AWESOME or AWFUL? The Cannonball Run Record Has Been BROKEN — Does Anyone ACTUALLY Care?

In a staggering video released by VINWiki, it turns out that the Cannonball Run has been broken, again. This is rather staggering news given how low the time has gotten.

The all-new record has been established by Arne Toman and Doug Tabutt. In addition, they were joined by Berkely Chadwick.

The time? 27 hours and 25 minutes. The vehicle of choice? A kitted-out Mercedse-Benz E63 AMG producing around 700 horsepower.

According to data displayed in the video below, the route had a top speed of 193 mph and an average speed of 103 mph. Clearly, these guys were haulin'.

All that said, we've got to ask: Is this AWESOME or AWFUL? While it's definitely not an easy feat, considering the planning, organization of 15+ spotters and modifying the vehicle for this journey, one has to wonder if it's worth it. What's the point, anyway? Bragging rights?

Car4life1 - 12/4/2019 12:15:39 AM

-1 Boost

Thanks 00R, and it’s just a great story, man and machine, not about awesome/awful, just something to look back on and laugh with your buddies about for years to come.

It’s a great look for Benz and ///AMG though, back to back cross country records pushing the car hard for over 24 hours says something about those handbuilt engines and quality in general

mre30 - 12/4/2019 8:26:45 AM

+4 Boost

Many of the high performance Benz engines need rebuilds at about 50,000 miles as the seals dry out from the "hot-vee" turbos' heat, which causes oil leaks on the ECU and other things - happened to me. $6,000 job on my early twin turbo S550. Service tech told me it happens with regularity on AMG's and the 4.7L TT V8.

The 6.3L AMG V8 was a truly epic engine and will be the last of the collectible AMG vehicles. The current AMG turbo engines are fun during the 3 year lease but then its time to move them on.

Boom!

PUGPROUD - 12/4/2019 5:27:35 AM

+7 Boost

Driving fast on a good road can be great fun if done safely, with good judgement and awareness of others. Averaging over 100 mph including fuel stops on public roads for over 27 hours is totally over the line and fuels disgust by those determined to kill or neuter cars. This stunt was popular in broad society once but no more. Enough. Take it to a track.

Foncool - 12/4/2019 7:21:37 AM

+5 Boost

It’s a been there, done that. Yates and Gurney made the trip a mythical legend. Much like after Sir Edmund Hillary climbed Mt. Everest many have done it since, unfortunately now it only matters when someone dies attempting it.

When, not if that happens attempting to break this record, the ramifications across the driving public could be devastating to the automotive enthusiast that likes spirited driving. The push will be for level 5 complete autonomous driving mandates from the media and the left that must protect everyone from themselves which will further escalate development cost to the industry. That will further require more consolidation in the industry.

They will push the technology into production before it’s ready which will result in more deaths than the original catalyst that ignited the push.

MDarringer - 12/4/2019 8:41:33 AM

+6 Boost

Yay, they were fast? What did they accomplish? Nothing. All they succeeded in doing was playing the role of the wannabe.

MDarringer - 12/4/2019 8:30:24 PM

-4 Boost

No one's used "optics" for 5 years.