In 1933 Erwin George Baker drove across America in a Graham-Paige model 57 Blue Streak 8, averaging over 50mph in 53 hours and 30 minutes.
The Cannonball Run, was an unofficial, unsanctioned automobile race run five times in the 1970s from New York to Redondo Beach, California. The initial cross-country run was accomplished by Brock Yates; his son, Brock Yates, Jr.; Steve Smith; and friend Jim Williams beginning on May 3, 1971 in a 1971 Dodge Custom Sportsman van, called the "Moon Trash II". They made it in 40 hours and 51 minutes.
In 1979 Dave Yarborough and Dave Heinz made it in 32 hours 51 minutes, in a 1979 Jaguar XJS - the record for the series of four illegal, "secret" races.
See the complete results here: Race Results
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannonball_Baker_Sea-To-Shining-Sea_Memorial_Trophy_Dash
http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=103&i=24687
http://www.cannonballjack.com/the-cannonball-dash/
http://www.cottonowens.com/Cannonball_Run.shtml
http://allamericanracers.com/first-cannonball-run/
http://www.cannonballjack.com/