Outlaw Cross-Country Racing
Cannonball Run (NYC to LA, ~2,800 miles) illegal street racing tradition saw records tumble 2010s-2020: Ed Bolian’s 28h 50m (2013), Arne Toman’s 27h 25m (2019), finally Fred Ashmore’s 25h 39m (2020 during empty COVID highways). #CannonballRun documented: 100+ mph sustained speeds, spotter networks, police countermeasures, fuel strategy, and legal/ethical debates.
Controversy
VINwiki’s Ed Bolian made his 2013 run public (2013-2015), inspiring new generation. 2019-2020 saw record attempts multiply, culminating in COVID-19 pandemic enabling sub-26-hour time via empty highways. The hashtag divided: admiration for driving skill/planning vs condemnation of reckless endangerment. By 2023, public attention faded but underground attempts continued—immortalized in car culture lore.
Sources:
- Ed Bolian 2013 Record (2013)
- COVID Record Controversy (2020)