The Cannonball Run brought cross-country racing into public consciousness. The Four Ball Rally marked its end. Both races represent the extraordinary skill and dedication of drivers who tested themselves against America's open roads. After Ed Rahill's 1984 run, that era closed forever.
You've probably heard of the Cannonball Run because of the movies.
The Four Ball Rally was a similar race — same era, cross-country outlaw race.
Here’s how the Four Ball was different:
Four Ball Rally and the Cannonball Run: The Difference
Brock Yates started the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash in 1971. Ran it through 1979. Brock was After starting the publication Car and Driver, and he put together something remarkable—a protest against the 55 mph speed limit. Got celebrities, media coverage, the whole thing. Dave Heinz and Dave Yarborough set the Cannonball record at 32 hours and 51 minutes in 1979. Those were exceptional drivers doing exceptional work.
By 1979, authorities shut it down. But some of us kept going, just quieter. The Four Ball Rally happened in 1984. We all knew it was the last one. Insurance companies were paying attention. Law enforcement had figured out how to coordinate across state lines. The window was closing.
The guys who showed up for the Four Ball Rally were serious. Not looking for publicity, just there to race. They'd spent years learning every road, every jurisdiction. Some of the best drivers I've known. I have tremendous respect for what they accomplished.
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