5. The initiated will give a heartfelt nod to this noble man. For many of us on the road may think of him in our journeys. He is a an inspiration, a hero, a person who has transcended the of the boundaries ordinary. All of us who love the road owe thanks to his contribution to American History. [Erwin George "Cannon Ball" Baker ]
10. Yates along with friend, director, and famed stunt man Hal Needham, wrote Smokey and the Bandit II (1980). Yates also wrote the screenplay for The Cannonball Run (1981) . The real life races also served as inspiration for two earlier films: Cannonball and The Gumball Rally (both in 1976). [Art imitates life]