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Two outlaw rally drivers, Alex Roy and Dave Maher, broke the unofficial transcontinental driving record during a secret 31 hour 4 minute run from New York to Los Angeles in late 2006. It was a highly illegal feat that involved speeds of up to 160 mph, and was achieved only after years of preparation, the use of a heavily-modified BMW M5 loaded with high-tech equipment including night vision cameras and laser jammers, and help of a spotter plane.  

A prior record for crossing the U.S. from New York City to Los Angeles of 32 hours, 7 minutes was set in 1983 by David Diem and Doug Turner during the US Express, an unofficial successor to the Cannonball Run. The record was unofficial and never documented or confirmed. When documentary filmmaker Cory Welles called it to Roy's attention, he decided he should be the one to break it.

Roy and co-driver Jonathan Goodrich completed a practice run in December of 2005, finishing with a time of 34 hours and 46 minutes. A subsequent attempt in April of 2006 added a spotter plane, but the failure of his M5's fuel pump ended the run in Oklahoma. On October 7th of 2006 Roy and replacement co-driver David Maher, a New York investment banker, embarked on another run. On this, the successful 31:04 run Roy claims 2,794 mapped miles and 2800 road miles - which he covered at an average speed of 90.1 mph. The run took place over Columbus Day weekend so as to meet minimal traffic, in part for safety; they also avoided any type of reckless driving such as tailgating, although they reached top speeds of 160 mph.

Roy's route, which hit only four toll booths, three or four red lights and only one close call with the highway patrol in Oklahoma, ended at the Santa Monica Pier.

The record was witnessed in part by Davey Johnson and Mike Spinelli, contributor and managing editor of the automobile blog Jalopnik. The time was recorded by a time clock which was punched as they left New York and flown to California before they arrived.

Roy waited for over a year before publicly disclosing his exploits, allowing any limitations on criminal statutes to expire. 

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