LETTERS
To The Editor:

Greybeards may remember the Cannonball Baker Sea-To- Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, an unofficial and illegal New York to California car race run several times in the 1970s as a backlash against the strict speed limits being implemented at the time. The "dash" took its name from Erwin George "Cannon Ball" Baker who, back in 1933, drove a car coast to coast in 53 hours and 30 minutes, a record that stood for nearly 40 years. In the 1970s, Baker's record was bested several times, and the final run of "The Cannonball," in 1979, was made in 32 hours and 51 minutes. A successor to The Cannonball, known as the "U.S. Express" race emerged, and in 1983, the last year it ran, a Ferrari 308 set a new cross-country record of 32 hours and 7 minutes. For the next 23 years, in an atmosphere of increased legal liabilities, increased traffic, expanding urban areas, and new technology available to law enforcement, the Ferrari record stood. Until October 7th, 2006. That's when Alexander Roy, an experienced rally racer, and co-driver David Maher, covered the 2800 miles in Roy's BMW M5 in 31 hours and 4 minutes, establishing a new unofficial record (understandably, neither the Guinness Book World Record people, nor any legitimate motor sports organization, would sanction such an event - but Roy has witnesses, date/time-stamped gas station receipts, and a stop watch which was started as he left NY, and flown to California and stopped when he arrived there). Roy avoided police and navigated the route with the help of multiple digital & analog scanners, jammers, detectors, two navigation systems, and other technology, as well as a Cessna plane to spot police activity along the route. The reason we didn't hear about this for over a year, is because Roy didn't want anyone to know of his feat until the statute of limitations was up in all the states he drove through (he averaged about 90 mph, occasionally doing 160 mph). Some will decry Roy's illegal actions on public highways and Brock Yates, originator of the Cannonball, no longer acknowledges any records or sanctions any attempts because of his concern that "somebody [might] get killed." Indeed, Roy himself has expressed similar concern. On the other hand, nobody was hurt, and those who believe there is no crime if there is no victim, might be inclined to admire Roy's meticulous planning, his extensive preparation, and his safe and successful execution. Well done, Roy, but please don't do it again.

Cordially,

Chuck Esposito

Suches, Ga.

To the Editor:

I was pleased to read that Tom McKevitt (letter, April 10), "is tired of politics" and that he needs "a sabbatical from all the hubris of the hustings vitriol." So, I am sure, will be many in the Fannin County/Copper Basin area, who cringed in sympathy for the poor gentleman who was the recipient of Tom McKevitt's cruelly personal attacks in the now defunct Copper Basin Prospector - all made in the name of politics.

Oh, and I am not surprised that Mr. McKevitt failed to mention the "McKevitt" who is the leader of the "Real I.R.A." I wouldn't want to acknowledge him, either, as a member of my family tree.

Sincerely, Ruth Elizabeth Ramsey
Speak your piece!
Send your letter or commentary to:
usentinel@gmail.com
Fax it to 706-781-1273 or drop it off at
the Sentinel office. All letters must be
signed for verification
purposes, names withheld
at discretion of the Editor.