Photo: Doug Demuro/Jalopnik
Ever since Erwin “Cannon Ball” Baker drove from New York to Los Angeles in 53 hours and 30 minutes in a Graham Paige back in 1933, the now legendary US transcontinental record stood unbeaten for about four decades.
In the 1970s though, racing driver and Car and Driver editor Brock Yates established the “Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash” - otherwise know by car freaks as the original “Cannonball Run”.
The events inspired five movies, a television series and a host of record-breaking attempts over America that culminated in 2006, when Alex Roy set the transcontinental record for good using a BMW M5 E39.
Actually, strike that, because a man called Ed Bolian recently shattered even Alex Roy's seemingly-unbeatable record using a 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG (C215).
Both Alex Roy and Ed Bolian meticulously prepared for the rather illegal attempt in an almost obsessive-compulsive manner, but Bolian's preparations to the CL 55 AMG may stretch even beyond that.
The model's engine and most internals remained stock, with the large grand tourer still being powered by the original 5.4-liter supercharged V8, developing 500 hp and 700 Nm (516 lb ft) of torque. More than enough to carry the hundreds of pounds of added weight from three passengers, two extra gasoline tanks and a host of thingamajigs to help Bolian in his US transcontinental record attempt.
You should check out the entire journey and the preparations story on Jalopnik because it's a rather nice read. By the way, the record now apparently sits at 28 hours and 50 minutes - any new takers in a more modern AMG?
The events inspired five movies, a television series and a host of record-breaking attempts over America that culminated in 2006, when Alex Roy set the transcontinental record for good using a BMW M5 E39.
Actually, strike that, because a man called Ed Bolian recently shattered even Alex Roy's seemingly-unbeatable record using a 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG (C215).
Both Alex Roy and Ed Bolian meticulously prepared for the rather illegal attempt in an almost obsessive-compulsive manner, but Bolian's preparations to the CL 55 AMG may stretch even beyond that.
The model's engine and most internals remained stock, with the large grand tourer still being powered by the original 5.4-liter supercharged V8, developing 500 hp and 700 Nm (516 lb ft) of torque. More than enough to carry the hundreds of pounds of added weight from three passengers, two extra gasoline tanks and a host of thingamajigs to help Bolian in his US transcontinental record attempt.
You should check out the entire journey and the preparations story on Jalopnik because it's a rather nice read. By the way, the record now apparently sits at 28 hours and 50 minutes - any new takers in a more modern AMG?
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