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As the famous saying goes, ” Records are meant to be broken,” which proves to be perfect when referring to the Cannonball Run and its illustrious history of blistering attempts across the U.S. For those of you who may be unaware of the famous Cannonball Run, it’s a grueling east-coast to west-coast car sprint based on the 1981 American action-comedy film directed by Hal Needham. The challenge has since grown to feature diverse classes and categories, from diesel-powered participants to co-driver competitors and everything inbetween. Ed Bolian of VinWiki has grown to become the connoisseur of the Cannonball Run, even dominating a previous record in 2020 with co-drivers Dave Black and Dan Huang in a 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG. Today, Ed Bolian is excited to announce yet another record-breaking run on his newest VinWiki episode, set by longtime fan and passionate cannonballer, Chris Stowell.
Setting a new solo run record of 27 hours and 16 minutes, Chris chose a BMW 535d as the base of his build because of its fuel efficieny and performance. Hidden upgrades like an ECU tune, radar detector, front and rear laser jammers, and an extra gas tank were added with the intent of going back to stock and enjoying the BMW up to 250,000 miles after breaking the record. Preperation for the trip included some shorter test runs from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and San Diego to Jacksonville to ensure not only the 535d’s performance but also Chris’ readiness to take on the daunting challenge. However, it wouldn’t be the first time attempting the Cannonball Run, as his last left him stranded halfway with a flat tire. This time, converting away from staggered tires and adding a spare, Chris set off from NYC in the early hours of a Monday morning only to be faced with a check engine light throwing a fuel code by the time he got to New Jersey.
With the decision made to continue after assessing a one-time limp mode with a quick restart, the journey was on, and the BMW 535d continued making great time as it hustled through the day and night. The car’s torque and engine performance were meticulously monitored through a tablet so that Chris knew the overall health status of the car. Even having been pulled over in Oklahoma and followed by police in California, Chris Stowell was able to achieve his record-setting solo Cannonball Record time of 27 hours and 16 minutes in his modified BMW 535d. View alll BMWs for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below.
Source: VinWiki YouTube