28 hours 50 Minutes

z31maniac wrote:

Racer1ab wrote: I'm always torn at the news of these records. I find the logistics side fascinating, but do agree that its pretty reckless in this day and age. Part of me wonders if putting a fuel cell in a modern diesel car to extend the range to possibly only one fuel stop, if you'd be able to break the record and still run somewhat near the speed limit. (Keeping it under 100 or so anyway.)

No, because the even 5 fuel stops is a minimal amount of time compared to the mileage.

That's my thought. They AVERAGED 98mph the whole trip. 5 stops * 5 minutes each is only 1.5% of the trip.

rich shiny happy people... no achievement here except for endangering the lives of americans from coast to coast...

I've driven from Appleton/Green Bay to and through New Orleans in less than 24 hours. I don't remember the time. We weren't speeding more than 5-10 over, though.

We ended up sleeping for 4 hours in a wayside/truckstop somewhere between NOLA and Pensacola, which was our final destination. Spent 6 or so hours on the beach, got sunburned, met the only girls on the beach, all from Wisconsin, and started driving back. Slept in another wayside/truck stop in the middle of Mississippi and made it back home for dinner time.

That was a spring break for when you and your buddy have enough cash to drive somewhere but not enough to enjoy it.

I'm less than impressed. Why?

There were two drivers (maybe three).

He modified the car to carry additional fuel.

He used illegal equipment (LADAR jammers)

He used "reconnaissance" vehicles ahead of him to look for cops.

Do it again just by yourself, without help, and in a stock vehicle. Then I'll be impressed.

I find it technically interesting but...that's a E36 M3-ton of dangerous and illegal driving.

Why does the car smell like fuel? There's no reason it should. He's probably got some fuel line seepage somewhere.

Also I notice he spent less money modding his Mercedes than I'm spending to overhaul my 'rolla

As with others I'm torn. I can't claim the higher ground, it's not like I haven't gone very fast in the past, but it's been in open stretches without others around. I have called the Police on I696 before when people have been flying past at what I estimate to be 130-140mph compared to traffic speed of 80-85mph. That's dumb and dangerous.

But man, you really can't help but be impressed with his planning and execution can you? Also let's not forget, all the Cannonball moves we loved as kids (still do actually) most of that stuff really happened, including the fake ambulance etc. We don't get all uppity and refuse to watch those movies because the original act was illegal and dangerous do we?

I did Nashville to Pittsburg in 6 hours and 27 minutes once. It came out to be 88 mph in a stock Focus ZX3. I know how hard I had to push so 98 average speed is just insane.

What is sad about all of this, I believe that GRMr's would have been all for this back when the Cannonball/Baker existed.....

I don't agree with how they did it, or that they even did......but to complain about the feat is a bit opposite of what I expected.

Dangerous, reckless, possibly stupid? Yes, but its still pretty cool.

I've been following such endeavors since I first watched "The Gumball Rally" as a kid.

To be honest, I think this was better (if there is such a thing) than Roy's run in that this guy didn't employ a berkeleying spotter in a Cessna. The fact that he had a network of "rabbits" composed of friends along the route seems a lot more genuine to me. Why? I am unsure, maybe because he "kept it on the ground".

If I were to attempt something similar, I'd have to say CTS-V Wagon: Power, magneride, and the ability to hold a huge fuel cell in the back.

However, it was much cooler back when you had two guys, a CB radio, and a thermos of coffee.

Overall, I think he should have taken more safety precautions. I would have at least installed a "wig-wag" headlight function to warn cars that I'm comin' up well into triple digits and a massive LED light bar for night driving. Ditto for a rollbar and a fove point harness. However, I thought the rear facing Valentine 1 was creative.Sunglasses clearly would have helped.

BTW, LIDAR jammers are perfectly legal (in most states) but are about as frowned upon as CCW.

If I were to do it I would use a Porsche Cayenne Turbo- good gas mileage (for what it is), raised seating position (for spotting smokey bears), lots of room for fuel tanks, an air suspension and more off road capability than a CrownVic.

I'd be more impressed if someone went the "jawbreaker" route opposed to the "gumball" route. The jawbreaker being buy a sub $500 car and no repairs or maintance can be done until the clock starts. First one to get their beater cross country wins.

Cotton wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: It's all well and good until Mom in her minivan full of kids changes lanes in front of this guy doing 150mph.

She needs to get out of the fast lane anyway.

Not if she's executing the "move-over law".

Can of worms. carry on.

SVreX wrote:

Cotton wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: It's all well and good until Mom in her minivan full of kids changes lanes in front of this guy doing 150mph.

She needs to get out of the fast lane anyway.

Not if she's executing the "move-over law". Can of worms. carry on.

lol true...or the bicyclist "3 feet rule" here in TN.

Mmadness wrote: I would have at least installed a "wig-wag" headlight function to warn cars that I'm comin' up well into triple digits

You would be amazed at how most people GTFO of the left lane when a german sedan, with high beams flashing, comes flying past.

I cannot go a single trip on I-69 here in Indiana without seeing that at least once. Oddly enough, the bmw guys around here are pretty tame, its always a Merc or a Sx Audi....