Brock Yates, legendary automotive journalist, dies at 82


Brock Yates, automotive journalist and founder of One Lap of America and the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, died October 5 at the age of 82. "Today, after suffering with Alzheimer's for the last 12 years, my father finally succumbed," Brock Yates Jr. wrote on Facebook. "He touched many lives, but sadly no more."

Yates began his automotive career at Car and Driver, and served as editor-in-chief of the magazine in 1966. As a protest to the national 55-mile-per-hour speed limit, Yates came up with the idea for the Cannonball Run in 1971. The stated rules, according to Car and Driver: "All competitors will drive any vehicle of their choosing, over any route, at any speed they judge practical, between the starting point and destination. The competitor finishing with the lowest elapsed time is the winner." One Lap of America started in 1984 and continues to run annually.

Even in passing, the influence of Brock Yates will continue to be felt in the automotive sector for years to come. 

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