The Villain Of Cannonball - Fred Ashmore's 25:55 Cannonball Run Record Breaker

Ride along with Jason OldeCarrGuy Carr & John CustomCarNerd Meyer as they put this episode into gear with Cannonball Run Record Breaker Fred Ashmore.

After Fred Ashmore's Record Breaking 25:55 Cannonball Run, in a rental car, during COVID, the controversy started to rev up. Rumors were abound that he didn't actually make the run and that his evidence of the run was faked. Officially, there are no rules in Cannonball. So how did Fred break the rules of the Cannonball Run? Jump in for the first of 3 episodes and  hear the story directly from the rule breakin', record breakin' man himself!

So, is Fred Ashmore a Cannonball Villain or THE boot strappin' everyman's hero of Cannonball? Let us know what you think!

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Transcript

Transcript

You're listening to the Get Out N Drive Podcast with John Custom Car Nerd Meyer and Jason Olde Carr Guy Carr. We'll be bringing you gearheads, everything you never wanted to. Know about cars. And why they should be on the road and not in your garage. Are you ready to get out and drive?

And welcome back to a blazingly fast episode of the Get Out and Drive podcast. I am John Custom Car Nerd Meyer.

And I'm Jason, Olde Carr Guy Carr.

Jason, have you driven across the country? Have you driven across? I know you've driven across Canada. Have you driven across the United States like like shore to shore? Have you driven that yet?

Ashamed to admit I've never even done it across Canada. I've flown it a few. Times, but never.

You've you've never driven across Canada. No, I mean, I can't even. Think how it would be as somebody who settled the West to drive in a wagon. And try and explore the Louisiana Purchase from where I am in Saint Louis all the way. To the to the West shore. Much less being able to do it now in a car. Get in the car and you're on the East Coast. And all asks as fast as possible. To the West Coast. I I've I've. I've never even driven across the country, much less do. I know how. Fast a person could drive across the country.

What do you figure you and I could? Do that. Just, you know, we're on a time crunch. We need to make it to LA and. Just just drive what, 3-4 days?

Maybe I I would probably think it would be 3 or 4 days. I mean, I have to stop to pee. I mean, I have to get hamburger. I have to do all sorts of things. I have a tiny gas tank in my car. There's a hundred things. That would keep me from going fast. I I know a while back. I ran into a man named Fred Ashmore. And I don't know how we tripped over each other on Facebook, but I've always been a fan of the movie Cannibal Run. I've always been a fan of. Watching and and watching the Cannibal run record from the red ball. I think it's. I can't remember where it is. It's Santa Monica pier. I think and and but. From from sea to sea and and watching the record from the cannonball. Go on that route and get it shorter and shorter and shorter and during. 2020. There were very little police service on policeman on the road. There was nobody on the road. Car wise. Everybody was on lockdown and everything. Well, Fred thought it was a great idea to get in his car. And just break the record. Fred and I got to talking about things and I asked him to get on our podcast and amazing. He's on with us tonight. So welcome. Thanks for hanging out with us, Fred Ashmore.

Thanks for having me here guys.

Brent, I heard you like to be record-breaking fast at certain things like the cannonball Run, so I thought we'd start this episode off with a segment we call done in 60 seconds.

OK.

We want to get in the head of the man that broke the Cannonball Run record.

Sounds good to me. Let's go.

OK, John, set the timer. 
 The first question is what's your Favorite car movie? 
 Gumball rally 
 
 Second question. What's your favorite car rental agency?
 Definitely avis.
 
 What's your fastest Speed that you've ever driven?
 204.
 
 What's your favorite car to get out and drive?
 My Mustang GT.
 
 How many times have you driven The Sea to Sea? 
 Seven
 
 Your must have food for a road trip? 
 Beef jerky.
 
 The car you took your driver's license test in?
 Ford Bronco 2.
 
 EBay, Facebook Marketplace or RacingJunk?
 Definitely marketplace.
 
 What's the first car you've ever owned? 
 Ford Pinto. 
 
 And back to the future, 1, 2 or 3?
 Number one, baby.
 That's right. That's a classic. Now I think it's time we get into this podcast.
 Perfect.

Fred kind of lead us into and tell us about how you got involved with Cannonball and how it led up to your 25:55 record for sea to sea, which is your current. You are currently the fastest person to drive solo across the country. That's right.

That is 100%.

OK, kind of lead us in there.

And I hope you guys. Got time cause it's a long.

That's what we're here for, man.

You know, really it all started with a used car sale online. Can't run for his Craigslist or marketplace. Back in 2008, 2013, 14 had a car online for sale. It was 1971 Mustang boss 351. And a guy reached out from New Zealand and he just really liked Mustangs. We got talking a bit about them, kind of different. You know you don't always click with people from other countries, or sometimes you think they're spamming. Yeah, but we just developed a relationship and what I really didn't know is just kind of vetting me. And then he popped the question. Ask me if I'd be interested in participating in a cannonball style event that he was going to put on for, you know, Pre 80 cars and things like that, and I was I was along for the ride. They had started out. With being a whole bunch of people and then just came down to be 3 of. Us my vehicle. I was gonna take malfunction the night I was leaving, so I had to go back home, pack up from Maine. Left late drove from Maine. To New York, to California by myself. Well, I say nonstop. Meaning I didn't stop and take rests or breaks or anything I got in my truck 8:00 AM in Maine and drove to New York City to meet the guys who had already left by noon and drive across the country. And that was really my first. You know, soiling. Of the cannonball, you know, community to kind of. What would you say? Initiation is it? It was sort of punishment. It's not an easy drive, especially by yourself. And it was really interesting because there was a couple people that wanted to be there because they heard I was driving so far by myself. And to me, it was an unusual I just figured if I didn't do it, I would kind of be letting the program down. And you know, not participating. Like I said I would and. It turned out to be addicting and I wanted to build in the Galaxy the 63 1/2. It's basically a street legal stock car. It has fiberglass fenders that I built. I made the block, we made the fenders, made the hood, made the trunk, has a Crown Vic front clip in it, 4.6 police interceptor. Engine. They put 200 gallons of gas in the back seat of it and showed up in. This really was where my pinnacle of cannonballing changed. I thought I was showing up as a very welcomed person. People wanted me there and I was doing something that hadn't been done before, a nonstop run from New York to LA picked up a random guy for a copilot, and we took off across the United States in this, you know, 4700 pound bomb and. You know things are going great and we really. Felt good about. Everything and I had some copilot issues and it came down to the fact that my copilot hadn't. Done it before. He was very just nervous sleep deprived. Once you get in, you really don't what you're signing up for. So we got to the Portofino. We finished up, I came home, drove back by myself. And I planned on. So we made it with the first ones ever to make it. Non-stop in an event which. The Polish racing team tried to do back in the 70s. So we were able to accomplish that feat, and at the time I was petitioned by the organizer doing a 365 run and to my knowledge that was something that they were putting out there. I mean accomplished. So it was kind of a pre 65 record. We beat the other pre 65 car by like 3 hours. 1st and. We accomplished non-stop. So to me. It was just kind of a pat on my back. We did something that somebody hadn't done before. I really was racing as much as I. Could, but I also had the goal of. Making it nonstop, so it was a balance of. Or try to win and run out. Of fuel or and not make it at all, or just try to break the non-stop. So we went, went with that route of the non-stop and that's where my. Contributions to the cannonball world. We'll put it mildly. Went to hell in a handbasket. So basically what I told is. You build a new. Car you don't show. Up so. I did what they called. I built a bazooka to bring. 10 nice sight. Found a car down in my Cocoa Beach, FL. It was the Miami vice TV show car. It was a 1979 Mustang wide body. And I said to. Myself, I'm going to go buy. The rules 100%. I'm going to build it for $3000. And I am going. To build the craziest $3000. Automobile you ever saw? And when I showed up, it was kind of like Larry Bird walking into the locker room during the three-point shootout his second year and looked in the locker room. And it's kind of like looking around, seeing who's gonna. Finish second, it wasn't. A matter of if we were going. To win or not it? Was a matter of if we were going to break or not. And we went out with that car and blistered the USA. Travis Hilton, my brother. Great, great team and. Then again, we got across the finish line record time that was. The pinnacle of me racing event races. And from there on out. Was when I decided I was. Going to go out. Break the solo record so that that sums it. Up in a little bit. And the time in the. Mustang was 3147. And that was. About 20 minutes faster than the other race records that that were out there for the cannonball route, so we felt pretty good about that. And just kind of a bunch of controversy started after that and I decided that year I'm gonna go out. And do what I can to set as many records as I could in one. Run and that's where. The whole 2555 run came from.

You know, Jason, we sure get to. Talk a lot. Yes, and some of.

Us more than. Others who me? I'm not pointing.

Any fingers. Yes, you are. Well, we want to hear from our listeners. Just go to our website, getoutanddrive.com. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the listener hotline button. We want to hear from you pool stories breakdown.

Stories, questions, comments. Hate. Mail, even hate.

Mail even hate mail. You get a. Car show in your. Area let us know, let.

Tell us an interesting story.

Know what you like to get out and drive.

You had mentioned rules. And to my knowledge there generally wasn't that many rules related to Cannonball. Maybe you can fill our listeners in on what some of those rules are to qualify a car for the cannonball.

Well, the cannonball rules as Brock Gates established back in the 70s. Was there's no rules. And that's pretty. That's the only rule. In Cannonball is there's no rules. But when somebody like me shows up all. Of a sudden the rules start coming out. And one of those things was safe. 50 with the Galaxy, they're worried there's too much fuel in there and they didn't get to vet my car and go over it and. And they all didn't know who I was. And some of the guys had run in the 29 O four before and, you know, really just some of the people just started applying things that didn't necessarily matter. It was more to me on a. Personal level than. It was, you know, my car. It was kind of like one of those things. Well, I'll beat him in the tech. Shack. Let's not. Sort it out on the race track type. Type stuff, so the rule kind of came as. There had been no accidents in Cannonball and they didn't want me to be. The first one. So let's regulate him down and reel him in back to the rules and. Probably the one rule. That I could say was. Was given was the car had to cost $3000. Or less to build or buy, and you could make improvements to it from there on out. But the car had to. Be 1980 older than 1980 and that was that was the rule older than $83,000. And that's what it was. So when I went and got the Mustang, the Mustang I. Hauled off for junk. And I hauled. It to Maine and then I bought a 2000 COBRA, stripped the COBRA out, sold the Cobra body, kept the parts, bought an 88 or for the engine out. Put everything together, built it. In my garage. I think we got down the whole cost of. The car was like 2700 or some. From selling the parts from the cars that I bought to build the car, so the whole that whole, that whole cannonball car was built for like $2700 out of pocket and that's painting it. That's all the letters, that's. You know the. Whole ball of. Wax. So those are really. The two rules that were there, but I started realizing that as you said. There's no rules in Cannonball. But it all depends on. Who's cannonballing if there's rules? Or not so.

Do you think the fact that you were bootstrapped grassroots kind of guy, do you think that's kind of detrimental to how people feel about you?

I really think that's a lot. To do with. Me a lot of people like to say. That they're, you know, bootstraps, you know? Put their pants on one leg. At a time guys I. Don't have a lot of money. It's how I use my money. I use my money wisely in the areas that my expertise. Are and my thing is when I walk out to that garage right out there, I've, I've done what everybody said I can't do. I went out and build a car and my commercial shop. Back home moved out here to Oklahoma. Work on the floor. With Jacks and Jack stands just. To prove people to people, I don't need a commercial shop to be. That I think you're 100% correct, that's really what chats and masses when Fred shows up to compete because it started out as the, Oh well, you know, you're the guy that's got a commercial garage. You're the guy that's, you know, you got all the tools, you got this. And I said no. OK, so I'll go build one on the floor out here and not only. That I'll build it in 30 days. So I have to agree 100%. My dad really raised me in the sense that rely on nobody but yourself to do things. And he's an amazing guy. He's down here right now in Oklahoma visiting. And I really got that from him. If you want something done. Do it yourself. If you if you can find somebody else to blame it on, then you had time to do it. Do it anyway. They really look at me and. They're like, how do you get so? Much done in one day. And there's days where I think I'm lazy and my wife will be like you've done more in a day than most people do. Week the talk is about what I do rather than what they could accomplish if they just spent the same time working as they did talking.

You know, looking back at some of. The, not just. The movies that Hollywood has kind of editorialized for the cannonball Run. But looking back at a lot of the documentaries that are out there and the stories that people are telling. It seems to me. The people that do the type of people that do the cannonball run, it seems to be a little bit of a all boys club or a there's a certain elite, a type of person that I don't. I don't know what that looks like, but maybe it's money. Maybe it's influence or whatever happens to be. That seems to do that. And then along comes young Fred Ashmore. From Main, who's just gonna go and take the bull by the, you know, what? And just do it his way and all of a sudden because he's not a part of that club. They don't like it. So First off. I commend you for stepping up to the plate and doing what you're doing and showing up those guys who have put so much more time, effort and energy into it when it comes to doing that now, you said your dad was down there with you and I always like to find out a little bit about, you know, where does the influence come from to some of these people. That we interview. And I think based on what you're what I know. Well, your dad has been a big part of that. Tell us a little bit about your dad and his support for you with what you're doing with, you know, with these cannonball runs and everything. That you've done.

So first of all I want to thank you for calling me Young because I don't necessarily call myself young even amongst the guys that I can involve with I I'm 47, be 48 this year, but my dad from day one, I can tell you stories before I was in grammar school of foolish things that. I always tell the story about the pumpkin, where I was out in the garage. Just a little boy and was out helping my dad. We didn't have a family truck, so. He was building all. And he needed parts in town. He worked as a mechanic at the local Lawdy shop and straightened frames and one Saturday around Halloween time. My dad says hey Jr. he calls me Jr. because his name is Fred also and he says. But please remind me to measure the pump. In, before we go to town and get parts because we only can go to town once because we don't have a lot of a lot of time. So I walk in across the batting boards that are over the mud puddle between our little driveway and our house, and climb into the walk into the house. And I say to my. Mom, I said. I need the pumpkin. And she says the pumpkin. And I think I'm being helpful. I I'm. And I'm, I mean I am. I am a kid, less not even in grammar school, so I'm we're talking 3-4 years. Old walking around. And my mom looks at me and I. Said Dad said he needs. Pumpkin, my mom looks at and she trusted me. She had no idea why 3 or 4 year olds asking for a pumpkin, so she grabs it. And of course, you know when you're that size, the pumpkin seems like it's this big, and here I am, kid wrestling out through the door and she opens the door and I walk out. And my dad looks at me with this quizzical look, and he's like. What on earth are you doing with the pumpkin out here? And I said, you said you needed to measure the pumpkin before we go to town. I didn't know what pumpkin was. I pumpkin was something. You did Jackal Lantern out of, so he looked at me and he laughed and he. And that's when he, you know, started understanding that I was retaining knowledge at a very young age. He I'm sure he either made me take the. Pumpkin back in the. But that's one of the youngest stories I have about working with my dad. People, people always try to tell the story. I cut my teeth on the ranch or, you know, whatever kind of foolishness. But I can tell stories of, you know, pre grammar school out in the garage with my dad helping him do stuff. I grew up around Fords and I was kind of a Ford kid, and my dad finally told me he said, you know, you need to understand if you're gonna like cars, you have. To like every car. You know for what it is each car. Has their you. Know contribution and so that influence with him. Broaden my horizon. And it broadened my horizon in a way that it opened my brain up that. You know, with all these cars out. There what was going to be. My big influence as far as what I was going to do with it down the road. As my time went with him and we wound up building the family shop when I was 12 and you know, we built it. I mean, we dug the hole, we built the forms, we poured the concrete. We didn't have the money to hire anybody, so my influence with my dad goes way beyond cars and that's. How I wound up on. The working for HGTV was. When I applied for that job. It was from a random guy and I was like, hey, I'd like to put my hat in the ring and the guys like. Fred, you know, you know, come on. You know it's you're a car guy. And I'm like, no, I I can build houses and he's like. OK, come on down. So, I. Went down and I was actually the first person hired for the show. And he was blown away. When I went to the show. That we put out a product better than everybody else, he's like, how is this possible and he? Said my dad. My dad. Taught me how to do. And if you wait on somebody, you could. Be doing it? And that was my whole motto to life. You know, if you have time to wait for some, you have time to do it yourself. If you have time to do it over you. Had time to do it right to start with and. That's where he really. Instilled in me. He talked to me the other day, he said. You know, he goes. I do all these projects. And I never get them done. And I looked at. Him and I said, Dad, you were never here. To get a project done he looks at. Me kind of funny. I said I was here, put here to finish the projects. And he kind of laughed. They said you. Don't like finishing? Out they said you. Work on him to a point. And then you get tired of it. And I said your mind has moved on to something else. I said so I can finish them. Then your projects done and him and I work so well together. And we know what she's each other's thinking as he's got older. And as I've got older, obviously that balance has changed. But the influence he's had so much over me. Is the can do attitude which is the CB he was a he was in the military for 30 years of CB and it was a can do attitude and he instilled that in me at. A young age. And I have always. Wanted to be the best at whatever I do because. If you're not trying to. Be the best. Then why are you doing it? So maybe that sums it up, maybe it doesn't. As far as the cannonball and the racing. My dad told me how. Else, in a long time ago, he said. Everybody who gets out and drives. Should have a motorcycle license for their first year and he looked directly at me. And he pointed at me. And he said, and you need. To stay off. Of him. So he knew that there. Was a little firecracker inside. Enemy but he. Knew if I got on a motorcycle, I probably wouldn't be here giving this podcast, but that that got me into stock car racing calmed me. Down got me. Off street racing and as I got older and top fuel raced around the country and I raced on dirt, asphalt, ice and the cannonball just kind of fell into. My elder years of being able to do something I can do by myself and not have to have a crew not have to have a ton of. Help and just have the can do attitude well. It if you can do it, I can do it and that's really his biggest influence has. Been on me.

But what time was what? What year was that, briefly, about being on HGTV?

So I got hired in HGTV January of 2020 before my record run and it was completely on a. Whim of just saying yes. Yeah, I was. I was only afraid, you know, I don't know if this is for you, and I just. I pushed. I'm like, well, let me give it a shot. Worst case scenarios are going to say no, we don't want you or I'm not going. To live up to your expectations. When we went to. Film the 1st. Show they cancelled 20 minutes before I pulled in the driveway. COVID hit. On my way to Gulf Shores to film, I had hauled down from Maine with my camper, so they put the show off and we. Wound up filming the next year. And then that fall, I was hired by St. Outlaws and I built all the cars for farm truck in Asian on the show with Jeff Lutz and Ed, and that morphed into another show. And then we filmed the first season of battle on the beach next spring. Did the street outlaw gig? And we just filmed another TV show last November. So just kind of, you know, rolling with the punches, you know? As things go. The TV part of it is great, it helps you know pat the bank. Account in between you know. The foolishness of driving across the USA or chasing old cars, but you know, I've had a lot of good things happen to me since my initial. Interview back in January 2020 and right now I'm under a shopping contract with the company for my own show, so that stuff's all great and I'm one of those guys. I do whatever I can to make things happen, and if it doesn't happen, I just move on.

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 So Fred, you and I, you had mentioned your age you. And I are. The same age I called young for like cause. I like being. Called young. I wanna know. I wanna know. Who is Fred Ashmore? Who is like, how did you get to where you are today? Let's go back 25 years. 30 years ago. You're just getting out of high school. You're starting to pursue a career in. Where did you start? What brought you to where you are today?

That that's probably one of the. Toughest questions because I think when we. All we all get out of school, especially where I grew up. I grew up in Maine. I'm not. I'm not sure if a lot. Of the listeners know. That I grew up and was born and. Raised in Maine and lived there. For the most part, until I was in my early 40s. And Maine is a lifestyle. It is not for everybody. Everybody's really out for them themselves, meaning, you know, you've got to figure it out for yourself because people aren't gonna stand there. And do it for you. So when I graduated high school, I had made the mistake of concentrating on more friends than my grades. And I still graduated you. Know close with honors and stuff. But I didn't have the. Grades that I should have had. And I had planned on going to GM I engineering school in Flint, MI. However, because I didn't pay as much attention to my grades. I kind of let that dream slip away. But I always say. Things happen for a reason and for some reason that wasn't the path I was supposed to take because I didn't do what I needed to do to get there. I mean, that's my fault. That's all me. I don't blame anybody. I had a really odd childhood. I never missed a day of school in my entire life, so never, ever was I late, tardy missed a day, was sick, and that's grammar school high school, college. So never in all those years that I missed school. I was an active Eagle Scout. My dad was a Boy Scout, so I was an Eagle Scout, was a varsity in four sports, and just had that drive to try to do everything. And then you walk across the stage and they go, congratulations, world, yours. And you're just standing there. I don't know how to balance the checkbook. Don't know how to save for my future. I just took a job. In locally I worked in the shop some and a friend of mine knew I was a good ranch. He hired me and then I. Decided well one. Of my buddies talked about going to College in Laramie and I signed up and signed my life away at 23.6% interest and got a. Student loan and went to. Went to Laramie, which really was an eye opener for me. I didn't have money. The kids I went to school with were pretty well off I. I was in a dorm room and I couldn't afford anything. I thought I could get a job there, and unfortunately they would not hire kids that went to that school due to issues that they had had with the school. So I thought I could get a job and I couldn't. So strangely enough, everybody talks about ramen noodles. I couldn't afford ramen noodles. I I sold parts swapped and traded and sold parts and did kids homework and I ate vanilla cake the whole time I was in college. I would bake a cake in the oven. I'd have all the ingredients. And that's what. I would eat. I would eat a couple. Two or three. Pieces of cake a day. That's how I made it through college, and I rebuilt my motor to my truck. That broke all the way out there. They wouldn't let me work on it in school. I rebuilt it in the back of a 57 Chevy panel truck. In the middle. Of the driveway and put it all back together. And my dad flew out and I graduated. 4th or 5th in my class it was. An interesting experience, but it was eye opening cause it really kind of told me who my friends were and who my friends weren't. And I walked to school sometimes. I  walked in Laramie and then when you say you walked in the winter, uphill both Ways it was. About 5 miles to school and I would walk. In the snow. To school and I was still get there on time. I have. I had got accolades for, you know, perfect attendance. I was class student, I didn't graduate top of my class unfortunately because. I had been in the field long enough. We're always or never wasn't an option. I knew of options, so I'd challenge a teacher or and they'd say, well, you know you're right. We'll give you. Credit for that. But the material says this, and then you'd have six or seven other kids go. Well, I got it wrong. Too, so I should get credit. And they're like, no, he has. The experience and he can give us a. An example so I didn't graduate top of my class, just very eye open experience. I came back and went into the dealership world, thought I was gonna be, you know, the next big tech get the. And unfortunately, I fell right in the same hole. My dad. Did in the military. I had too much knowledge, too much hands on ability and they wouldn't send me to school. They wouldn't advance me, they wouldn't pay me any more money. I was always fixing stuff because I could fix stuff and. They relied on my ability to. Fix anything, it didn't matter. What it was I fixed toilets. In the dealership on time. And they didn't pay me anymore because it made more sense to send somebody who didn't know anything. So they didn't have to pay me more money and make me any give me any. Value to anybody else. So me as a person. That's kind of the nuts and bolts of how I got to out of college and where I started. And beyond that I've always been. Just a person who's. Been by himself, if you ask my dad, he would, he would say. I've always been a person. That's by myself to myself, I drive across the country and don't listen to radio very, very many times in my life. Found myself very lonely. And you know, that was my own doing, I. Don't consider myself. Is somebody that's. Depressed because I don't get depressed. I there's to me there's depression is an excuse in my in, in my book, if you aren't making yourself happy, that's your own fault. And but a lot of times my mind works 1,000,000 miles. 2nd and if you were really wanted to understand Fred Ashmore, understand that I'm having a conversation with you right now and I'm thinking about 400 other things. And so that's the way mine. Mine works all the time. So I could be building a truck in my head while I'm talking to you and that a lot of. Times sits me. I'm not going to say an outcast or a standout. But it makes me. It makes me different, usually from the people that I'm hanging around with, and that's where I've always had is an issue fitting in is I give everything 200%. The reciprocation gets to the point where it's all on my shoulders, and there's no more. There's no more help or there's no more interest or it's all put on me. So that's who I am really as a. Person I Like everyone, I don't hate anybody. And you know, people might think I do, but I don't hate anyone. Hates. So I want somebody to live in your head, rent free and you know, I don't do that. That's it. Takes up too much memory and I'd rather save my memory for foolish car builds or. Or dumb things I'm going to do, but.

You know I got, you know, had a child out of wedlock, 25 raised her as a single dad. Probably the best thing has ever happened. To me, you know. I couldn't ask for a better kid. I did the best I could as a father. I raised her, went and got custody of her on my own against an attorney I represented myself. I wound up having, you know, primary custody, primary residence. And when I was done with the attorney, he was paying me child support. They were paying me child support so. There's a certain amount of me that I consider myself articulate in the way that I build things I think of. Things I'll think. Of 1000 ways to build something. Before I build it, and while I'm building.

It so I'll start Building it and say, like, oh, this might not have been. The best idea we may need to. Change this up and as time went. Fun I always needed something in my off time, like my relationships. I've been in the past. I was always 100% in until the person wasn't 100% in anymore and to me I'm very, very lucky guy. I'm married now. My wife is a great lady. She sees the stuff I do and she's very supportive. I told her. I told her the. Other day I said, you know. If I had met you earlier, we probably wouldn't have been compatible, but we met each other at the right time where she was compatible to me and the things I was doing in life, and she's very supportive and. We're friends and she loves dogs. They just got home so.

The thing is That mean that means said about her is we have a relationship that is very. Complementary of each other and that's what I needed at this. Time in my life. So, Fred Ashmore, let's think maybe I should do a 60 second round of ask Fred. So, loner rebel James Dean, I guess. But Mary, I guess maybe sums me up kind of 10 miles in the. Racing world as far as. You know, you put it all out there, but you don't necessarily get along with. Buddy and by no means am I saying I'm 10 miles. I'm saying similar personalities in the realm of don't always go with the flow. Sometimes I'm the resistance in the river so.

Well, it well, it sounds like you're going to have a big banner on your tombstone that's going to say Fred Ashmore. Just do it.

Oh, like I get with my luck, I get sued by Nike. It's gonna mine my up Right.

That's gonna say Fred. The four letter word, that's all. It's gonna say. Died so. Because that's usually what people say when I show. Up to an event or something. It's a. It's not Fred, it's the other four letter F word because. They, they know, are going to have their hands full. In some capacity, though.

Well, that's good. I'm, I'm glad. And I see you as a person. And from what we've talked and what we've interact. And with it just seems like you are very much a just do it person and figure out how to do it. If you don't know how to do it initially, you're going to figure out how to do it, and if you see something as a barrier, it's not a barrier, it's a hurdle and you're going to get over it, and that's what I've seen in you. Through all of our dealings lately.

I call it I. Would call it a goal, not so much a hurdle, but a goal.

And that's very important. And all of those things seem to be what you're trying to do. And I applaud you for that. Talk to us about. 25:55.

25:55.

How the, how and where?

The how and where 25:55. Was supposed to be 25 flat. Let's start with that. So I wanted it to be at the at the lease of 25:30 and that's really. Where the whole thing start. After the 2019 Sea to Sea as a lot of people know, I was not a happy individual, just a bunch of cloak and Dagger BS being played with a bunch of people. I was tired of it because I'm a racer. I put my full heart into everything and I don't like rugs pulled out from under me or. So 25:55, they came as a big middle finger to some of the stuff that had taken place. Over the last few years it started with, you know, my wife and I went out to dinner with a cannonballer And his wife and we were talking and he said to me. He said we had had the conversation at the 2019 sea to sea and. The conversation was you. Know what would you break the record in? And I talked about a charger and using a charger and. Then I looked at. A Ford police. Car as I. Was sorting things out. We were at dinner and he said, you know, you really need to break this record. This this record is yours for the taking. I felt the record was obtainable and it was a matter of I started planning it out and started talking with my brother, the ifs, the whens, the wheres, what we were going to do it in. But then Gulf Shores happened in 2020, which is where I started talking to Fergie about the job. For HGTV, we all got together. I can't involve a bunch of lobster from Maine down the Gulf Shores. And fed everybody lobster right off the shore of Maine all the way to Gulf Shores. I think it's there's light. It was a foolish time. We had a weekend down there and I was just being Fred. I was. I'm happy and go lucky. I never say no. I have fun. Do whatever and we got on some go karts and. I pull open on them and I mean a whooping to the point where. People were posting and people were asking so. Who won? Who won the go? Kart race and they just said ask Fred because it was that bad and things like that. And I'm a gangster. You know, I like to hook it up. I like to have a good time and laugh and play and have fun. And I didn't realize there was any issue. You know, I I just trying to bury the hatchet. 19 and move on, and apparently there was a lot more going on behind closed doors than I realized. And so, you know, we all went home, went our separate ways. And I was at Gulf Shores. And they shot down the show. I got talking to Fergie and they said I need to go to the dealership. And since I'm not going to run a hellcat, I'm going to have to see if I can buy a **** pack charger. So I went right down to Gulf Shores motors and. I bought a brand spanking new **** pack charger. I had a choice between black and silver and by the time I made my choice the black one was gone, so I would. I'm not gonna say I stuck with silver because I love Silva. And but I wanted it to look like a police car and my brother and I had designed. A way to refuel while. The car was moving. So the idea was we were going to refuel the car. I was going to build. A tank system to put in the back. Seat and we were. Going to refuel the car while it was mobile. And that way to cut out stopping at all. I had it. I had it figured out where we could have a couple box trucks that would block traffic to keep them behind us while we refueled. And then then we could take off. So we had it all planned out. We had that all set up. And I had, you know, signed the signed the preliminary. Papers and stuff to purchase the car. And it was time for me to go home. I had. I would. Need to get to Oklahoma? I wasn't sure if I could go to the Northeast and it was time for me to start, you know, putting crunching the numbers, you know, getting the stops together, organizing people to help me with this. And I got a phone call. And that phone? Call changed every. Like changed everything Fred Ashmore has to do. With Cannonball, that one. Phone call and nobody seems to want to talk about. The phone call. But a good friend of mine and I told him at the time that. I would disclose who. Told me or anything else, it's come out that a very good friend of mine, David Simpson. It's all out there now, so it's not. Being hidden and. Dave didn't call me. A lot at the time. We knew each other and. Well, let me do a. Little back history between David and. I so when I built the Galaxy. The one with the 200 gallon tank. Dave really did not like me. He thought I was an arrogant jerk. And he bet me. For pink slips that I couldn't beat him across the USA. Lo and behold. I beat David across the USA. And jokingly when he arrived at the Portofino, I had a cold Coors Light for him, and I said you can park my frigging car over there and so. We laughed about it. We joked and I just said, David, I want. Your car, it's games and ship. You know, I love to joke. I love stuff like that. And I kind of was like, why is? David calling me. And he says to me, and he goes fried. He goes I. Wouldn't normally call you? He says that this is business. And I said, OK, you know what? You need you need a hand with some. Cars, you know, we need some stuff. All what's going on and he says about your about your run coming. Out and I said OK. I said, well, what's going on? And he said, well, he said, you know, there's some talk that. People are going to call you in. Well, what do you? Mean, he said. Well, you need to not tell anybody what you're running for a car or what you're driving or when you're. Doing it and anything else. And I said. Well, you know, that's common sense. You don't tell anybody I said. But you know, I'm going to get some spotters and I'm. I'm going to. He said try, I'm telling. You this isn't me. Just. Calling to talk to you. This is me telling you that. There's some people in the community that do not like you and it has been said out loud. The verbally that if they can find. Out when you are doing. Your run, they're going to call the police on you. Like I need to. Be told not to put it on my Facebook. I'm racing across the USA at 150 miles an hour from New York. I mean, do you really think that? I don't know not to, you know, have a plane with the banner on the back saying Fred’s cannonballing today? I was ****** ***. And I said, who said it? And he said. I've told you this. This is all I can tell you, he said. It is a significant. Group of people in the cannonball community. That changes everything. It changes the whole dynamic because. At that point. I'm friends with everybody. In the cannonball community, or so I thought. You know, I thought Gulf Shores kind of swept it under the rug. You know, we're all good. I had been at a cannonball party the night before. I drove down. So I told everybody I was going. To buy a new. Yeah, I really didn't know. I I'm sitting here as this. Like I said, I'm kind of a lone wolf. Kind of an odd man. Out I'm sitting here trying to think. And I've got a guy who's told me. You can't tell anybody, but I'm not gonna. Tell you who you can't tell. So I'm stuck. I I'm really stuck, you know, Street Racing has become a very big offense in the US, so when you have people Who are out There doing the same exact thing. But they're gonna call you in. That's a game changer, so. Now I've got a car I'm supposed to go back down Gulf Shores and pick up. I've got to call the car company because everybody knows. I'm running a dodge. Charger and now I've got one on my credit report because I'm supposed to go get it. So I gotta call Gulf Shores and say, hey, sorry, not buying this. And now I'm like, what can I buy? What can I use? What can I, you know, cause at this point now COVID closed everything down. So dealers are pretty much not taking any stock, not seeing any customers. I'm kind of like. What? What are my options?

Right before we go any further, I we know where this is going, but before our listeners find out where this is. Going let's just do a quick recap. There's a. Record to be broken. And Fred Ashmore is setting his mind to do this. You're talking to a lot of the right people. So you think you're in with the right people, so you think you get to the point where I'm planning this right down to the car that you're going to do the run in, you get a little bit of news. From buddy that says you're in trouble. To some degree by something somebody said. And now you've got to scrap everything to that point and I can just imagine how ****** *** you would have been. Like you said, you know, like now all of. A sudden you've got a point to prove. And you've got a job to do, but now you've got no car because you've had to cancel that sale. You don't want anyone to know what you're driving, where we go from here. What's the next step? To planning this run, where do you find a car? 
 
 
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