With a great big caveat of “kids, don’t try this at home”, I direct your attention to an article at Wired, describing the recent efforts of Alex Roy:
Roy is attempting to break a legendary cross-country driving record known to most people as the Cannonball Run. The time: 32 hours, 7 minutes, set in 1983 by David Diem and Doug Turner. Captain Roy’s quest is definitely illegal and quite possibly impossible. He is one of the few drivers wealthy and geeky and foolish enough to try it anyway. So far he’s tried and failed twice, but he’s still convinced that his careful calculations will allow him to beat the record.
The effort apparently involved a spotter plane, 4 GPS units, 151 gallons of gas, no telling how much caffeine, and an average speed of 90.1 miles per hour….and they were successful.
Again with a necessary disclaimer to decry such wanton disregard for the speed laws of our fine country, I have to observe—that is so cool…and remarkable given the increase in traffic loads on our interstates since the original days of the Cannonball Run.
And to think, my most infamous road trip adventure is documented by only a few blog posts and a rental car slip tacked to the side of my cube in the office, describing a 6-day, 3500 mile car rental I made almost two years ago.