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The Cannonball Run needs no introduction. If you’re a car enthusiast, no doubt you have heard of it. An urban legend, a race against the status quo, an illegal and stupendous cross-country street race, people’s views on the Cannonball Run range from pure admiration to controversial.
For those that don’t know, however, the Cannonball Run is a cross-state coast-to-coast drive from New York to California, the aim of which is simple: to set the fastest time possible. The issue, of course, is that it is highly illegal and thus competitors have to not only beat the clock, but also evade local law enforcement.
This was the exact concern for Alex Roy, who set out to beat the-then cross-country record of 32 hours and 7 minutes, done by David Diem and Doug Turner back in 1983. Whatever car he chose to face the challenge would have to be fast. Thanks to the passing of statute limitations, Roy released a film that documented his record-beating run, and with it came an explanation as to why he chose his weapon of choice: the ultimate sports sedan, a 2000 BMW E39 M5.
The E39 M5 Was A Sports Sedan That Was Stealthy And Understated
It is perhaps the most infamous E39 M5 in existence. But Roy didn’t choose the fast German sedan with a view to making it famous, he chose it to beat the-then Cannonball Run record for a few notable reasons, chief among which was its beautiful yet understated design.
This era of BMW had a simple, elegant, under-the-radar design language that meant, unless you were clued-up, the M5 could drive by without drawing too much attention. Remove the M badges and aside from the quad exhaust pipes and the style 65 alloy wheels, the E39 looked like an ordinary 5 Series.
The E39 M5’s ability to blend into traffic thanks to its understated design made it the perfect mile-muncher for Roy to use to evade law enforcement on his run. It was stealthy, which came in use when – on the run – Roy and co-driver David Maher narrowly avoided highway patrol in Oklahoma, no doubt due to the M5’s subtle aesthetic.
BMW’s All-Time Best M5 Had Sports Car Power Under The Hood
Stealth was one thing, power was another. To beat the Cannonball record, a fast car was needed for the job. The first to set the-then record, done by Dan Gurney and Brock Yates, did so in a Ferrari Daytona, because it was not good to arrive undetected, but arrive late.
The E39 M5 ticked the powertrain box from the outset. BMW’s M division placed an uprated 4.9-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine under the hood, which produced a whopping 400 bhp at 6,600 rpm. This allowed the sports sedan to do 0 to 60 in around 5 seconds, and go on to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. Mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, at the time it was the fastest M car ever produced.
This, though, was merely the foundations for Roy, who ended up upgrading the software to remove the limiter, allowing the E39 M5 to achieve speeds of up to 190 mph. Perfect for trying to cross 13 states in less than 32 hours. Given the bulletproof reputation of this era of BMW, the car could achieve those speeds without a hitch.
The M5 Was Easily Modifiable To Beat The Cannonball Run Record
So, the E39 M5 was understated, and powerful. But for Roy, the M5 was also the perfect modifiable platform to allow him and his co-driver to smash the record. Though the standard E39 M5 was known to have a stout and athletic chassis, Roy went a step further, upgrading the brakes, the clutch, and the shock absorbers to help maintain triple-digit speeds for hours on end.
Electronic mods were also a priority. Roy used the subtle platform of the E39 M5 and placed antennas on the trunk and roof for police scanners, CV radios, and ground-to-air radio communications with his spotter plane. On the roof, double white stripes were placed to make them easily identifiable for the spotter.
Inside the cabin was a technological gift basket. Radar detectors, night vision cameras, GPS systems, and police scanners were hooked up throughout to give the team their best shot at avoiding law enforcement just to beat the Cannonball record. The M5 proved to be the perfect machine to modify.
The E39 M5 Helped Roy Beat The Cannonball Record By Over An Hour
With the E39 M5 chosen for the job, both man and machine raced in unison, and in 2006 both Alex Roy and David Maher smashed the-then current Cannonball record with a time of 31 hours and 4 minutes; beating Diem’s and Turner’s record by over an hour. They had crossed 13 states at an average speed of 91 mph.
Part of their success was down to their skill as a driver. But arguably they could not have done so without the masterpiece that is the BMW E39 M5. A car that is timeless, well-engineered, hugely powerful, yet comfortable and understated. It is the pinnacle of BMW, and Roy choosing the sports sedan to beat the Herculean challenge of the Cannonball is a testament to the E39’s greatness. For, as promised by the ‘M’ badge on the trunk, the E39 M5 truly is the ultimate driving machine.
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