Book: Cannonball!

Introduction
"Cannonball!" is a 1971 book composed by Brock Yates, an automobile reporter and the founder of the famous cross-country automobile race, the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, more frequently called the "Cannonball Run". The book acts as both a history and a firsthand account of the occasions leading up to the first race in 1971 and its subsequent editions.

The title "Cannonball!" pays homage to Erwin "Cannon Ball" Baker, who in 1915 rode a motorbike from coast to coast in 11 days. Baker would later make the cross-country journey over 140 times and in different lorries, setting various speed records along the way. Influenced by Baker's exploits, Yates looked for to restore the excitement and spirit of those early cross-country adventures with the creation of the Cannonball Run.

Context and Early Races

Yates contextualizes the Cannonball Run as a reaction versus the stringent automotive guidelines that were emerging throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He thought that these regulations aimed to sanitize and tame the cars and truck culture and the excitement of driving in America. The Cannonball Run enabled likeminded people to demonstrate their driving skills, push their automobiles to the limit, and experience the adrenaline of a long, high-speed trip throughout the country.

The book chronicles the very first authorities Cannonball Run, which occurred in November 1971. A motley crew of individuals collected at the Red Ball Garage in New York City, prepared to start a crazy dash to the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, California. Yates himself was a participant, forming a group with fellow co-driver Dan Gurney, a revered race cars and truck chauffeur. Together, they navigated a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona across the United States, ultimately winning the race by finishing the journey in simply 35 hours and 54 minutes.

Race Stories and Strategies
Yates' account of the race is packed with exhilarating stories, vibrant characters, and unforeseen difficulties. Throughout the book, he shares captivating anecdotes and discussions with fellow participants, giving readers a taste of the sociability and competitiveness that characterized the race.

In addition to retelling his own experiences, Yates happily provides insight into a few of the techniques used by racers to evade law enforcement and cope with the physical toll of driving cross-country at high speeds. These methods consisted of everything from carefully crafting a sleep schedule to utilizing aircraft-inspired radar detectors and police scanners.

Impact and Legacy
Though it at first began as a somewhat informal and underground event, the Cannonball Run got substantial notoriety throughout the years. The race was held four more times in between 1971 and 1979, each version drawing a more varied array of participants-- from expert drivers to enthusiastic beginners - and motivating other spin-off events like the U.S. Express and Gumball 3000.

The legacy of "Cannonball!" and the race it records extends beyond the automobile world. The fascinating stories and exploits of the racers motivated a series of Hollywood films, most notably the comedy "The Cannonball Run" (1981), which starred Burt Reynolds and featured an ensemble cast of celebrities.

Conclusion
"Cannonball!" by Brock Yates uses a vibrant, amusing, and in some cases outrageous account of the earliest years of the Cannonball Run. The book effectively captures the spirit of a different period in America's automobile history, one filled with youthful disobedience, rule-breaking, and the unchecked pursuit of speed. Through engaging storytelling interwoven with important historic context, Yates invites readers to join him on an exhilarating trip throughout the United States and, in doing so, experience the excitement of the Cannonball Run.