Carl Reese Sets New Solo Cannonball Cross-Country Record

The name Carl Reese may sound familiar to you if you follow cross-country driving records. During the span of April to October 2015, Reese set six long-distance records, though not on motorcycles. Still, no person since Erwin “Cannonball” Baker has set as many cross-country records in such a quick succession. The latest record, however, will be of much interest to motorcyclists. Reese completed the 2,829 mile trek from Los Angeles to New York City in just 38 hours, 49 minutes, beating George Egloff’s 1983 record of 42 hours by a considerable margin.

Said Reese of his feat, “There is a reason this record has gone unchallenged for over 30 years. Unless you have completed Army boot camp, it is difficult to relate the mental and physical exhaustion. The immense level of fatigue driving a motorcycle solo for 38 hours is like finishing a UFC fight, then getting hit by a freight train. This was far more difficult than any other transcontinental record I’ve set to date.”

Riding a BMW K 1600 GT outfit with mobile telemetry equipment from GPS Insight, Reese enlisted support from West Valley Cycle Sales in his home town of Winnetka, California. To validate his trip for proof of achieving the record and a possible documentary film, 13 witnesses, including transcontinental record holders and members of the TransContinental Drivers Association, and a film crew attended both the start and completion of Reese’s run. Funding is now being sought to edit a documentary about the ride.

Those who are interested in learning more about this and future endeavors by Reese are directed to follow his Twitter account, @EVRecordAttempt.