On Sunday, October 8th, at 9:30 am, during our normal Cars and Coffee Darien event, we will take some time to dedicate a brass plaque commemorating Goodwives Shopping Center and the Lock, Stock, and Barrel restaurant as the starting location of the last real Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. There will be cars, food, music, trophies, raffles, autographs and more.
The 1981 film Cannonball Run movie was largely based on the exploits of the real-life people who participated in the race that left the Lock, Stock, and Barrel in Darien in April 1979. The movie, written by Brock Yates and directed by Hal Needham, starred some of the biggest names in Hollywood: Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Adrienne Barbeau, Terry Bradshaw, Peter Fonda, Jamie Farr, Mel Tillis, Bianca Jagger, and many others. Cannonball Run was a huge hit and inspired the sequel Cannonball Run II in 1984.
Come join us and meet some of the real-life Cannonballers and cars that inspired two movies.
So far, we’ve confirmed that more than a dozen of those Cannonballers will be attending this dedication, including:
- Pamela Yates who was the real-life passenger in the Dodge Transcon Medi-van; in the movie, she was played by actress Farrah Fawcett
- Brock Yates Jr., the youngest person ever to compete in a Cannonball. He was 14 years old, riding in the back seat of the Moontrash 2 Dodge Van in the first Cannonball
- Dennis “Mad Dog” Menesini became a legend when he ignored the traditional starting route (the road) and drove his ’79 Chevy dualie pickup truck up the embankment behind Goodwives and onto I-95
- David Yarborough who won the actual 1979 race that left from Darien with a record time of 32 hours and 51 minutes in a Jaguar XJ-S
- Judy Stropus who, along with Donna Mae Mims and Peggi Niemcheck, was a member of the “Right Bra” racing team; she was played on-screen by actress Adrienne Barbeau
- Wendy Epstein, who made the trip on 2 wheels. She rode a Suzuki 850 Motorcycle
- Also…Steven Fog (’79 Trans Am), John Harrison (’79 Lotus Esprit), Gero Hoschek (’79 Jensen Interceptor), Rick Kopec (’65 Shelby GT350), Jim Mullen (Ferrari SWB), Chuck Schmitt (’79 Eldorado), and Brad Niemcek, a veteran of Cannonballs 2, 3, and 4 (Dodge and Ford vans).
Many of the racers will be available for photos and autographs. Oh, and there will be some of the original Cannonball Cars. (We just can’t divulge which cars yet.)
We’ve been gearing up for this one all year. You don’t want to miss it.
As usual, season sponsors Riley Volvo, Riley Mazda, Riley Motorcycles, The Auto Spa of Fairfield, Stonewall Insurance Group, North American Motorcars, and Premier Auto Tag Services will be on hand. They’ll be joined by October event Sponsors Allstate Insurance Najmul Sumra, and M&T Bank. And of course, specialty food retailer Aux Delices will be open early for coffee and some truly delicious breakfast treats.
