Editing Car and Driver (section)

== The "Cannonball Run" ==
In the 1970s, to celebrate the Interstate Highway System and to protest speed limits, reporter Brock Yates and editor Steve Smith conceived the idea of an unsanctioned, informal race across the country, replicating the 53.5-hour transcontinental drive made by car and bike pilot [[Erwin Baker|Erwin George "Cannonball" Baker]] in 1933. The New York to Los Angeles [[Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash]], later shortened to the "Cannonball Run", was staged in 1971, 1972, 1975 and 1979, with the race entries including both amateur drivers and professional racers, such as [[Dan Gurney]] (who with Brock Yates "won" the 1971 event driving a Ferrari 365 GTB/4, making the {{convert|2860|mi}} journey in under 36 hours).

The stunt served as the inspiration for several Hollywood blockbusters, such as ''[[The Gumball Rally]]'', ''[[The Cannonball Run]]'', ''[[Cannonball Run II]]'', ''[[Speed Zone|Cannonball Run III]]'', ''[[Gone in 60 Seconds (2000 film)|Gone in 60 Seconds]]'' and ''[[The Fast and the Furious]]'' franchise.