These individuals dedicated 5 hours to circling a roundabout for charity and were only stopped by the police twice.

      Jake Dwinell, left, and Jay Roberts take a photo after their five-hour roundabout trip. Courtesy of Jake Dwinell

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      A month ago, I recounted the story of Jay Roberts, a Cannonball Run enthusiast who set a new record for completing the trip with semi-autonomous assistance, utilizing his 2017 Toyota Prius alongside an aftermarket Comma 3X system. Earlier this week, Jay sent me a text revealing that he had taken on yet another challenge, and I briefly pondered what it might entail. Could it be a record in an electric vehicle or something completely unconventional, like a kei car? When he shared his actual achievement, it was evident that my thinking wasn't inventive enough.

      “On Saturday morning I established a new world record,” his text stated. “A ridiculous record for the longest time spent driving in a single roundabout. The previous record was 4 hours and 28 minutes. The new record is 5 hours and 3 minutes.”

      The following day, Jay and I connected over the phone, as I had numerous questions, starting with “Why?” If you've engaged with a Cannonballer before, the answer typically remains consistent: Because they can.

      “Well, about a month ago, a small group—around five or six of us—was chatting in a group chat and going back and forth,” Jay explained. “One of them, Jake Dwinell, shared a link to a news story about someone who had set a world record for continuously driving in the same roundabout, and their time was only 4 hours and 28 minutes.”

      “Being Cannonballers, we looked at that time and thought, ‘Oh, this is low-hanging fruit,’” Jay noted.

      So on October 11, Jay and his co-driver Jake set off to accomplish what I can only describe as the exact opposite of a Cannonball Run: driving for the most extended period while covering the shortest distance in a single-lane roundabout in Trumbull, Connecticut.

      Jay and Jake aimed for a time of 5 hours and 3 minutes, which they achieved to honor Brock Yates’ inaugural Cannonball Run on May 3, 1971. They also intended to raise $500 for the Brock Yates Memorial Fund, which supports Alzheimer’s research, ultimately surpassing that goal. As of this writing, the total stands at $1,118, and donations are still being accepted.

      However, their journey wasn't without challenges.

      “I can comfortably handle five hours in a car, no problem,” Jake said. “I can do that after work and then wake up and drive 18 the next day. This was far tougher than I anticipated. The centrifugal force kept you glued to the seat.”

      While many enjoy a pleasant road trip, a Cannonballer's idea of fun is often a 40-hour drive across the country. They usually don’t experience motion sickness. Unfortunately, it turns out that completing over 1,200 laps while only turning left at around 12 mph can be mildly disorienting. Jay mentioned he mostly focused on the driver’s-side window, occasionally checking the windshield to avoid other vehicles, which presented another issue.

      “On a Cannonball, there are many 100-mile stretches where you can just keep your foot on the gas,” Jake explained. “Or, even if you're someone who uses cruise control—which none of my cars have—you can set it, recline, and at least look around.”

      A roundabout that can be completed in 15 seconds with only one lane doesn’t offer much chance to relax your mind.

      “Jay and I stayed fully alert throughout the entire run,” Jake stated. “There wasn’t a moment when both of us weren’t completely focused on the road ahead because there were several close calls when pedestrians ran in front of us. It was amusing to see how some people really understood roundabouts while others struggled with them. You know, people stopping and waiting for someone to enter the roundabout—that’s not how it works. By the end, we slowed down a bit to allow some cars to merge. We’d be barely crawling through the roundabout, and they would wait for us to do another lap. Some cars likely did three laps with us before they finally merged.”

      You can watch a time-lapse of their five-hour journey above. Not only did the pair confuse and likely frustrate fellow drivers, but they also attracted some calls to the police, which is ironic for several reasons.

      “Legally, we weren’t breaking any laws!” Jay chuckled. “It's surprising for Cannonballers to do something that sets a record without violating any laws. Typically, we’re always speeding.”

      Jay mentioned that they had two encounters with the police. On one occasion, an officer positioned himself at the roundabout's entrance and signaled