- Gumball 3000
The Gumball 3000 is an annual 3000 mile (5000 km) international rally which takes place on
public road s, which travels around the world. Although set up as a rally with no official timing, or prizes for reaching check points first, during the rally, some participants have been fined for speeding and other traffic offences by the police in countries they passed through, [cite web
url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2463539,00.html
title=Gumball Rally Racers Flagged Down by German Police
publisher=DW-WOrld.de
date=1 May 2007
accessdate=2007-05-04] cars have been confiscatedcite web
url=http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2007/05/justice_ministry_seeks_to_ban_road_rallys.php
title=Cars seized as Gumball 3000 hits Holland
accessdate = 2007-05-04
publisher=Dutchnews.nl
date=1 May 2007] and the 2007 rally was cancelled after a car participating in the rally was involved in a fatal collision with a non-participating vehicle. [cite web
url=http://www.visordown.com/motorcyclenews/view/gumball_cancelled_after_fatal_accident/743.html
title=Gumball cancelled after fatal accident
publisher=visordown.com
date=4 May 2007
accessdate=2007-05-04] Although the organizers are careful to emphasize that it is a rally and not a race, [cite web
url=http://www.budapestsun.com/cikk.php?id=24550
title=Gumball: 'It's not a race, it's a rally'
publisher=Budapest Sun
date=May 12, 2005
accessdate=2007-05-04] it is sometimes referred to as a race on public roads. [cite web
url=http://www.tijd.be/nieuws/de_wijde_wereld/artikel.asp?Id=2897918
title=Gumball Race stilgelegd na dodelijk ongeval
date=04/05/2007
accessdate=2007-05-12
publisher=De Tijd
language=Dutch] [cite web
url=http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=GO4ESLQE
title=Gumball straatrace met Tarantino dit weekend door ons land
date=14 mei 2005
accessdate=2007-05-12
publisher=De Standaard
language=Dutch] [cite web
url=http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2514276.ece
title=Gumball Rally's petrolheads come to the end of the road
date=5 May 2007
accessdate=2007-05-12
publisher=The Independent ] [cite web
url=http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flandersnews.be/News/070430_Gumball_Race
title=Police catch Gumball racers red-handed
date=30/04/07
accessdate=2007-05-12
publisher=Flandersnews] [cite web
url=http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/news/article1738200.ece
title=Gumball Rally pulled over
date=May 2, 2007
accessdate=2007-05-12
publisher=Times Online ]Founding of Gumball 3000
Gumball 3000 was founded in 1999 by
Maximillion Cooper . Cooper invited 50 of his wealthiest friends to take part in a 6 day 3000 mile drive aroundEurope , partying every night. The event started off with a wild party with some of Londons A-list includingKate Moss ,Guy Ritchie ,Billy Zane ,Chris Eubank ,Dannii Minogue .History
In 1933,
motorcycle racer "Cannonball" Baker crossed the United States from coast-to-coast in approximately 54 hours. In the 1970s,Car and Driver founder and editorBrock Yates started the "Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash " in his honor. The second race was won by Yates andDan Gurney , a formerFormula One and Le Mans driver, driving aFerrari Daytona. They needed about 36 hours to transit from New York to L.A. These events inspired the 1976 movies "The Gumball Rally " and "Cannonball", as well as sequels including "Cannonball Run", "Cannonball Run II ", etc. The "Cannonball" race eventually was canceled in 1979 due to a combination of media attention and pressure from political influences and police organizations who were concerned about road safety.Drawing inspiration from the 1970s race, the aforementioned movies, as well as the movies "
Smokey and the Bandit " and "Vanishing Point ",Maximillion Cooper revived the spirit of the old races in the summer of 1999 by combining the driving element with nightly parties and layovers at luxury hotels. The "Gumball 3000" has since captured public attention through celebrity participation and widespread coverage includingCNN ,MTV , theBBC , "Esquire" magazine, "FHM " magazine, and George Gurley from "Vanity Fair", who rode with 2003 "Spirit of the Gumball Trophy" winnerAlexander Roy throughMorocco during the 2004 Rally.Rally
1999
The original rally featured 50 of Cooper's friends, and travelled from
London , toRimini ,Italy and back, passing throughParis , with a stop at theChateau d'Esclimont . Lapping the Le Mans race circuit, a checkpoint followed at the Mas du Clos Ferrari Museum, before moving on toMonaco Grand Prix circuit inMonaco , the Ferrari Factory inMaranello , the Ambras Palace inAustria and the Hockenheim Grand Prix Circuit inGermany before returning to London to cross the finish line on Park Lane. The winner drove a 1963Jaguar E-Type . Other drivers included actorsBilly Zane in a 1965Aston Martin DB5 ,Jason Priestley in aLotus Esprit V8 andDannii Minogue in aPorsche Boxster .2000
The second rally was held in May 2000. Beginning at
Marble Arch inLondon and continuing to Stansted Airport, where all cars and people were airlifted to a private airport inSpain . The rally then progressed throughBilbao ,Cannes ,Milan , Hotel Bühlerhöhe Castle nearBaden-Baden (Germany ), the Nürburgring GP circuit andHamburg before returning to London. Notable entrants includeddrum and bass legend andJames Bond villainGoldie in anAston Martin V8 ,It girl Tara Palmer-Tomkinson in aJaguar XK8 , Great Train RobberBruce Reynolds in a Bentley, the indie band Placebo in aLagonda , theHappy Mondays all crammed into a 2+2 Jaguar, and Maximillion Cooper in the famousBentley Arnage 1WO.2001
The third rally, held in April 2001, featured 106 cars, including
Johnny Knoxville ,Steve-O andChris Pontius , the hosts of "Jackass", driving a 1989Jaguar XJ6 ; F1 World championDamon Hill driving aLamborghini ; comedianVic Reeves in aMercedes-AMG ;Lord Montagu of Beaulieu in a Blower Bentley andMaximillion in an originalShelby Cobra . The rally progressed fromHyde Park Corner in London toBerlin ,Malbork ,Vilnius ,Saint Petersburg ,Helsinki ,Stockholm andCopenhagen before returning to London.Kim Schmitz finished first in his MercedesBrabus SV12 Megacar. Select portions were broadcast as an hour-long "Jackass Gumball 3000 Special" onMTV and received the highest viewer ratings of the year.Fact|date=March 2007Ruby Wax also broadcast coverage of the event for terrestrial TV in the UK onBBC1 , and wrestled withChris Pontius .2002
The fourth rally was held in April 2002, the first to be held outside of Europe. Beginning in New York and finishing at the
Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles, the rally passed through a checkpoint at theWhite House inWashington DC before stopping inMemphis, Tennessee for lunch inElvis Presley 's Mansion,Graceland . After receiving aDallas Cowboys welcome inTexas , stops were made at theCadillac Ranch ;Santa Fe, New Mexico ; theGrand Canyon ; andLas Vegas, Nevada before the final stop at the Playboy Mansion inBeverly Hills whereHugh Hefner and playmates awarded trophies. Entering the contest were 175 cars, including a 1960s Corvette painted in the Stars and Stripes that received an award for best car, the 1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder similar to one used in the movieFerris Bueller's Day Off that was bought at a cost of over $1m just to take part in the Gumball, as well as Americanmuscle car s and modern daysupercar s. Fashion designerDonna Karan , modelsAmy Wesson andRachel Hunter , and actorMatthew McConaughey were among the participants.2003
The fifth rally was held in May 2003, with more than 100 cars beginning in
San Francisco , California with a finish line inMiami ,Florida . The rally passed throughReno, Nevada ;Las Vegas, Nevada ;Tucson , Arizona;White Sands, New Mexico ;San Antonio , Texas;Houston , Texas; andNew Orleans ,Louisiana . Featured entrants included Jackass'Ryan Dunn racing a rental car alongside skateboard legendsTony Hawk andBam Margera in aDodge Viper ,Bucky Lasek , Motocross World championsTravis Pastrana andCarey Hart , andsupermodel Jodie Kidd . Cars included a mix ofFerrari F50 s and 360s,Lamborghini Murcielago s, aKoenigsegg CCX supercar and Jesse James' customizedVW Eurovan .Alex Roy won the Gumball Spirit Trophy in his Team PolizeiBMW M5 , outfitted with German Police equipment. "Top Gear" reported that the Koenigsegg CCX holds the fastest speeding ticket in the United States, which allegedly occurred in May 2003 in Texas. It was supposedly 242 mph (389 km/h) in a 75-mph zone. The "Fastest Wheels" award was presented to Rob "Lonman" Kenworthy in a Porsche GT2, with the "Special Award" presented to Richard and Sue Rawlings, owners of a heavily modifiedChevy Avalanche .2004
The sixth rally was held in May 2004 in Europe, fielding 192 cars. The rally began at the
Eiffel Tower in Paris and transitioned toBiarritz ,Madrid , andMarbella before crossing theMediterranean Sea toAfrica . InMarrakech ,Morocco , entrants were guests of the King before returning to Spain for the Barcelona Grand Prix and finishing atCannes for the film festival. Former boxing world championChris Eubank drove a truck, while "The Pianist" Academy Award winning actorAdrien Brody favoured a Porsche, the 'Ai Ya' Boys rented aWinnebago RV, andRob Dyrdek and Big Black drove the rally in a rental car. Gary Lutke and John Docherty won the coveted Spirit Trophy in aCitroën 2CV , and the Style Award was presented toAlex Roy 's Team Polizei 144, dressed asRoyal Canadian Mounted Police . The Safety Award was presented to Torquenstein for surviving a near fatalDodge Viper crash in Morocco. An all woman team piloted by Allison Cornia ("MTrouble") and Cassandra Dungan (Porsche 911 Turbo X50) were awarded the Technomarine Timekeeper's Award. Former Champion jockeyRichard Dunwoody and journalistClement Wilson entered in a Volvo V70R and wrote an account entitled "Our Gumball Rally" published byVirgin Books , and the rally is documented on the "Gumball 3000" DVD.2005
The seventh rally originated at
Trafalgar Square onMay 14 ,2005 , and progressed 3000 miles from London toBrussels ,Prague ,Vienna ,Budapest , and onto toDubrovnik inCroatia . The cars then were transported by ferry toBari , Italy, followed by a transit of theTarga Florio circuit inSicily , before heading north toRome andFlorence . The finish line was in Monaco's Casino Square prior to the F1 Grand Prix. Participants includedDaryl Hannah , rock stars and supermodels driving vehicles ranging from the "Dukes of Hazzard " General Lee toFerrari Enzo s and Mercedes-Benz SLRs.The Spirit Trophy was awarded to Sue Bellarby and Kathy Huddart, whose
Caterham 7 broke down just shy of the finish line. The two were transported to the finish line by Gumball legendAlex Roy in his "Guardia Civil" Team PolizeiBMW M5 who finished 2nd dressed as a Spanish cop. The year's unofficial winners were Greg and "Kalbas" in a 2004 Mercedes CLK-DTM, who edged out a week-oldMercedes-Benz SLR McLaren because a tire was destroyed just short of the finish line.2006
The 2006 rally was the most ambitious of any Gumball 3000 rally, starting in London and finishing in Los Angeles just 8 days later. The organizers flew all 120 cars from Europe to Asia and on to the USA in 3
Antonov An-124 's and anIcelandair passengerBoeing 757 . The rally began onApril 29 ,2006 in Pall Mall, London, and continued on toVienna ,Budapest andBelgrade . The drivers then boarded a plane inSerbia and landed inThailand for the rally's second leg betweenPhuket andBangkok . The final leg occurred in theUnited States betweenSalt Lake City toLos Angeles , via Las Vegas, whereSnoop Dogg performed live at the Gumball party.Entrants included Jackass stars
Ryan Dunn andBam Margera , driving Margera's 'Billy Idol' customizedLamborghini Gallardo ;Tony Hawk ,Mike Vallely , and Rooftop Escamilla in a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8;blink 182 'sTravis Barker drove hisRolls Royce Phantom withSwizz Beatz ; Dirty Sanchez used a Japan-Tuning style Nissan180SX ;Dan Joyce ,Matthew Pritchard , andLove Actually starMartine McCutcheon drove a pinkRange Rover ; and American television hostMatt Johnston drove his custom 2006 Dodge Charger, among Gumball's regular assortment of eccentrics, celebrities, millionaires and billionaires from all over the world.Team Polizei's
Alex Roy & Michael Ross dominated Gumball 2006, arriving first in Belgium, Vienna, Budapest, Furnace Creek and Beverly Hills, even beating Gumballers that skipped the intermediate checkpointsFact|date=May 2007. Team Polizei, suffering from bothEd Leigh 's sabotage and accident damage in Thailand, did not participate in the Thailand leg and made a surprise visit to the Burmese border, where pictures were taken with border guards who thought Team Polizei wereUN inspectors.Fact|date=May 2007Torquenstein returned despite his serious accident in the 2004, driving a rally ready
Ford GT . Modifications included a smoke screen, lazer jammers, radar survalence and threeGPS unitsFact|date=May 2007. Torquenstein and navigator Dr Gruene (Eric Ward) arrived second inBelgrade , eighth inThailand and arrived simultaneously to finish on the final stage with the Team Polizei Bentley driven byAlex Roy and Michael Ross.Fact|date=May 2007The Spirit Trophy was won by Damian Williams, Richard Blackburn & Ezra Chapman of Team 15, who crashed a camouflage Rolls Royce Phantom at approximately 160mph just north of Belgrade. The team allegedly rode 500+ miles in a cab across Thailand, then received a brand new Rolls Royce Phantom in
Salt Lake City and drove to the Beverly Hills finish line. Upon arriving at the Playboy Mansion with the twisted grille from the first Phantom,Hugh Hefner presented the duo with a fitting trophy, a Gumball machine.2007
The 2007 route was scheduled to travel from London to Istanbul, via Amsterdam, Munich, Tirana, Dubrovnik, and Athens. Over 100 contestants were scheduled to drive through 16 countries in 8 days. The entrance fee for the 2007 rally was GB£28,000 (US$55,060) for first-time drivers. [cite web
url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=47234&in_page_id=7&in_a_source=
title=Gumball rally kicks off
accessdate=2007-05-04
date=April 30, 2007
publisher=Metro]Upon arrival on
April 29 in Holland, the Dutch police met the participants with 14 police cars and 7 unmarked cars. Seven drivers including rapperXzibit lost their driver's licenses for speeding 50 km/h over the legal limit and two cars were confiscated. The Dutch government has forbidden streetraces by law, although rallies that are performed within the law (i.e. participating in a rally without a competitive element) are not forbidden. [cite web
title = Justitie wil autorally's verbieden
publisher =nu.nl
date = 2007-04-30
language = Dutch
url = http://www.nu.nl/news/1061266/61/rss/Rapper_Xzibit_verliest_rijbewijs_tijdens_rally.html
accessdate = 2007-05-01 ] cite web
url=http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2007/05/justice_ministry_seeks_to_ban_road_rallys.php
title=Cars seized as Gumball 3000 hits Holland
accessdate = 2007-05-04
publisher=Dutchnews.nl
date=1 May 2007] The next day, the German police stopped about 70 cars for speeding violations; they were escorted off to the airport. A police spokesman told the media that the information about the route had been available on the official Gumball 3000 website. [cite web
title = Polizei stoppt 70 Luxuswagen bei illegalem Autorennen
work = FAZ.net news
publisher =Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
date = 2007-04-30
url = http://www.faz.net/s/Rub21DD40806F8345FAA42A456821D3EDFF/Doc~E1CF8C8600FE74B29B9C4EADEB4FFA9AE~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html
language = German
accessdate = 2007-05-01 ] After Germany, the rally was due to continue from Istanbul. The participants were flown to Istanbul, but the Antonov planes carrying their vehicles were diverted to Athens. [cite web
url=http://www.gtspirit.com/2007/05/01/gumballers-arrive-in-athens/
accessdate=2007-05-02
publisher=GTspirit.com
date= 1 May 2007
title= Gumballers arrive in Athens] The drivers were flown on to Athens, though four teams (Team Polizei, Team Turkish Taxi, Team Aytac, and Team 15) chose to drive the distance in other vehicles. [cite web
url=http://www.gtspirit.com/2007/05/01/team-polizei-driving-to-athens/
accessdate=2007-05-02
publisher=GTspirit.com
date= 1 May 2007
title= Team Polizei driving to Athens]On
May 2 , a traffic accident occurred near the town ofStruga ,Republic of Macedonia . The TechartPorsche 911 Turbo of Nick Morley and Matthew McConville hit an oncomingVolkswagen Golf , in court the prosecution alleged a speed of 161km/h [cite web
url=http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=70219&NrIssue=363&NrSection=10
accessdate=2008-08-31
publisher=MakFax Online
date=4 June 2007
title=Opposing forensics reports confronted at Morley's trial] (Other reports contend a speed of 200 km/h or more, while others doubt such a speed would be practical given the poor road conditions). [cite web
url=http://jalopnik.com/cars/commentary/fast-as-a-shark-east-of-eden-the-fall-of-the-gumball-3000-258147.php
accessdate=2007-05-12
publisher=jalopnik.com
date=5 May 2007
title=Fast as a Shark: East of Eden: The Fall of the Gumball 3000] According to media reports, they fled [cite web
url=http://jalopnik.com/cars/gumball-3000/gumballers-nick-morley-and-matthew-mcconville-arrested-after-hit+and+run-fatality-257447.php
title=Gumballers Nick Morley And Matthew McConville Arrested After Hit-And-Run Fatality
date=3 May 2007
publisher=Jalopnik
accessdate=2008-08-31] to a nearby border post in aBMW M6 withRussian car number plates , where they were arrested by the police. [cite web
url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007200615,00.html
publisher=The Sun
title=2 nicked for Gumball 'hit & run'
accessdate=2007-05-04
date=May 4, 2007] The casualties reported in the accident were the 67-year old driver of the other vehicle, Vladimir Chepunjoski, who died on his way to the hospital, and his wife Margarita Chepunjoski, who died in hospital from injuries sustained in the crash onMay 4 . [cite web
url=http://jalopnik.com/cars/gumball-3000/gumballers-nick-morley-and-matthew-mcconville-arrested-after-hit+and+run-fatality-257447.php
title=Gumballers Nick Morley And Matthew McConville Arrested After Hit-And-Run Fatality
date=3 May 2007
publisher=Jalopnik
accessdate=2007-05-04] [cite web
url=http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=66001&NrIssue=336&NrSection=10
title=Briton reported for accident near Struga gets 30-day temporary detention
date=3 May 2007
publisher=MakFax
accessdate=2007-05-04] [cite web
url=http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=10&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=66191&NrIssue=337&NrSection=10
title=Gumball Rally takes second victim
date=4 May 2007
publisher=MakFax
accessdate=2007-05-04
language=Macedonian] The organisers initially continued the rally despite the incident, in a later official statement the organisers stated that the clear details of the incident and confirmation of a fatality didn't occur until some hours after the briefing, at which point the decision to cancel the remainder of the rally was made. [cite web
url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070513183951/http://www.gumball3000.com/
title=A Statement from Maximillion Cooper
date=3 May 2007
publisher=Gumball 3000 Official website - cached by Internet Archive Wayback Machine
accessdate=2008-06-10]Nicholas Morley was released from custody on £17,000
bail , but was later re-arrested inSkopje while attempting to flee the country using aprivate jet . [cite web
url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2073487,00.html
title= Gumball death driver is held at airport
date=6 May 2007
publisher=The Observer
accessdate=2007-05-10] The subsequent court hearing found Morley guilty and convicted of "endangering traffic, leading to death" [cite web
url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20082851269671
title=Gumball Rally Death Driver Sentenced
language=English
accessdate=2008-08-31
date=June 8 2007] and was released from custody after receiving a two-year suspended sentence. [cite web
url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article1907125.ece
title=Gumball Rally driver avoids jail after crash that killed couple
language=English
accessdate=2008-08-31
date=June 9 2007] After the verdict Morley's family released a statement [cite web
url=http://jalopnik.com/cars/near-to-the-east%2C-in-a-part-of-ancient-yugoslavia/morley-family-releases-statement-post+gumball-verdict-267750.php
accessdate=2006-06-11
title= Morley Family Releases Statement Post-Gumball Verdict
date=June 11 2007] detailing its own expert's findings, which contradict those of the prosecution's expert. The statement also claims that the defence were denied the opportunity to present their expert's findings, which could contravene article 6 of theEuropean convention on human rights , the right to a fair trial. However, he did not appeal the verdict.2008
The 2008 10th Anniversary Gumball 3000 Rally will take place in August. Cars with neutralized carbon emissions are preferred and proof will be required. The entry fee is £60,000 ($120,000US). The start line will be San Francisco, proceed through checkpoints in Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, flight to
Nanjing (Drivers stopping over inPyongyang ),Shanghai , and finally finishing inBeijing during the 2008Olympic Games . Celebrities officially confirmed this year include:*
David Hasselhoff - former star ofBaywatch andKnight Rider
*Rob Dyrdek - skater and star of MTV'sRob & Big
*Alfonso Ribeiro - Actor best known asCarlton Banks fromThe Fresh Prince of Bel Air
*Tyson Beckford - Actor and model
*Joel McHale - Presenter ofThe Soup on E Channel
*Pete Wentz - Musician with bandFall Out Boy
*Jermaine Dupri - Rapper / Producer
*Loomis Fall - Drummer from punk band Wax, contributor to MTV's Jackass, and drummer for Scream for Me
*Chris Pontius - star of MTV's Jackass andWildboyz
*Bam Margera - skater and star of MTV's Jackass,Viva La Bam , andBam's Unholy Union
*Dimitry Elyashkevich - Director of photography for MTV'sJackass andWildboyz
*Bucky Lasek - vert skater and multiple X-Games gold medal winner
*Cory Nastazio - BMX rider
*Mike 'Rooftop' Escamilla - BMX rider
*Willy Santos - skater
*Paul Gray - Musician for the band Slipknot
*Tony Hawk - skater
*Antonio Esfandiari - Poker Player
*John Mayer - Singer / Songwriter / Guitarist [cite web
url=http://blog.honeyee.com/john/archives/2008/02/ford_gt_road_te.html
publisher=honeyee.com (February 29, 2008)
title=Ford GT Road Test
accessdate=2008-07-31] (didn't appear)Winners
Gumball 3000 does not publish time-based figures for participants, who, by their entry contract, are legally barred from time-based competition. The main award is the so-called Spirit of the Gumball Trophy, which is awarded to the competitor that came out of the rally as the most positive and uncontroversial.
However, unofficial time-based results are commonly compiled and verified on the internet by fans through ALK/Copilot GPS timelogs/tracks, from eyewitness accounts, and from the official forums of the Gumball 3000 Fact|date=May 2007. In 2005, Gumball 3000 signed a sponsorship deal with ALK-Copilot, who provided publicly-available method of tracking Gumball participants en route in near-real time. Each car was provided with a bluetooth-enabled GPS Navphone with a transponder, making it easier to track Gumball participants.
Official Spirit of the Gumball Trophy Winners
title=Gumball 3000 (PS2)
accessdate=2007-05-04]ee also:
*
Gumball 3000 2007 Accident in Macedonia References
External links
* [http://www.gumball3000.com/ Official website]
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