Somebody posted some video links in OT a few months ago that showed scenes from the 2004 Gumball 3000 rally.
I became interested to learn more, and started looking up some events. Here is what I found:
Players Run
Not so much a rally, as it is a rolling party. Participation is by invitation to a limited number of applicants. Price = ?? It's got to be high, as the entry fee covers "all accommodations in 5 star hotels from June 7th through June 11th. Also included are all dinners and breakfasts, certain lunches, all parties and evening VIP events, all racetracks, all racecars, all helicopters, all boats and other vehicles and all other special events."
Gumball 3000
Probably the flashiest, this seems to be a big party event but with more emphasis on the race than Players has. It also includes a lot of wild parties and 5 star hotels, plus air transportation of your vehicle from stage to stage. Price is £40,000 GBP.
Ultimate Rally
A newcomer, it seems to be purely about the rally. You must make checkpoints, and your car is fitted with cameras and GPS tracking to prevent cheating. The party is after the rally, rather than during. Cost to enter is $15k for early entrants and $30k otherwise. (all slots are already sold out)
Cannonball
The granddaddy of them all, the Cannonball Run (or the "
Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash") comes back to America in 2007. This will be the first stateside running of the Cannonball since 1979. (Not counting the abysmal USA reality series in 2001)
All about the rally, this 2900 mile "race" runs coast to coast in under 35 hours. Big party afterwards. Cost to enter is $10k
So, why bring all this up? Because I know there are some Pelicanites who have "disposable" income. I wondered if anyone here had ever participated, or intends to participate in such an event!
So what about it..? Anyone?
EDITED to put in URLS that the board had censored. Censorship is evil.