A cross-country road-race is situated on an actual function, the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, coordinated by Brock Yates to protest the 55 mph speed limitation then essentially in the U.S.. The cannon ball was named for Erwin G."Cannonball" Baker, who in the roaring 20's shook his bike throughout the country. Many of the characters derive from ruses made by real Cannonball racers within the years that the function had been run.