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Brock Yates

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Brock Yates was executive editor of Car and Driver, an American automotive magazine. He was a pit reporter for CBS' coverage of certain NASCAR Nextel Cup (then Winston) series races in the 1980s, including the Daytona 500. He was also one of two commentators on the TNN show American Sports Cavalcade with Steve Evans. Paul Page and Don Garlits appeared on the show, but it was primarily Brock and Steve. Yates is a best-selling author, most frequently about automotive topics and motor sport, and a commentator for the cable television Speed Channel. Some of his articles and commentaries for Car and Driver magazine and other publications have had considerable impact within the auto industry and the general public, beginning with his 1968 critique of the American auto industry, its management and its products, "The Grosse Pointe Myopians." A recurring theme of his nonfiction work has been the way American automotive management has frequently grown arrogant, lost touch with its markets, and failed to respond to changing public needs and tastes, technology, and energy and environmental concerns.

1 Cannonball Run
2 Hollywood
3 Books by Brock Yates
4 External links

Cannonball Run

Yates, was inspired by Erwin G. "Cannonball" Baker, (1882-1960), who set several coast-to-coast records, to initiate the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. This cross-continent road race was a protest against the perceived loss of personal freedom in America, and speed limits in particular. The first run was completed as a reconnaissance by Brock and a friend traveling coast-to-coast in a full size van. The first actual race was won by Brock and Formula One and Le Mans winner Dan Gurney in a Sunoco blue Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. The duo traveled from New York to Los Angeles in a then record time of 35 hours, 53 minutes. In all, five Cannonballs were run between 1971 and 1979, though Yates never again won.

Hollywood

Brock Yates wrote the Cannonball Run film with the intention of the lead role going to Steve McQueen. McQueen, however, was diagnosed with cancer early in 1980 and died before being able to consider doing the movie. This series of circumstances led to another actor being considered, Burt Reynolds. It is well known Yates was not pleased with the final outcome of Cannonball as the film was originally written from a more realistic "true to the race" vantage point rather than the slapstick comedy it is generally known for. The race also served as inspiration for the movies The Gumball Rally (1976), Cannonball Run II (1984) (which Yates was notably not involved in). Brock Yates along with friend, director, and famed stunt man Hal Needham, also wrote Smokey and the Bandit II.