Australian Car Becomes Outlaw Racing Legend in a Cross-Country American Sprint

• Three drivers cover 3,760 km in just 23 hours and 35 minutes
• Modified Chevy SS Commodore hits speeds over 270 km/h during controversial run.
• Custom fuel tanks and high-tech monitoring systems enable record attempt.

When most people think about automotive breaking records, they usually picture a meticulously timed lap at the Nürburgring, not an outlaw-style race across the US. But for three American drivers, that’s exactly what went down. Armed with a black 2017 Chevrolet SS — America’s rebadged version of Australia’s dearly departed Holden Commodore — they embarked on an audacious coast-to-coast run, rewriting history (and a few traffic laws) along the way.

The ambitious journey from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Diego, California, started when Bronson Justice shared his record-breaking vision in a video posted on VINwiki. He selected Christopher Michaels and Rob Spectre, and planned the safest possible route for their high-speed run with every aspect of the journey decided, from fuel stops to traffic patterns.

Engineering the Perfect Beast

This wasn’t just any old SS taken off a used car lot. Under the hood, the factory 6.2L V8 (which was already a beast with 309 kW and 563 Nm) got some serious upgrades. A chipped camshaft was discovered during pre-run prep, which led to a full cam swap to ensure the engine could handle prolonged use at triple-digit speeds.

Aerodynamics and stability also got a tune-up. The suspension was lowered to keep the car glued to the road at high speeds, and a radar detection system was installed to help dodge unwanted encounters with law enforcement. But the real game-changer was the extra 83-litre fuel tank, which helped reduce pit stops and gave the SS the endurance to match its speed. The modifications allowed the car to reach 270 km/h at one point — the highest speed during the journey.

Race Against Time

The team left Jacksonville, Florida, for San Diego, California, at exactly 12:01 a.m., hoping that the overnight start would help them avoid early traffic. But the journey wasn’t smooth for long because they navigated through busy cities like Houston and San Antonio where they faced congestion even in the early hours. Their radar detection systems and real-time traffic monitoring helped them weave through urban areas without sacrificing their 167 km/h average speed — well above the US’s highest speed limit of 137 km/h.

The journey wasn’t without heart-stopping moments. A police stop resulted in a speeding ticket which forced them to adjust their route and timing. Later, a concerning noise and vibration from the rear indicated trouble – a delaminated tyre that could have ended their attempt or worse. The team quickly jumped into action and changed to their spare tyre in record time, knowing every minute counted toward their goal.

Back on the road, the team relied on a Mission Control crew tracking their every move, guiding them to optimized fuel stops for high-octane refuels and providing real-time weather and traffic updates. Finally, after 23 hours and 35 minutes of intense driving, careful navigation, and more than a few close calls, they completed the 3,760-kilometer journey.

While it may not be the legendary Cannonball Run, this retired family sedan proved that even discontinued heroes can still write themselves into automotive history — even if that history comes with a few speeding tickets attached.