10 ms·

A team exploited the coronavirus pandemic to set a new cannonball record

32 points by ajay-d 7y ago

querez 7y ago
Any reporting about this should focus on dangers and law-breaking, while completely obscuring times and names of the involved. I realize that this is a website that's likely pro-cannonball that's reporting on this, but my question is: is it legal to do this, or could you potentially be held accountable for this in the US?
- unethical_ban 7y ago
  Using public roads as a racetrack (going above the speed limit) is illegal. Websites and hobby-enthusiast sites exist and report on illegal activity all the time. There is a magazine called "High Times" that is sold at Barnes and Noble, and has been since well before states started legalizing it. 2600 submits stories about people pentesting nuclear missle silos.
  - querez 7y ago
    I'm fine with the publication existing, my question was more related to HOW they report: It is unecessary to state the current records, or the names of the people who achieved this questionable "fame". Doing so will only instigate copy-cats ("oh, so that's the current number to beat, I've got this!"). This seems unprofessional, so I'm wondering if there are rules against such a thing.
tehwebguy 7y ago
> "If you hit a truck moving medical supplies and people die because of it, that's on you," he said. "People are counting on those trucks moving around right now. It's not funny." This can’t be a serious argument, there is always something more important happening than whatever record someone is breaking or whatever fun they are having.
- unethical_ban 7y ago
  It's actually the only argument with merit. The only risk you present to people when you are isolated in your vehicle driving is the risk of harming essential workers via accidents, the low chance of getting someone sick at a gas station, or getting into an accident yourself and needing medical assistance.
  - op00to 7y ago
    How about the gas delivery driver? They need to drive more to support your demand.
    - s1artibartfast 7y ago
      How about the food delivery drivers for super markets? They need to drive more than if we all ate rice and beans for every meal. How about the amazon delivery drivers?
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
badideaprojects 7y ago
I like the debate about whether it’s irresponsible due to covid-19 or not when this latest run had an 106 mph average speed.
- ghufran_syed 7y ago
  Right, if you're going to do it at all, it's safer to do it with less traffic, as long as you drive within your visibility. Which of course, is NOT the same as saying it's safe, just "less dangerous"
_bxg1 7y ago
What a weird thing to take issue with. "Getting out" isn't a problem if you stay in a car the whole time. You're still socially-distanced. Of all the "runs", this one probably presents the least danger to society.
- netsharc 7y ago
  Arguably people shouldn't be doing dangerous stuff because if they get into an accident, they might end up occupying hospital resources (ICU and/or staff) that could be used to treat someone suffering from the pandemic instead.
- op00to 7y ago
  Every activity you take outside the house generates waste, wear, demand, consumes energy, and puts more people at risk. This risk is deemed ok for life preserving activities like essential work, getting food, and exercise. Cannonball runs do not count.
  - uxp100 7y ago
    but that is all true with or without coronavirus
    - perl4ever 7y ago
      The societal issue with the epidemic appears to be the capacity of the healthcare system, so being "responsible" means, to many people, taking no "unnecessary" risks. Quotes to indicate that people can define these terms in different ways. But some things kind of stand out as egregious. And even if you just break down and have to call for assistance, you're requiring other people to take risk as a result of your non-essential activities, which can be viewed as antisocial right now.
      - s1artibartfast 7y ago
        My understanding is that aside from ventilators and ICUs In a few specific locations, Hospitals have record low utilization right now and are even furloughing workers https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/49-hospitals-furloughing-workers-in-response-to-covid-19.html https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/49-hospitals-f...
s1artibartfast 7y ago
This pandemic is quickly turning into an irrational war on enjoyment. Criticisms should focus on relative risk compared to other activities. I see similar judgements about other activities that can be done with little to no risk like hiking and fishing. Times are hard, but that doesn’t mean that everyone has to be miserable.
- anfilt 7y ago
  I know it is like some people don't realize epidemiological-ly what is important is staying away from other people. Hiking in remote area where there are no other people is not a problem. Driving for 26 something hours, and likely not interacting with anyone is not a problem. Your essential grocery store trip is a much risk of getting you ill or spreading illness... However, doesn't cannoning balling involve speeding? I think that's what people should be more worried about. It's not like the roads are a 100% empty.
  - op00to 7y ago
    Let’s say the person was asymptomatic but spreading. How many gas stations did they visit? How many potential exposures?
    - s1artibartfast 7y ago
      Probably 1 gas station for the return trip. They had expanded gas tanks to last the whole trip. Assuming they were infected and shedding but practiced reasonable safety precautions when they stopped, it is easy to have no potential exposures. Potential exposure is essentially 0 if you correctly wear gloves, a mask, and keep a reasonable distance
- tonyedgecombe 7y ago
  I'm not sure it is that irrational. If you haven't been out of your apartment for three weeks then seeing something like this go on is going to make you feel others aren't taking it seriously enough. Whether they are technically correct or not doesn't really matter.
BXLE_1-1-BitIs1 7y ago
The early Cannonballs were run when the interstate speed limit was 55; so, quite a speed differential passing. With a 75 limit in most western states and lots of drivers fudging 5-10 over, the speed differential has come down considerably. While there seems to be a "we should all don sackcloth and ashes" mentality among many, we may as well do what we enjoy so long as we maintain physical separation.
- op00to 7y ago
  No one is suggesting sackcloth. We are suggesting movies, weed, and sitting at home for a little while. Stop being so fucking dramatic.
thomaslord 7y ago
Not sure how familiar everyone here is with cannonball runs, but from more than 50% of comments so far being in favor of the driver I get the sense that some commenters may not be. I didn't see speed numbers for this run, but the first previous run that came up in my Google search had a top speed of 193 miles an hour. Personally I think this cannonball run was a very bad decision and posed increased danger to the drivers and to everyone on the road around them, including the noted issue of possibly hitting a truck carrying medical supplies. I take no issue with them going for a drive, but going for a potentially-near-200mph drive is a very, very different thing.
- Fjolsvith 7y ago
  Exactly. That driver should have stopped at every state line and self-quarantined for the mandatory 14 days.

32 points by ajay-d 7y ago

Any reporting about this should focus on dangers and law-breaking, while completely obscuring times and names of the involved. I realize that this is a website that's likely pro-cannonball that's reporting on this, but my question is: is it legal to do this, or could you potentially be held accountable for this in the US?

unethical_ban 7y ago
Using public roads as a racetrack (going above the speed limit) is illegal. Websites and hobby-enthusiast sites exist and report on illegal activity all the time. There is a magazine called "High Times" that is sold at Barnes and Noble, and has been since well before states started legalizing it. 2600 submits stories about people pentesting nuclear missle silos.
- querez 7y ago
  I'm fine with the publication existing, my question was more related to HOW they report: It is unecessary to state the current records, or the names of the people who achieved this questionable "fame". Doing so will only instigate copy-cats ("oh, so that's the current number to beat, I've got this!"). This seems unprofessional, so I'm wondering if there are rules against such a thing.

tehwebguy 7y ago

> "If you hit a truck moving medical supplies and people die because of it, that's on you," he said. "People are counting on those trucks moving around right now. It's not funny." This can’t be a serious argument, there is always something more important happening than whatever record someone is breaking or whatever fun they are having.

unethical_ban 7y ago
It's actually the only argument with merit. The only risk you present to people when you are isolated in your vehicle driving is the risk of harming essential workers via accidents, the low chance of getting someone sick at a gas station, or getting into an accident yourself and needing medical assistance.
- op00to 7y ago
  How about the gas delivery driver? They need to drive more to support your demand.
  - s1artibartfast 7y ago
    How about the food delivery drivers for super markets? They need to drive more than if we all ate rice and beans for every meal. How about the amazon delivery drivers?
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

badideaprojects 7y ago

I like the debate about whether it’s irresponsible due to covid-19 or not when this latest run had an 106 mph average speed.

ghufran_syed 7y ago
Right, if you're going to do it at all, it's safer to do it with less traffic, as long as you drive within your visibility. Which of course, is NOT the same as saying it's safe, just "less dangerous"

_bxg1 7y ago

What a weird thing to take issue with. "Getting out" isn't a problem if you stay in a car the whole time. You're still socially-distanced. Of all the "runs", this one probably presents the least danger to society.

netsharc 7y ago
Arguably people shouldn't be doing dangerous stuff because if they get into an accident, they might end up occupying hospital resources (ICU and/or staff) that could be used to treat someone suffering from the pandemic instead.
op00to 7y ago
Every activity you take outside the house generates waste, wear, demand, consumes energy, and puts more people at risk. This risk is deemed ok for life preserving activities like essential work, getting food, and exercise. Cannonball runs do not count.
- uxp100 7y ago
  but that is all true with or without coronavirus
  - perl4ever 7y ago
    The societal issue with the epidemic appears to be the capacity of the healthcare system, so being "responsible" means, to many people, taking no "unnecessary" risks. Quotes to indicate that people can define these terms in different ways. But some things kind of stand out as egregious. And even if you just break down and have to call for assistance, you're requiring other people to take risk as a result of your non-essential activities, which can be viewed as antisocial right now.
    - s1artibartfast 7y ago
      My understanding is that aside from ventilators and ICUs In a few specific locations, Hospitals have record low utilization right now and are even furloughing workers https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/49-hospitals-furloughing-workers-in-response-to-covid-19.html https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/49-hospitals-f...

s1artibartfast 7y ago

This pandemic is quickly turning into an irrational war on enjoyment. Criticisms should focus on relative risk compared to other activities. I see similar judgements about other activities that can be done with little to no risk like hiking and fishing. Times are hard, but that doesn’t mean that everyone has to be miserable.

anfilt 7y ago
I know it is like some people don't realize epidemiological-ly what is important is staying away from other people. Hiking in remote area where there are no other people is not a problem. Driving for 26 something hours, and likely not interacting with anyone is not a problem. Your essential grocery store trip is a much risk of getting you ill or spreading illness... However, doesn't cannoning balling involve speeding? I think that's what people should be more worried about. It's not like the roads are a 100% empty.
- op00to 7y ago
  Let’s say the person was asymptomatic but spreading. How many gas stations did they visit? How many potential exposures?
  - s1artibartfast 7y ago
    Probably 1 gas station for the return trip. They had expanded gas tanks to last the whole trip. Assuming they were infected and shedding but practiced reasonable safety precautions when they stopped, it is easy to have no potential exposures. Potential exposure is essentially 0 if you correctly wear gloves, a mask, and keep a reasonable distance
tonyedgecombe 7y ago
I'm not sure it is that irrational. If you haven't been out of your apartment for three weeks then seeing something like this go on is going to make you feel others aren't taking it seriously enough. Whether they are technically correct or not doesn't really matter.

BXLE_1-1-BitIs1 7y ago

The early Cannonballs were run when the interstate speed limit was 55; so, quite a speed differential passing. With a 75 limit in most western states and lots of drivers fudging 5-10 over, the speed differential has come down considerably. While there seems to be a "we should all don sackcloth and ashes" mentality among many, we may as well do what we enjoy so long as we maintain physical separation.

op00to 7y ago
No one is suggesting sackcloth. We are suggesting movies, weed, and sitting at home for a little while. Stop being so fucking dramatic.

thomaslord 7y ago

Not sure how familiar everyone here is with cannonball runs, but from more than 50% of comments so far being in favor of the driver I get the sense that some commenters may not be. I didn't see speed numbers for this run, but the first previous run that came up in my Google search had a top speed of 193 miles an hour. Personally I think this cannonball run was a very bad decision and posed increased danger to the drivers and to everyone on the road around them, including the noted issue of possibly hitting a truck carrying medical supplies. I take no issue with them going for a drive, but going for a potentially-near-200mph drive is a very, very different thing.

Fjolsvith 7y ago
Exactly. That driver should have stopped at every state line and self-quarantined for the mandatory 14 days.