You brought back a memory! My Dad worked for a VW parts distributorship in the 60s and 70s. Back in the 60s he and 3 others from the office would pile in a 40 horse beetle and go on the road to make service calls. In order to pass “slower” cars on the interstate, they’d draft semis in order to pass! Thank you for such a great tale!
The 2904 is the epic grandfather of the modern set of Cannonballs, and was some of the most fun I've ever had driving a car! Awesome story from my favorite storyteller.
John, I’m currently in the process in resurrecting the Cannonball in Australia- it’s origins date back to the 1980s and has a lot of amazing stories and drama of its own. I am preparing a vehicle to travel from the Westernmost to Easternmost towns of the Australian continent, and it’s neither a European Ubercar nor a high budget outfit- it’s an everyman’s car, with some buddies that like to go fast.
Old school and AWESOME 👍. John, you are the best. I love your stories. I can't wait to watch them. I try and schedule my chemotherapy treatments around your video releases. You are a true car enthusiast, unlike some of the UA-camrs today. God Speed John
Hey, John! Thanks for posting this! I was Pierce's co-driver on the inaugural run and just like you, I grew up watching the Cannonball movies and had always dreamed of making a cross-country run myself. As soon as Pierce told me about it, I was 100% in! The drive was intense, boring, and fun--all at the same time. Thank you for organizing this event and making my childhood dreams come true. 🚙💨🚓🚓🚓
I'm sure back then, you never even considered that the 2904 would become a unique part of automotive history that you would share with thousands of people. Seize the moment‼️ #ThisCanBeRed❗
"Choo Choo!" Wow! AND... The tailpipe-less tailpipes? The Pic of you at the burrito grotto is of a man who doesn't just see things but of a man who sees THROUGH everything! A modern day warrior with a monk mentality. To have a thing visualized then proposed and actually happen involving a very modest budget, from which you must find a way to go across the United States from east to west AT the best velocity possible that only a BUDGET of minimalist proportions. Truly boggles the mind. "Choo Choo..." What fun! Thank you for sharing with us, Tales of the Tailpipe-less Tailpipes! Brought to you by Pemmincan Beef jerky, Don't trust your favorite on the road go to snack to just any meat.... laffs... great stuff
Left VinWiki when they started inviting all sorts of conspiracy theorists and golden kids on their channel. Glad to have found you doing your own channel with all these cool stories and history bits. Thanks for keeping it sane.
@@restaurantandbarequipmento3087 can't recall the name of the lady that is the Faux News car expert with neodymium in the EV batteries and that they are pure pollutant and not recyclable at all. Plus a bunch of other questionable if not purely false statements in her stories.
Enjoyable Sunday morning coffee with this story! I've always liked the 2904 for it's simpler, purer ethos. When my chance comes, I'll be rolling with a GPS & some jerky.... no cherries!
This is the series I've been waiting for! I love your enthusiasm for cars and your storytelling. Even though it's been 34 years since I could've first taken my driving test, I've never even sat behind the wheel of a car. Yet the idea of driving coast to coast in the US remains a dream. Thank you, John, for the vicarious pleasure!
Seems like I’m at a campfire with an Uncle tellin me a story! Love ya JF! Same age as you and remember the elders telling stories. Thanks for the forgotten memories. Funny how you mentioned the state of Maine.
Talks about the book Cannonball Grabs the book out of view Meanwhile book is in view on the shelf behind lol I love this story, would love to see another event happen
Taking a step back to the founder, Brock Yates, I've always wondered why he had such a hard-on for the folks that made the movie Gumball? I'm guessing that it was some sort of a money issue (isn't that always the case?), but since Brock is no longer with us, it's one of those questions that maybe you had heard his comments on. I remember reading about the second Cannonball (the one he ran with Dan Gurney) in Car and Driver and was ALWAYS enthralled by the concept. Having read both Sunday Driver and Cannonball, it was easy to see that he had a special place in his heart for this event. It warms my heart that you folks have always treated these events with a bit of respect for the history involved, while also maintaining a healthy level of irreverence. I will eagerly await your following videos.
Such an awesome story! Back in the 80's, a local speed shop in North Charleston SC used to run a sort of "mini-cannonball" from their shop to Savannah, GA. I wanted to participate but the Mrs. put the definite ixnay on my outlaw adventure- I had kids to consider, she said. Nowadays as we are empty nesters, I'll bet I could talk her into one!
Another great video John. You're definitely 1 of the Top 3 storytellers on VinWiki. (you, Chris Michaels & Bill Warner 🥰) Oh btw... could you talk Bruce Canepa into doing Vinwiki ????
Reminds me of some of the dumb things I got into with mates when I was younger, We used to go on Burger runs in the Late 80's like Maccas runs 350km-ish just over the border to Albury NSW and then 350km back to an all night diner in Lonsdale st in the Melbourne CBD. The high point was when we were hungry and decided to drive to a reputed Burger King in Perth, (Burger King was replaced with Hungry Jacks in Aus in the Noughties) Western Australia from Melbourne's Eastern suburbs in the Eastern State of Victoria....... 3500 km one way (2175 miles) from the East coast to the West coast in my 1972 ZF Fairlane and a mates 1972 Holden Statesman Caprice with our comedic relief entry being a Morris Mini Panelvan ..... The Nullabour Plains being long and boring as well as infested with hoppy marsupials but we made it in a bit over 40 hours except for the Mini which we left in Ceduna South Aus (Coz Broken) Fuelled on 7/11 microwave delights, NoDoz, coffee and slurpees plus whatever we found in roadhouse delights its a trip I wont ever forget :-)
Brilliant! I wish I moved in the right circles to be involved in such fun stuff. I do, however, live a stones throw from that La Corneta, I think I will grab dinner from there.
hey ficarra, how the ficarra?! (lol yeah, ill hit em with one he totally nEveR hEarD BeForE) lol love ya man, you bring a quality that is just more genuine than most other car story tellers for some reason. thank you for doing so and being you.
US Spec Subarus were so strangled at that time. I've had several and they'd all go faster than that. I don't think I've ever driven one consistently flat out for so long though.
Be fair John. There's quite a bit of stuff you gotten yourself into or started by accident. You are just that type of guy. I mean look at your collection of graveyard 928 or your 1JZ old Toyota that never really ran properly 😂
Just think, it’s your fault there is a cannon ball bus record.
I will shoulder that blame all day long.
Haaaa! Best comment!
Team SCARF & SUNGLASSES approves of this channel! 😘
You brought back a memory! My Dad worked for a VW parts distributorship in the 60s and 70s. Back in the 60s he and 3 others from the office would pile in a 40 horse beetle and go on the road to make service calls. In order to pass “slower” cars on the interstate, they’d draft semis in order to pass! Thank you for such a great tale!
The 2904 is the epic grandfather of the modern set of Cannonballs, and was some of the most fun I've ever had driving a car! Awesome story from my favorite storyteller.
John, I’m currently in the process in resurrecting the Cannonball in Australia- it’s origins date back to the 1980s and has a lot of amazing stories and drama of its own. I am preparing a vehicle to travel from the Westernmost to Easternmost towns of the Australian continent, and it’s neither a European Ubercar nor a high budget outfit- it’s an everyman’s car, with some buddies that like to go fast.
Good luck with the drive. I'm also trying to piece something together here in Australia also.
Old school and AWESOME 👍. John, you are the best. I love your stories. I can't wait to watch them. I try and schedule my chemotherapy treatments around your video releases. You are a true car enthusiast, unlike some of the UA-camrs today. God Speed John
I'm a truck driver so I don't want to get a massive speeding ticket but when I change careers I'm going to start cannonballing
Stories are always great. My wife, who saw the porche suspension video, says you missed your calling as a professor
Story telling at it’s best.
Hey, John! Thanks for posting this! I was Pierce's co-driver on the inaugural run and just like you, I grew up watching the Cannonball movies and had always dreamed of making a cross-country run myself. As soon as Pierce told me about it, I was 100% in! The drive was intense, boring, and fun--all at the same time. Thank you for organizing this event and making my childhood dreams come true. 🚙💨🚓🚓🚓
You've given me an idea. I've always wanted to be part of the fraternity of lunatics. Now I know I just need to make my own fraternity
I'm sure back then, you never even considered that the 2904 would become a unique part of automotive history that you would share with thousands of people. Seize the moment‼️ #ThisCanBeRed❗
"Choo Choo!" Wow! AND... The tailpipe-less tailpipes? The Pic of you at the burrito grotto is of a man who doesn't just see things but of a man who sees THROUGH everything! A modern day warrior with a monk mentality. To have a thing visualized then proposed and actually happen involving a very modest budget, from which you must find a way to go across the United States from east to west AT the best velocity possible that only a BUDGET of minimalist proportions. Truly boggles the mind. "Choo Choo..." What fun! Thank you for sharing with us, Tales of the Tailpipe-less Tailpipes! Brought to you by Pemmincan Beef jerky, Don't trust your favorite on the road go to snack to just any meat.... laffs... great stuff
Left VinWiki when they started inviting all sorts of conspiracy theorists and golden kids on their channel. Glad to have found you doing your own channel with all these cool stories and history bits. Thanks for keeping it sane.
I agree there has been some real trash stories on VINwiki in the last year or two. But I must have missed the conspiracy theorists?
@@restaurantandbarequipmento3087 can't recall the name of the lady that is the Faux News car expert with neodymium in the EV batteries and that they are pure pollutant and not recyclable at all. Plus a bunch of other questionable if not purely false statements in her stories.
Enjoyable Sunday morning coffee with this story!
I've always liked the 2904 for it's simpler, purer ethos. When my chance comes, I'll be rolling with a GPS & some jerky.... no cherries!
This is the series I've been waiting for! I love your enthusiasm for cars and your storytelling. Even though it's been 34 years since I could've first taken my driving test, I've never even sat behind the wheel of a car. Yet the idea of driving coast to coast in the US remains a dream. Thank you, John, for the vicarious pleasure!
14:39 See the dirt patch on the hillside just past the CA. Line?
That's where the SKIPLOADERS
spread rocks on the road in winter as road safety.💥
YES! The cannonball content I've all been waiting for.:D
Seems like I’m at a campfire with an Uncle tellin me a story! Love ya JF! Same age as you and remember the elders telling stories. Thanks for the forgotten memories. Funny how you mentioned the state of Maine.
Fantastic video to watch. Great history lesson
Talks about the book Cannonball
Grabs the book out of view
Meanwhile book is in view on the shelf behind lol
I love this story, would love to see another event happen
Taking a step back to the founder, Brock Yates, I've always wondered why he had such a hard-on for the folks that made the movie Gumball? I'm guessing that it was some sort of a money issue (isn't that always the case?), but since Brock is no longer with us, it's one of those questions that maybe you had heard his comments on. I remember reading about the second Cannonball (the one he ran with Dan Gurney) in Car and Driver and was ALWAYS enthralled by the concept. Having read both Sunday Driver and Cannonball, it was easy to see that he had a special place in his heart for this event. It warms my heart that you folks have always treated these events with a bit of respect for the history involved, while also maintaining a healthy level of irreverence. I will eagerly await your following videos.
Choo Choo.... Priceless!
Such an awesome story! Back in the 80's, a local speed shop in North Charleston SC used to run a sort of "mini-cannonball" from their shop to Savannah, GA. I wanted to participate but the Mrs. put the definite ixnay on my outlaw adventure- I had kids to consider, she said. Nowadays as we are empty nesters, I'll bet I could talk her into one!
Love the trophy, great story too, thanks.
That hearse was amazing.
In my next life, I'm going to be on John's friend list.
Another great video John. You're definitely 1 of the Top 3 storytellers on VinWiki.
(you, Chris Michaels & Bill Warner 🥰)
Oh btw... could you talk Bruce Canepa into doing Vinwiki ????
Or have hum come on your own channel!!!😊
Thanks for the story John.
Reminds me of some of the dumb things I got into with mates when I was younger, We used to go on Burger runs in the Late 80's like Maccas runs 350km-ish just over the border to Albury NSW and then 350km back to an all night diner in Lonsdale st in the Melbourne CBD.
The high point was when we were hungry and decided to drive to a reputed Burger King in Perth, (Burger King was replaced with Hungry Jacks in Aus in the Noughties) Western Australia from Melbourne's Eastern suburbs in the Eastern State of Victoria.......
3500 km one way (2175 miles) from the East coast to the West coast in my 1972 ZF Fairlane and a mates 1972 Holden Statesman Caprice with our comedic relief entry being a Morris Mini Panelvan ..... The Nullabour Plains being long and boring as well as infested with hoppy marsupials but we made it in a bit over 40 hours except for the Mini which we left in Ceduna South Aus (Coz Broken)
Fuelled on 7/11 microwave delights, NoDoz, coffee and slurpees plus whatever we found in roadhouse delights its a trip I wont ever forget :-)
Magnificent! As always !!!
Brilliant! I wish I moved in the right circles to be involved in such fun stuff. I do, however, live a stones throw from that La Corneta, I think I will grab dinner from there.
Love it John Keep it up!
hey ficarra, how the ficarra?! (lol yeah, ill hit em with one he totally nEveR hEarD BeForE) lol love ya man, you bring a quality that is just more genuine than most other car story tellers for some reason. thank you for doing so and being you.
Scrubbing points for not tallying up the oil consumption of all the teams!!
Awesome adventure!!!
If there’s ever a chance for an iconic group fight like in the movie, my only goal is to kick someone in the face mid air.
US Spec Subarus were so strangled at that time. I've had several and they'd all go faster than that. I don't think I've ever driven one consistently flat out for so long though.
Thats extra cool tbh
I have that same HJC motorcycle jacket with the red and silver stripes.
What does hjc mean?
@@CrackedCandy I don't know. Its a brand name
As Shia Labeouf famously said... multiple times.. JUST DO IT! 🤘🏼
I did it by myself once and I almost went mad at the last few hours from sleep deprivation It was under 48 hours.. I don't remember exact time.
La corneta is the bomb
I work at the first 24 hour of lemon
Be fair John. There's quite a bit of stuff you gotten yourself into or started by accident. You are just that type of guy. I mean look at your collection of graveyard 928 or your 1JZ old Toyota that never really ran properly 😂
Just to let you know most of us was here to look at the car, you may wantvto show the car more then your face or rename video
Ok I have been looking forward to this vid.. and the vids to follow... excellent John.... This was great!