at 52mph is making better risk choices for their own lives and the lives of others.
This should be about celebrating the spark of life that makes us human and different, that took us beyond the caves and into space. They may not be advancing civilisation directly by their actions but if it can remind us we are alive. Make us ask fresh questions and rejuvenate the spark inside with such stunts, for nothing but joy, then I say well done to them!
The worst risk of all is that we lose all individuality of thought. We do nothing for fear of offence and let ourselves be told by others how we should live out our lives. Then die without having ever really grown or lived at all.
Edited by Niffty951 on Wednesday 4th December 18:25
Remind me not to post my John O’Groats to Lands end attempt then.......
For those saying use diesels/poppopbangbang etc they simply don’t have the power to accelerate back up to 160/170 from dropping to 60 in sub 10secs because some old wet bag pulls out in front of you. Accelerating back up to top speed is where the time is lost and you need something to pile on the speed quick. Adaptive dampers are a MUST for the extra weight in fuel.
For those saying use diesels/poppopbangbang etc they simply don’t have the power to accelerate back up to 160/170 from dropping to 60 in sub 10secs because some old wet bag pulls out in front of you. Accelerating back up to top speed is where the time is lost and you need something to pile on the speed quick. Adaptive dampers are a MUST for the extra weight in fuel.
mwstewart said:
They really wanted that record, didn't they? I suppose that for them the planning added to the fun
The amount of planning that goes into these attempts is insane, and takes months to get ready. This record just set had a couple of dozen people directly involved on the day, running ahead of the car and helping with fuel stops - not to mention the huge time and effort to prep the car, recce the route, study traffic patterns, weather, police activity etc. The two men in the car not driving were constantly on the phone and the lookout for the whole trip. Arsecati said:
Cheezus kryste, so much PC whinging bo11ox on here these days - why are you still reading PH?? My claim to 'cross country America' fame is crossing from San Jose to NYC in 49 hours and 15 minutes on my own in a Honda Accord 'driveaway' in mid-March back in 96. It wasn't planned, but I was hoping to make NYC by St. Patrick's Day (4 days away), and once I got going - the madness to keep going non-stop took over.
A total distance of 3024 miles, only stopping for fuel, food, fluids and to pee (and one speeding ticket in Nevada!). To those complaining about danger to the public, I can assure there was NOTHING on those roads the entire time, apart from leaving SJ and then again in NYC.... NOTHING in between. To those on about the dangers of fatigue, well in my mid-stretch, I drove solid for 22 hours without sleep/rest until I could take no more and grabbed a couple of hours in a service stop before launching in to the last leg. Granted, that sounds utter lunacy now, but I was only 25 and lacking sense/fear: All I needed was caffeine from coffee or diet cola (no Monster or Red Bull back then!). With this attempt, there were actually THREE of these guys in the car, and the adrenaline alone would be more than enough to keep them focussed, so absolutely zero chance of the driver falling asleep at the wheel.
Incidentally, I drove over 360 miles in 24 hours yesterday taking my old 944 S2 from Dublin (Holyhead) to Sheffield and back: Over 4 and a half hours to get from Sheffield to Holyhead on the way back - a distance of only 168 miles. Crawling on those motorways for mile after mile was soul destroying - I was literally beginning to stress out with the feelings of being trapped on those b@$tard fu€&1ng roads, just trying to get back to Holyhead to catch the ferry home: trust me, there is no bloody danger of anyone trying a cross-country record in the UK..... the traffic is literally evil!!
I could go on, but I've drivelled enough. Seems no matter what the story/achievement/endeavour is - if it's got anything at all to with burning petrol or speed, it's getting shot down by the self-appointed morality police. Yes, things need to change, but FFS - are we not allowed just ONE last haven here on the internet, where we can let loose with our hedonistic pleasures of excessive speed and gargling fuel?? Can you not please just leave Pistonheads for the rest of us, so we can continue desperately hanging on to the last vestiges of a rapidly declining motoring world, before it's all gone and replaced by autonomous unicorn-fart powered electrobubbles?
Well said. A total distance of 3024 miles, only stopping for fuel, food, fluids and to pee (and one speeding ticket in Nevada!). To those complaining about danger to the public, I can assure there was NOTHING on those roads the entire time, apart from leaving SJ and then again in NYC.... NOTHING in between. To those on about the dangers of fatigue, well in my mid-stretch, I drove solid for 22 hours without sleep/rest until I could take no more and grabbed a couple of hours in a service stop before launching in to the last leg. Granted, that sounds utter lunacy now, but I was only 25 and lacking sense/fear: All I needed was caffeine from coffee or diet cola (no Monster or Red Bull back then!). With this attempt, there were actually THREE of these guys in the car, and the adrenaline alone would be more than enough to keep them focussed, so absolutely zero chance of the driver falling asleep at the wheel.
Incidentally, I drove over 360 miles in 24 hours yesterday taking my old 944 S2 from Dublin (Holyhead) to Sheffield and back: Over 4 and a half hours to get from Sheffield to Holyhead on the way back - a distance of only 168 miles. Crawling on those motorways for mile after mile was soul destroying - I was literally beginning to stress out with the feelings of being trapped on those b@$tard fu€&1ng roads, just trying to get back to Holyhead to catch the ferry home: trust me, there is no bloody danger of anyone trying a cross-country record in the UK..... the traffic is literally evil!!
I could go on, but I've drivelled enough. Seems no matter what the story/achievement/endeavour is - if it's got anything at all to with burning petrol or speed, it's getting shot down by the self-appointed morality police. Yes, things need to change, but FFS - are we not allowed just ONE last haven here on the internet, where we can let loose with our hedonistic pleasures of excessive speed and gargling fuel?? Can you not please just leave Pistonheads for the rest of us, so we can continue desperately hanging on to the last vestiges of a rapidly declining motoring world, before it's all gone and replaced by autonomous unicorn-fart powered electrobubbles?
The fun police are everywhere these days. One or two of them seem to be conflating the Cannonball with the idiotic driving we see everyday on our roads. Not the same thing at all.
The Cannonball is a fantastic 2 fingers to both the authorities and those fun police. It's also a test of speed and endurance which takes a lot of planning. The fact that it's highly illegal adds some additional spice. Long may it continue!
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