April 17, 2003

Real-life Cannonball Run.: "A five-day, helter-skelter dash to reach Miami [from San Francisco] before hundreds of other cars cross a transcontinental finish line" and "a rolling party and road race that brings together millionaire dilettantes, minor luminaries, speed freaks, celebrity-seekers and former centerfolds." This is Gumball 3000.

posted by worldcup2002 to other at 12:00 AM - 10 comments

Why is this not on TV? Mama!

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:02 AM on April 17, 2003

I've known dozens of people that do this. You need huge cash to be officially involved, and a lot of balls if you're not (and of course hotel reservations). It's absurd, they'll blow past cops at 140 without caring, cause the people that do it are usually foreign. My friend Dado did it in an e36 M3 (that has since been stolen) and came in close to first.... but those with huge sums of cash are those that win... it's really just absurd the things these people do. It's like a few grand just to enter... Similar to this is the Players Run... basically the same deal with less variety on the routes...

posted by Bernreuther at 02:15 AM on April 17, 2003

If only I could drive or had any money whatsoever.....I'd still not bother. Looks like a self-publicising wankfest for rich wannabee rally drivers. Still, each to their own I guess. *Grouchiness may be related to hangover*

posted by squealy at 03:34 AM on April 17, 2003

If only i didn't have to work for the man to pay for my bills that seem to get bigger every fucking month...then i would do this thing... Work, consume, work, consume...

posted by StarFucker at 08:42 AM on April 17, 2003

There was a Jackass episode a while back in which the usual Jackass suspects tagged along with one of the drivers through the whole Gumball 3000. Pretty amusing all in all.

posted by ttrendel at 09:03 AM on April 17, 2003

I wonder if they'll let Honda Accords enter..

posted by corpse at 09:25 AM on April 17, 2003

I think Johnny Knoxville was actually on their website right on the front page, for a while (if not now, haven't clicked). I never understood the idea behind dropping huge amounts of money just to participate, but I guess that buys exclusivity and snobbiness and parties each night along the way. Squealy, you're pretty much right about it...

posted by Bernreuther at 11:31 AM on April 17, 2003

After further consideration, I have to agree w/ squealy there. This thread is no more fun. I was thinking Burt Reynolds and Penelope Pitstop but it really is just a bunch of rich jackasses. This thread is over.

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:01 PM on April 17, 2003

It may be over here, but it's just started at Metafilter. And not even a credit. I'd engage a lawyer if I were you wc2002.

posted by squealy at 01:21 PM on April 17, 2003

First ESPN steals my greatest sports movies idea and now MeFi grabs Gumball3000. I'm being robbed blind, I tell you. Robbed! Can I get Lara Flynn Boyle from The Practice? Or the lady DA from Law & Order? Oh yes.

posted by worldcup2002 at 01:39 PM on April 17, 2003

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