The INSANE Cannonball Record!

[@ICKY427]

that was epic. i love these cannonball stories and i hope people keep doing them and also stay safe. also, ed, the "are you boys racing across the country? no we're storm chasers" wouldve been a perfect video opening

[@thebrassmonkey100]

underrated comment right here

[@regretabletangibility]

Oooh, you sparked my imagination...

[@MianCowell]

The part I love most about this, is the price differential between an S class and an old Saab can result in so little difference in time. Just shows you can achieve a lot without needing a super expensive car.

[@Suhspencce]

All the successful Cannonball cars have been normal stuff you see on the road!

[@WearingGoldluck]

@@Suhspencce Other than the AMG, but generally that would be correct.

[@BennettBuilds]

Honestly, the S class might have been cheaper since it was so old. And it’s limiter is 20 miles slower than the Saab. There is an Odyssey that has beat both of our 1 way times!

[@threedprintedmarinetechnol3330]

@@WearingGoldluck Yea, I'm glad you corrected that statement. A 750hp AMG is not "normal stuff"

[@timweis6951]

BRB installing police scanner and fuel cell in 2014 Focus...

[@DEUTSCHWULF]

"A game of inches". That's great. Excellent story and congratulations!

[@angerthosenear_yt]

That joke at the end was too good. To even break the silence of Ed in the background.

[@IDv8I]

I'm happy you did these back to back, fun videos/stories to hear

[@BennettBuilds]

It was so crazy that we had independently planned back to back weekends! Had to do the stories the same way!

[@mohammadal-abbasi7247]

Yes!

[@benzina5917]

Congratulations on the record. An incredible achievement and proof that you got to be chasing those inches.

[@willmtaylor]

BY FAR one of my favorite Cannonball stories. Such a genuine, hard-working, and likable crew. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@BennettBuilds]

Thanks so much! Glad you liked it!

[@donovanhosch8759]

Storm chasers😂😂😂 Hilarious 😂 Cannonball stories are the best!!

[@blairwilliams136]

This one of my favorite cannonball stories yet , I love the passion and determination these 3 had and of course mission control always having their back throughout it. Never give up, never surrender!

[@BennettBuilds]

Thanks so much! So glad you liked the story!

[@ronbarnabei8226]

I remember my dad used to love to do ski trips on Superbowl weekend so we could drive home with less traffic on the road during the game. I wonder if anyone ever attempted a run starting on superbowl Sunday

[@NickBuenoo]

Super smart

[@mariodesmo]

It's also a good time to buy a car from a dealer...

[@luichinplaystation610]

You have a strategy here

[@cnf6045]

Truth be told, I think most cops would probably be like ‘are you racing cross county?’ ‘No actual we’re going there and back.’ ‘That’s cool as hell, I didn’t see nothin.’ *walks away*

[@BennettBuilds]

I thought the same thing, but figured with the Alex Roy excuse never getting to be used, and the fact that we had literally just driven through tornadoes, It was time to drop it!

[@KayJblue]

The cannonball content as of late has been great.

[@joshrobinson221]

Shout out to the hydrocephalus shirt! I was diagnosed with it about 3 months ago and had my shunt placed about 2 1/2 months ago. Thanks for spreading awareness!

[@BennettBuilds]

Hey man! Hope you’re doing well after your surgery! Check out the Hydrocephalus Racing Team on socials! We do all sorts of endurance racing to raise awareness. There’s another story about us coming out soon! Stay tuned!

[@strangeclouds7]

How did you get diagnosed? What were the symptoms? Thought that was mainly a problem in children.

[@canoezzz]

I feel kind of lucky to click on this vinwiki video so early but get disappointed to see all of these hate comments. I don't understand why you would click on a video to comment "who cares"...

[@daveSoupy]

it's almost a sign of arrival. His channel is so popular and so big that people who don't like his videos are aware of them and interacted with them enough that they don't like him and are willing to engage with the content.

[@jauken83]

Because people are subscribed with notifications on to be the first to say something stupid so they can look cool on the internet. Hopefully they'll grow up someday.

[@addham82]

Comment is a comment, good or bad. Plus ppl love to hate. Those of us that appreciate the content will topple the comments. Or are you playing the strings of people's hearts to get a top comment? 🤨😁

[@j.scottcaudill7543]

Some VinWiki guests are just unlikable compared to the majority of other guests so when a video is put out with the "unlikable" people then you get these negative comments

[@BennettBuilds]

@@j.scottcaudill7543Wow. We’re unlikable on our first video?! I’m glad we’re making people feel feelings!

[@fredklein2261]

OMG the Storm Chaser line! 🤣

[@BennettBuilds]

I have Alex Roy to thank for that one!

[@mauricemotors8207]

That was insane but the troopers in Ohio I think they knew what they were doing 😂😂

[@johnschmuck5589]

A game of inches…… I spit out my drink laughing so hard

[@HEadshot00001234]

Excellent call with the storm chaser for the trooper hahaha

[@wh4070]

Love these run stories! Nothing better than breaking the speed limit for hours and hours and hours to set an amazing time. Congratulations!

[@BennettBuilds]

Thank you! It was a great time with some great people!

[@earlmullet7628]

Across the whole country with little to no police interactions. Simply amazing.

[@kellymurphy6642]

This is wild this came across as a recommendation. My father ran in the early 1980s cannonball run. I found his name once in Wikipedia.

[@BennettBuilds]

That's awesome! What is your dad's name? Was it the US Express? Car? Time? We all love adding to the list of drives we have going!

[@kellymurphy6642]

@@BennettBuilds like I said, I once found it on Wikipedia. But for some reason recently, I could not find that same link with his name. His name is William O’Donnell. It was the one in the US, New York to southern Cali. (Early 80s) He drove an Eldorado Cadillac( yeah the one that was literally as big as a boat 🤣🤣 I learned to drive in that thing 😬😅) I’m determined to din the wiki page now. Unless you could possibly find it? Edit: I remember it ended at the Portofino inn in Southern California. It was 82 ish

[@BennettBuilds]

@@kellymurphy6642 That’s so awesome! I’ll see what I can track down. That was most likely an event called the US Express. Super underground event. Thanks for the info on your dad. I’ll see what the group can track down!

[@kellymurphy6642]

@@BennettBuilds that would be so cool! Thanks! I tried searching the Internet again for the wiki page with his name listed. I didn’t have luck, but I’m gonna try again because I’ve seen it before and I know it exists lol.

[@kellymurphy6642]

@@BennettBuilds when you open the link, it is a dark screen, turn your phone sideways, and it becomes legible.

[@j.scottcaudill7543]

The dedicated *Mission Control* phone line was pretty genius if you ask me. Great idea!

[@mrnewvegas1126]

Might be my favorite cannonball story I’ve heard so far

[@BennettBuilds]

Thank you! So glad you liked it! What an amazing time we had.

[@threedprintedmarinetechnol3330]

So much data is accumulating from all the activity that cannonballing is just getting better and better.

[@JasonTaylor-zf6fo]

If this is true why do they need spotters?

[@Chuckt961]

Now THAT was a good story well told.

[@BennettBuilds]

Thanks so much!

[@JeffW77]

These stories are amazing--the people and the cars. I read Brock's original CD article about the Cannonball, and I have a newspaper clipping about the first run with Brock and Dan in the Ferrari. What amazing adventures you have shared with us. Thank you.

[@elianpz]

I am glad to live in a time where likeminded guys like all of us here can sit down and nerd out on driving a car for 4 days in a row lol

[@BennettBuilds]

It’s a great time to be alive!

[@schlaghappy]

Less than 3 days total but your point still stands.

[@theanomalous1401]

@@BennettBuilds There is a reason why it's called the Fraternity of Lunatics! Congratulations to you and your team on what you accomplished. I've been a subscriber to Vinwiki since June 2016 and I have enjoyed having these Car Stories as part of my daily routine for the last 6 1/2 years. In this time, I have developed a healthy respect for everyone who has participated or attempted to participate in what I believe is one of the last underground, counterculture inspired, free spirited events in the automotive world. Something that you are now a part of. Ed has been a great representative of the Cannonball community because of the influence of Brock Yates. The people who who have sat in the Big Chair and shared their Cannonball, C2C, 2904, and Musketball experiences have been positive, respectful and gracious in both victory and defeat. I bid you welcome to this exclusive group. I hope to see y'all back in the Big Chair soon.

[@marinerbruin]

Congrats gentlemen! Never realized how much work went into these drives. Kudos and well deserved! 👏🏻 🥂

[@BennettBuilds]

Thanks so much! Yeah, the planning is a huge part of it! Glad you liked the vid!

[@nikkrueger5734]

You’d be amazed how much work these guys did that didn’t even make the video - it’s like an iceberg, you only see 10%

[@whitec59]

Wow I wish this story was longer! Nice drive

[@srb2834]

I bet Super Bowl Sunday would be a good/strategic time to do a run.

[@casualsevensix]

Christmas day

[@zaynebarnes678]

This gives real detail of what all goes into the logistics of a cannonball. Good work boys!

[@mikeaninger7388]

How about a “Black Widow” or “Hourglass” run? Red Ball, to Portofino, to Starbucks Seattle, to Bayside Marketplace Miami, and back to Red Ball.

[@BennettBuilds]

The original 1 Lap of America was Goodwives-Boston-Seattle-Portofino-Miami-Goodwives. It’s out there…

[@brokebuilt4827]

Great video, I have a 2013 S550 and will testify, it is definitely the car for a cannonball run. Not that I'd have the personal perseverance to do it, hats off to you guys.

[@BennettBuilds]

Thanks man! Yeah, I’m constantly looking for old S classes now. Such a wonderful piece of engineering!

[@gradyleno911]

Mercedes W221 for the win!!!

[@brokebuilt4827]

@@BennettBuilds If you're ever in the Beaumont Tx area I have a 2001 S500 I'd be willing to sell. 120k miles, silver exterior, black interior. Pretty well loaded with Distronic & CAS, xenon headlights, rear power seats, ABC suspension etc. I just don't drive it and it's not a car that should be sitting long.

[@a1phamalestud]

I can also testify the w221 is a fantastic car

[@danielharry1075]

It's interesting which cars are great at this run. The Saab was a brave choice and the S550 a brilliant one. Maybe a M550i will make for a great run, and stock in terms of engine I think.

[@elektrosoundwave]

As a storm chaser who has chased in OKC, I love this story

[@whalehands]

Note to self, you are not a cannonball racer, you're a storm chaser.

[@georgenelson3496]

So many people will never know that feeling. The people are the plan. Love this stuff..

[@CannonballCC]

Absolutely incredible. Both of these drives were absolutely amazing between this and the saab. Congratulations to everyone on absolutely remarkable driving

[@bwatt1383]

As a yaris owner i wanna hear how they did it. Mine tops out at 117, no issues keeping it there the temps don't move at all

[@BennettBuilds]

In musketball that’s about where we all topped out, so we were together almost the whole way! We were 4 cars apart through all of LA traffic. It was epic!

[@jackhydrazine1376]

In order to make it from the Portofino to Barstow, CA (134 miles) in 35 minutes makes that an average of 230mph. That car can't go that fast.

[@BennettBuilds]

That was an in the moment off the cuff. Think it was like an hour and change.

[@joshuagibson2520]

How about a brief intro telling who these guys are, what event they ran, their time, or any other pertinents? Would put a lot more context to what we're about to listen to.

[@BennettBuilds]

Grady holds the lower 48 record. 86:19 We met and ran the Musketball together with Chris. 34:48 was our time in that. The team gelled. We decided to do this. 65:19 C2C2C.

[@chryco63]

This was like watching Braveheart or Gladiator... and then the joke at the end turned it into Monty Python. Great video, excellent storytelling.

[@cobra281]

Congrats and amazing story!

[@lostboy1055]

Idk if this will reach you I’m the valet at savona restaurant i remover when u brought the s class and said u where going on vinwiki great yo see your run

[@lukedebu5210]

I think I saw this car a couple of years ago at the Redmond exotic car show! I remember they had a sign with the time and the statistics and it was mind blowing.

[@gradyleno911]

You are correct!! We had just finished the lower 48 state record run and the car happened to be in aeattle the same weekend as the car show. Good job recognizing the car!

[@nikkrueger5734]

Congratulations gentlemen! Such an amazing accomplishment, well done!

[@BennettBuilds]

Thanks buddy! You too! It’s a real game of inches!

[@DakotaB90]

Awesome 2 stories right there !

[@thewatchersofthewood3530]

Hahaha. I bet those cops figured something was up but just paced you across the whole state!

[@BennettBuilds]

Our theory is that it was quite foggy out and they were slowing the whole road down. But who knows. It’s all part of the cannonball slot machine!

[@scotcoon1186]

@@BennettBuilds used to be you would see more cops from Cincinnati to Toledo than the rest of the trip from Miami to Sault Ste Marie, and every one willing to ticket their own mother. I71 from Columbus to Cleveland was always crazy on Christmas eve, a cop every 5-7 miles, no way to get out of the median to stop anyone. Set the cruise in the truck at 78 in the split speed limit days, and the only cars i passed were coming off the i270 ramp.

[@unknownvinnumber]

I love the community! The respect between both crews (the other crew in the Saab) too. Nice job, both crews!

[@vincasvosylius6045]

i care! The best stories are cannonball stories!

[@TorturedPeace]

“Game of inches!” 2 Damn funny!

[@jonathanlawrence1401]

I love the storm chaser story! Classic

[@Andrew-sv3ck]

The storm chaser part was genius

[@stevefang510]

This is like the grown-up version of doing video game marathons as a kid; nobody really cares other than us nerds who are into it I tried something akin to this last year driving from san francisco to atlanta in 32 hours, was helping my friend move in a weekend and had my flight home paid for. It may have ruined roadtrips for me forever. Somehow these vast distances don’t feel so vast anymore…

[@rideodie---g2382]

At this point in trip 14:08 . This is where the night vision would've come in handy. Had same car only S63 and night vision worked CRISP.. great job men

[@BennettBuilds]

Thanks! We had thought about night vision, but the price point where it becomes actually effective is six figures. So you just have to back off a bit and stay safe.

[@nikkrueger5734]

We had it for our run the week before. Ours was a thermal kit - where it worked best actually was in dense fog, at night it was minimal difference

[@rideodie---g2382]

@@nikkrueger5734 the Merc display is honestly amazing. WHATEVER!! You guys did it !!!!!!

[@rideodie---g2382]

@Nik Krueger it would be great if 1 of guys can explain the hill comment? Where the Merc disliked hills? Is it the limp mode neutral issue? Or speed sensor

[@rideodie---g2382]

@Bennett Wilson it would be great if 1 of guys can explain the hill comment? Where the Mercdes dislike hills? Was it the limp mode neutral issue

[@Vile-Flesh]

Awesome story!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could listen to these all day!!!!!!

[@ahhhue3830]

I would love for someone to do a Canadian Cannonball

[@CAPT.IHOOstoner]

I wish I had the means to do what y'all guys do. Keep up the great work and I'll keep watching

[@BennettBuilds]

Rent a car and go one way! You don’t need to do a good time to have a great time!

[@picklefart]

@@BennettBuilds that's a great perspective

[@BKetch]

I would like to think that the cop that asked if you were racing across the country, probably wouldn't have cared if you said yes. But you cant chance that.

[@BennettBuilds]

He seamed like a Vinwiki fan. It was either we got an escort across the county, or got the car impounded. Super nice guy though!

[@MrJarred]

Waiting for that Sheriff's Deputy to pop up in the comments...

[@twistingterrain7748]

Those back to back stories were incredible

[@BlairSkidmore]

"It's a game of inches." 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@nukenuked5749]

and as us aussies say if you want more inch's STROKE IT

[@bukarabdullahi127]

"Game of inches"... and Ed 😂😂😂died 😅😅😅😅

[@dannyb5032]

When you said Mercedes hates long downhills, why? Curious because mine developed sudden transmission issues in the mountains 😂

[@BennettBuilds]

It really doesn’t like long periods of breaking. It heats the fluid very fast if you don’t have the big carbon ceramic breaks. Even with high temp fluid in the system.

[@sean-patrickiles8650]

Great video, I love cannonball stories!

[@darkimp1254]

He lost it at the end. Idk how many times I hear him burst out laughing during a story

[@grumpyoldguy4817]

Great story and exceptional strategy. I would love to do the C2C2C. I wonder if it could be done non-stop?

[@BennettBuilds]

You need about 400 gallons of fuel, so it would have to be van with upgraded suspension. But anything is possible.

[@gradyleno911]

Talk to Jay Roberts...he did 1 way without refueling

[@TonySinatra23]

Looks like Perzan prepared the S550 for you guys! Very cool- my dealership uses them all the time!

[@gradyleno911]

Erik and team at Perzan went above and beyond with our strange set of car prep requests. Good eye recognizing him!

[@WeekEndContractor]

Next team to win won't take pee breaks. They'll pee in the car with a system that drops the fluid outside while the car is on the move.

[@BennettBuilds]

We thought about that. But on such a long trip, you have to get out and stretch to avoid blood clots, so we made the calculated decision to kill two birds with each driver change.

[@jackdunn4463]

@@BennettBuilds Just pee while running around the car to switch drivers. Shave some seconds.

[@mitch5251]

This video, particularly the beginning, totally ignores that this record was actually beat and set 2 years ago by Mark Spence and Chris Clemens. I feel like this is the exact same VinWiki video and/or story without Mark drinking a Natty Light.

[@BennettBuilds]

We told that part. Didn’t make the cut. But it was made irrelevant by Nik, Wes, and Spence the week before.

[@alexhalbleib2398]

Great story, happy for you guys! Congratulations on the run

[@BennettBuilds]

Thank you so much!

[@YaleWall]

Love these stories!

[@predictorbibulous3327]

If you can sleep in the backseat of a car that is going well over 100mph, then you and I are not the same. That's trust.

[@zavtparticles6828]

you ever slept on an active flight deck?

[@berube361]

Id love to see how fast someone can accomplish a cannonball run in a totally stock car without all the added equipment. Obviously makes it much harder which is also the point. Would take even more planning because you'll have more frequent fuel stops so the route could vary a bit. Using anything on a phone would be fine since that's not something you're adding to the vehicle. So whatever apps you can download would be usable. Im sure noone wants to do this because how much harder it would be and higher likelihood of police trouble. But hoping someone at somepoint says screw it, time for a stock car record lol.

[@BennettBuilds]

There are a ton of those types of runs out there! A bunch of sub 40s in rental cars.

[@berube361]

@@BennettBuilds I havnt seen any of the guys usually highlighted on this channel that have done it. I know people have rented cars but I believe they still added equipment to help. Im wanting to see a 100% bone stock car and a driver with a cell phone and a backpack with some basic supplies. As straight forward and simple as it gets. I certainly could be missing someone thats done it recently but seems no matter the car people add equipment, not always a ton but some.

[@BennettBuilds]

@@berube361 I guess everyone puts up a dash radar detector and runs waze or JBV1 at least. But running completely blind doesn't seam like that much fun.

[@2vcrew782]

Everyone laugh now. I’m turning 40 this year and have been huge Cannonball fan since I was a kid. I’m going to make a C2C run one way in my 2003 Mustang GT manual car. I know I know. Trust me, the car can do it well. I feel it in my heart.

[@BennettBuilds]

Just be safe. You don't have to do a good time to have a great time!

[@nikkrueger5734]

Go do it and post on FB how you did!

[@johnnybermudez]

Tis is all types of fkin amazing. Congrats to All! 🥂

[@V1Transportation]

Pro tip: you can pass a cop... just takes a while -literally a chauffeur

[@BennettBuilds]

We know, but it was dense fog and the car had 4 antennas sticking off the back. So we played it safe.

[@V1Transportation]

@@BennettBuilds fair enough, I suppose the "unmarked" Audi cannonball car wouldve been an issue there too, both are flags for fuz. I love my commercial "for hire" plates. They Definitely tend to get a pass, but would be a pretty expensive countermeasure Just to do a run with..

[@SteveCozz]

12:56 we're just going to ignore that Jeremy Renner helped?

[@BennettBuilds]

We don't have to. He was instrumental!

[@Fisheee123]

I wanna do the cannonball one day. Not to beat a record or anything (although that would be nice) but just to do it.

[@maverickphantom005]

That would be nice. It's definitely an adventure.

[@BennettBuilds]

Just go for it! You don’t have to go crazy fast. Just go do a run! You’ll have a blast!

[@Fisheee123]

@@BennettBuilds would love to, but I'm in college right now and I drive an 2011 Impala 😂 maybe in a couple definitely

[@BennettBuilds]

@@Fisheee123Keep the dream! I was 12 when I found out the movie was based on reality. 30 years later this happened.

[@JP_Stone]

I want to drive a Cannonball Run so bad not for records but seems like such a cool thing for those who love cars and driving. Great story.

[@Customerbuilder]

Dammit. This turned on my Alexa.

[@petertornabeni602]

Congratulations, excellent story. You mentioned you were running at a limiter. How fast can that damn Mercedes go

[@Robputta]

What a great story! I just wish I could do something close to this in my life.

[@BennettBuilds]

You can! Records aren’t important, the adventure is!

[@joshuagibson2520]

You can. Get busy living or get busy dying.

[@nicksandoval9147]

What a sense of accomplishment!!!! Hat's off boys.. I commend the ability to back seat nap at 130mph, that's the hardest part for me to wrap my head around.

[@ciswhitebigot]

Ya dude no way I’d be able to sleep through that

[@RogerAlan]

Twenty two minutes of peeing 😂😂 this hobby is wild

[@LastCallDemon170]

Congratulations Guys! I hope to be as crazy someday!

[@AustinHerrig]

OSP def knew what you were up to.

[@goxan4]

Who ls cutting onions around the 18 min mark 😅

[@DerekIcelord]

They talked about driving in pitch blackness where you can't see that far ahead. With all the electronic gizmos they pack these cars with, has anyone added night vision to the list?

[@jamiejennings7361]

I expedite freight. Marathon non stop driving is my business.

[@justiceofskitzerland6429]

No sir, I'm storm chasing

[@TheBimmerMan]

game of inches 😂 that got me laughing like mad 😂

[@royliber3824]

My favourite thing about the story is how the 2 storms going out around them actually saved them from a potential ticket or worse. Can't imagine what you guys had to say to that sheriff if it was bright clear outside him seeing all the antenas on a black Mercedes S class.

[@markk3453]

so by how many inches did they beat the saab? thanks for sharing!

[@BennettBuilds]

9

[@brendanhbanks]

Mission Control!

[@BennettBuilds]

You killed it buddy! And our own lane through the construction was what sealed the deal!

[@douglasmstewart]

So when are we bringing back C2C?

[@Radix.Strategy]

In the middle of the night -- "Alexa, read me some dirty limericks!"

[@bryancohn9406]

Good story, big question mark regarding the state trooper that escorted them across the entire state (his words): Ohio on I-70 is 225 miles across. Ohio State Troopers use Dodge Chargers from what I can find and they have 18.5 gallon gas tanks. They can get 25 mpg highway under fake EPA conditions. Let's call it 22 mpg in the real world. The trooper's car can obviously make the distance on fuel IF he had a minimum of 13.5 gallons of fuel. This also means the cop drove 3.2 hours without having to stop for donuts, to pee or for a call about a drunk driver. That he mentions a second trooper joining in and pissing away state resources in this way just seems a wee bit suspect. Now, don't get me wrong, I can totally see cops wasting their time and ours and our tax dollars doing this, it just seems that a near perfect storm would be required.

[@JasonTaylor-zf6fo]

I explained it in my comment.

[@BennettBuilds]

The first cop did pull off before the end of the line. I do think they were slowing the whole road down that night due to the dense fog. Either way, it's what happened unfortunately!

[@ehtikhet]

Following the cops across an entire state?! 😅 noooooooooo!

[@392nightrunner]

Truckers used to do this all the time before elogs, was called a west coast turn around

[@nevrlow]

20:10 learning to pee in a cup is an awesome skill to possess. Learned how to do that on a cross country drive. I was trying to get from Virginia to California rather quickly and didn’t want to stop every few hours