Cannonball - Definition and Overview

A cannonball is primarily the ammunition for a cannon.

Besides, it can describe eg.

• Experiment 520, a comic figure
• Erwin G. Cannonball Baker, (1882-1960), who travelled across the USA several times
• a series of movies based on modern versions of Mr. Baker's coasts-to-coast drives

Mister Baker crossed the USA from coast to coast on a motorcycle in 1914, west to east, which took him over 11 days. He bettered this several times, until in 1933, he needed less than 54 hours to drive from New York to Los Angeles, at an average speed of nearly 60 mph, using large parts of the new Route 66. This earned him the nickname Cannonball.

In the 1970, despite much better cars and roads, a general speed limit of 55 mph was introduced.

Brock Yates of Car and Driver magazine introduced the Cannonball Baker Sea To Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash to protest against the speed limit. The first race was won by him and former race driver, Formula One and Le Mans winner Dan Gurney in a Ferrari. They needed about 35 hours from New York to L.A.

Later on, several movies (starring Burt Reynolds and others) were made based on the real events during some of the Cannonball events.