American car culture is a vibrant expression of freedom, identity, and innovation. From muscle cars to hot rods, it's deeply rooted in our nation’s history as well as the individuality of the driver. Enthusiasts gather at car shows and races celebrating performance and design; it’s a lifestyle fueled by passion and horsepower.
The Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, famously known as the Cannonball Run, is a daring, unsanctioned race that starts at New York’s Redball Garage in lower Manhattan and finishes at the iconic Los Angeles Portofino Hotel in Santa Monica. The race had no rules other than safety first and arriving as quickly as possible. The infamous Cannonball Run, wasn’t just about speed—it was about spirit, rebellion, and the thrill of the open road.
Conceived by automotive journalist Brock Yates, the run was both a protest against government regulation and a celebration of speed, skill, and nerve. Today, classic car collectors are breathing new life into that legacy, merging vintage style with raw performance. As these beautifully restored machines roar across the country, they do more than chase records—they honor the past, celebrate American craftsmanship, and prove that true automotive passion never goes out of style.
Alpharetta auto collector Greg Ellner has had a love of cars since he was a small child. “The car we ran in our first Cannonball, my 1978 Corvette, needed extensive preparation," says Greg, “we basically replaced almost everything in the engine compartment.”
Right seater to Greg’s driving is his partner Danielle Crawley. “We pack the car with multiple tablets so we can run a variety of traffic and GPS applications,” says Danielle, “those, along with a very good radar detector, were our 'countermeasures' against achieving a 'spirited driving award' from any law enforcement we encountered along the way."
”We left lower Manhattan at 8:30 pm and arrived at the Portofino Hotel, 2876 miles away, in 36 hours and 11 minutes,” says Greg proudly; “a cannonball is physically and mentally exhausting. It is a test of endurance. I assume it’s the same drive and will power that cause people to climb mountains and run marathons.”
“We are planning on other races,” says Ellner. One of the only rules of The Cannonball Run is that you can only talk about your own experience after the fact; oh and you cannot name names other than yours and you cannot discuss upcoming events. It really is secret driving club.