LIVE: Autoblogger doing I-80 in 40 hours with Alex Roy
Click above to watch the 80 in 40 streaming live
When Damon asked if he could take two days off from blogging to do a cross-country road trip with his buddies, I wanted to break the news to him gently that it takes more than two days to drive across the U.S. of A. Then he told me his buddies were Davey G. Johnson and Alex Roy, the current record holder for doing a transcontinental run in 30 hours and 4 minutes, and that their transportation would be Roy's own BMW M5 "Team Polizei" car. Their plan is to travel the entire length of Interstate 80 from the George Washington Bridge in NYC to the Bay Bridge in San Francisco and then own down to Monterey for this weekend's events surrounding the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The pace will be a little slower than Roy's record run, with 40 hours being the target time from start to finish.
Of course, I released Damon from his blogging bonds and wished him well in his duties as co-driver. The trio began their trip this morning and are streaming a live feed of their journey on Roy's blog, Gumball144.com, as we speak. I just watched them pass a Doritos truck in Pennsylvania. (Be aware that the feed will go dark sometimes as their EVDO card hits an area without reception, and keep your volume down as they like to drive with the windows open.) Damon will be reporting on his experience over the next two days, so keep an eye out to learn what it's like to road trip with professionals.
UPDATE 1: Just to clarify, they are not racing across the country and don't care much if they miss arriving in California within 40 hours. They have also not been pulled over or "busted" as some commenters believe.
UPDATE 2: Damon's behind the wheel!
[Source: Gumball144.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Pips 3:53PM (8/12/2008)
hope they not gonna fall asleep......zzzzzzz~ huh...?
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Fasterthanyou 4:04PM (8/12/2008)
According to the feed on now, looks like they got busted
BirdmanSTX 4:20PM (8/12/2008)
That previously recorded feed shows them on I-40. I thought this trip was on I-80... it may be showing an old clip because they're not able to broadcast live right now. Not sure.
John Neff 4:32PM (8/12/2008)
Yes, when their EVDO enters a deadzone, the player shows a prerecorded bit that has nothing to do with their drive now.
pwr 4:07PM (8/12/2008)
Two drivers? That's cheating.
My own best time is 40 hours, 50 minutes--granted, that's on the shorter I-10 route, San Diego to Jacksonville. But, on a motorcycle.
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jihaa 4:08PM (8/12/2008)
That's so not legal...
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jihaa 4:13PM (8/12/2008)
But I envy them.
John Neff 4:34PM (8/12/2008)
They are not doing anything illegal, they're just driving a lot. Unlike Alex Roy's record run, they're just shooting for 40 hours and not breaking any traffic laws. Their plan is just to not stop driving, which they can do with three drivers.
zmf001 4:36PM (8/12/2008)
The only thing not legal is the way they are driving. They can make the trip in the proposed time without driving dangerously.
I really enjoy challenges like this, and have done many of them myself. One key rule on any challenge is to not do anything to endanger yourself or others in the process. Taking risks to complete the challenge is not worth it.
Mbuku Kanyau Mbithuka 4:08PM (8/12/2008)
They got busted. Moral of the feed. Do not break the law, you will get busted.
I hope their car is consificated, and their lincense withdrawn, What were they thinking, speeding on public roadways like that?
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Goat Law 4:30PM (8/12/2008)
I do hope your a kidding. Unfortunately I fear you are not.
John Neff 4:33PM (8/12/2008)
Just talked to Damon on the phone. They did not get busted for anything. You probably just saw them pullover to pee or something.
wonkydonkydotnet 4:40PM (8/12/2008)
I thought that vid that's up now is him and Maher from the record run when they pulled into a gas station???
Is it not some default vid they left up for when they're in a blackout area???
Martin 4:09PM (8/12/2008)
Earlier this year I did a run from the coast of massachusetts to san diego, ca in 47 hours in a hyundai elantra. I took the southern route, 95, 84, 81, 40, 30, 20, 10, 80 because it was winter. I recommend everyone do it once. and only once
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havoc 4:13PM (8/12/2008)
google says that is a 2561 mile trip, which over 40 hours is only 64.05 mph
good luck going 64.05 mph at the 80/580/880/x80/maze
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Seoultrain 4:35PM (8/12/2008)
going 80 through the flyover states should help.
Geeky1 5:17PM (8/12/2008)
Hell, 64.05 nothing. If they get to the 80/580 etc. during afternoon rush hour, they'd be lucky to hit 6.405mph through THAT mess.
zmf001 4:27PM (8/12/2008)
I-80 end to end is approx 42 hours at the speed limit. If the goal was to get there in 40 hours, I don't think you would have to do more than 5 to 10 mph over for the majority of the trip. Pack food in the car, stop only to use the restroom. If you drive like an idiot, and get pulled over, you'll never make it.
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Marty 4:30PM (8/12/2008)
Thank you for providing a live feed of someone knowingly speeding and performing other activities, not to mention having illegal police lights and other items installed on the car. I'll be sure to pick up the phone and relay that information to the highway patrolmen and let them be on the lookout for a BMW M5 approaching sections of I-80.
If they cause an accident, or just simply get pulled over/arrested, I'd like Autoblog/AOL to release Damon from his position.
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John Neff 4:37PM (8/12/2008)
Again, as other commenters have pointed out, they don't have to recklessly speed to make this trip in 40 hours. They can do it going with the flow of traffic like everyone else and stopping to pee and switch drivers. Also, they won't speed just to make it in 40 hours, as that is a target for fun and there are no consequences if it takes longer than 40 hours.