Wilt Chamberlain was also a man of legendary tales off the court. In his autobiography, ‘Wilt: Just Like Any Other 7-Foot Black Millionaire Who Lives Next Door’, Chamberlain recounted a story that showcased not just his athletic prowess but also his audacity and love for speed. According to Chamberlain, he once drove from New York to Los Angeles, covering the 2,964 miles in just 36 hours and 10 minutes.
“I once drove the 1,620 miles from the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City to the freeway interchange in downtown Los Angeles in 18 hours and 12 minutes — an average of 90 mph.”
“I’ve also driven from Harlem to Nob Hill in San Francisco (3,041 miles) in 42 hours flat, and from New York to Los Angeles (2,964 miles) in 36 hours and 10 minutes.”
“I always thought those had to be some kind of records, but a friend of mine — Dan Gurney, the race-car driver — told me he once made the New York-to-Los Angeles trip in 35 hours and 53 minutes. Of course, Dan had another driver along with him, sharing the load. I always go alone.”
In the book, Chamberlain detailed how he managed these seemingly impossible feats. He mentioned driving from Kansas City to Los Angeles, a distance of 1,620 miles, in just 18 hours and 12 minutes, averaging 90 miles per hour. His other remarkable drive was from Harlem to Nob Hill in San Francisco, covering 3,041 miles in 42 hours flat.
Chamberlain prided himself on doing these drives solo, without any help, a point of distinction he made when comparing his record to that of his friend, race car driver Dan Gurney, who completed the New York to Los Angeles journey in 35 hours and 53 minutes but with a co-driver.
Jerry West, Chamberlain’s former teammate and fellow NBA legend, shared his skepticism about these stories during an appearance on the ‘JAXXON’ Podcast.
“He could touch the top of the backboard… He ran like world record times in the 440, throw the Javelin when he was at Kansas… I think either the shot or the javelin almost world record distance. Some people were just gifted, It’s amazing.”
“In my last two or three years together, once Elgin Baylor retired, I think we played together I think two more years. And he and I went on the road. He was really a nice guy. And because of his size and everything, I think some players, at one time people weren’t very respectable of size. They weren’t.”
“But we had a lot of serious talks about things and we would have dinner in each other’s rooms after games and stuff. And so that’s why I don’t quite believe that story. He had a tendency to elaborate on things and make them bigger than life.”
“And he told me that he drove from New York City to San Francisco in 24 hours. No chance, he said he had a Ferrari. I said I don’t care, you can’t do it.”
West, who had many personal interactions with Wilt, remembered him as someone prone to embellishment. He recounted how Wilt once claimed to have driven from New York City to San Francisco in 24 hours, a feat that West found impossible, even with a Ferrari. Despite his disbelief, West spoke fondly of Chamberlain, describing him as a “nice guy” and acknowledging his extraordinary physical gifts, such as his ability to touch the top of the backboard and run world-class times in track events.
While the exact truth of Wilt Chamberlain’s driving exploits may be up for debate, they are consistent with his larger-than-life persona. Chamberlain was a man who lived big, whether on the basketball court, where he set numerous records or on the road, where he claimed to set his own. These stories, whether entirely accurate or slightly embellished, add to the mystique of one of the most fascinating figures in sports history.
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