Over a certain age we can all recall the Cannonball film with Burt Reynolds Farah Fawcett Dom DeLuise and of course Mr James Bond himself George Lazenby (only joking!) Roger Moore. The film in case you haven’t seen it or heard about it is loosely based on a road race that took place in the United States four times in the 70’s and was conceived by Brock Yates and Steve Smith

Officially known as the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash (and later as the US Express race) the race set the standard for outlaw driving. This was uniquely American car culture — free and fun and fast, Initially the run was not a real competitive race with high risks, but intended both as a celebration of the united states highway system and a protest against traffic laws coming into effect at the time. Nobody was faster than Diem and Turner, who hammered their 308 Ferrari from a garage on Manhattan's Upper East Side to Newport Beach, California, in an impressive 32 hours and 7 minutes. A record that has only in recent months in 2006 been beaten by Alex Roy and David Maher who completed the trip in 31hours and 4 minutes albeit unofficial.

The record has since been claimed by Richard Rawlings and Dennis Collins in May they have said to have covered the journey in 31.59 however they claim that Alex Roy didn’t cover the exact route. Interestingly Brock Yates has not endorsed either claim, claiming that someone would most probably get killed doing it, something since Alex Roy has allegedly alluded to. These couple of events have, to a certain extent taken some of the shine/ gloss or fun of this type of event. Whilst the film was “the film” there were a few similarities between it and the original real life event namely an ambulance was entered in the cannonball, as was a hire car in which the driver was specifically instructed not to exceed 75mph plus there was an all female team.

Steve Smith and Brock Yates

As I am writing this I realise that I am now late for an engagement in London so is true Cannonball tradition I will now attempt to break or create a new record for driving from London E18 to London W1 in the smart car see you in the next paragraph when I will let you know how I got on.

Well not very well! an hour and half to cover about 12 miles mainly slowed by traffic lights and in town a whole host of rickshaws, cyclists and tourists something I’m sure weren’t encountered when driving from New York to Los Angeles. Going back to the cannonball the emphasis is mainly on having fun, enjoying yourself and safety. With the zoomzoomsmart we are attempting to bring a light hearted view and attitude to the celebration of motoring. or in other words we aim to complete the Cannonball Run Europe 2008 and have a very good time doing it.!