The Cannonball Run is an illegal cross-country road race in the United States, which has been held on various dates since 1971. It was made famous by its depiction in the 1981 film of the same name. While there is no official race, teams of drivers (often with multiple vehicles) attempt to travel from New York City to Los Angeles as quickly as possible, typically using highways that are not normally legal for racing. The route changes each year but generally follows a southern tier route.
The Cannonball Run was inspired by the 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit, in which Burt Reynolds drives a truck full of beer across state lines. In the movie, Reynolds' character is chased by police officers for most of the journey. This led some people to believe that such a race could actually be done without getting caught by law enforcement.
The first recorded Cannonball Run took place in 1971 and was organized by Brock Yates, who also came up with the movie's concept. The race started on Thanksgiving Day from New York City and ended in Redondo Beach, California, covering over 2,800 miles (4,500 km). There were only four cars entered in the inaugural race: two Ferraris, a Porsche 911S, and a Jaguar XKE. The winning car was driven by Dave Heinz and Doug Turner; they completed the journey in 41 hours and 54 minutes.
In subsequent years, the event has been held irregularly but usually takes place at least once every few years. As news of the event has spread, more people have attempted it; as of 2019 there have been over 70 documented attempts at running the Cannonball. While some drivers have tried to complete the journey alone or with just one other person (usually referred to as a co-driver), most teams consist of multiple drivers taking shifts behind the wheel while others sleep or take care of other needs such as refueling or navigation. Many teams also employ support crews who will meet them at prearranged points along the way to provide supplies or assistance if necessary; these crews may also act as lookouts for police activity so that drivers can avoid being caught speeding or breaking other traffic laws