MOD Fresh News
Gumball Press Release !
Posted: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Gumball 3000’s ‘10th Anniversary rally was nothing short of epic!
San Francisco, USA - Beijing, China. August 9-16th, 2008
On Saturday 16th August, over 100 exhausted and exhilarated superstars and supercars crossed the finish line in Beijing, China, having driven 3000 miles as participants in the 10th Anniversary Gumball 3000 Rally. 120 of the most amazing cars, driven by film stars, musicians, sports stars, billionaires, and the cast of MTV’s Jackass all set off from San Francisco on Saturday 9th August taking part in this incredible eight day drive – with parties each night – incorporating Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, a 24-hour stop-over in Pyongyang, North Korea, Shanghai and Xuzhou – as part of this whirlwind road trip adventure!
The revelry kicked off in San Francisco, when Gumballers donned their Puma driving shoes and set off in car culture heaven as David ‘The Hoff’ Hasselhoff led a parade of over 120 spectacular vehicles through the city in his original 1982 Knight Rider Pontiac Trans Am – better known as KITT! After waving the flag, all vehicles headed south to Los Angeles, via an incredible drive on the 58, before a legal burst of speed at Button Willow raceway on route to the Hollywood Boulevard stage finish line. Hollywood went Gumball crazy as tens of thousands of fans turned up to cheer in the cars, with favourites including Travis Barkers 1965 Ford F250 custom low-rider, the stunning Gumpert Apollo GT, the 1960 VW T1 custom Samba Campervan, Maximillion’s ‘tooled up’ Jaguar XJ220 supercar, not to mention KITT!
Following a night of partying as DJ Fredwreck spun the tunes at the Roosevelt, Gumballers set off for the short but action packed drive to San Diego. From the LUX5 ‘bikini fashion show’ checkpoint in Huntington Beach, to HRE Wheels in Vista; lunch followed in the most idyllic setting at Rancho Santa Fe, followed by a gathering of over 1400 cars at Qualcomm Stadium and a ‘Presidential style’ police parade to San Diego’s Gas Lamp District to cross the finish line at the stunning Ivy Hotel. The Ivy hosted an amazing party on the rooftop, with Barry Peters and DJ Este entertaining!
From San Diego a drive north through the desert to Las Vegas brought the US stage to a close, with Gumballers dropping off their vehicles at Victorville Airport, to be flown on cargo planes to Hangzhou, China, for the adventure to continue.
The Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino hosted the wrap party of the US stage in ‘Wasted Space’ where the Cuban Brothers and MSTRKRFT entertained, as trophies were awarded in the shape of Nixon watches to all participants. Other prizes awarded were the HRE ‘Best Car’ Award going to Ben Abrams and Gregory Langlais in the 2007 matt black Ford GT; and the US ‘Spirit of the Gumball’ going to Yo ‘megaphone’ Esbensen and Jasper Watts from Rogue Status, driving and entertaining the crowds in a 2008 Scion XB.
The following morning saw another early set off as Gumballers boarded the ‘Gumball Air’ Boeing 757 ‘all first class’ plane to North China on route to Pyongyang, North Korea. In North Korea Gumballers got to spend an unprecedented night in this undiscovered city to watch the incredible ‘Mass Games’ - their spectacular display of arts - as a global ‘friendship’ initiative. Following the Mass Games, the North Korean Minister of Culture hosted Gumballers for dinner, followed by a night of karaoke – and an early morning skateboard session led by legendary skaters Bam Margera and Sal Barbier.
Upon safely exiting North Korea and a short flight on Koryo Air to Hangzhou, China, Gumballers were reunited with their cars and ready for stage two to begin with a 3-day drive north to Beijing. With full Chinese Government support, roads were closed off in spectacular fashion – and the route into the super-futuristic city of Shanghai resembled a scene from Blade Runner with almost surreal fork lightening striking the skyscrapers overhead!
From Shanghai the rally headed north to Xuzhou, before crossing the finish line in Beijing on Saturday 16th August, in time for the Gumballers to watch a week of Olympic finals!
Entrants included MTV’s Jackass stars Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn and Loomis Fall filming for a Jackass Special, David ‘The Hoff’ Hasselhoff, male supermodel Tyson Beckford, comedian Orlando Jones, Death Race movie bad guy Max Ryan, and action sports legends Todd Richards, Rooftop Escamilla, Sal Barbier and Bucky Lasek…driving everything from Ferrari Enzo’s to Rolls Royce Phantom’s, to old Mustang’s, Low Riders and even a Donk!
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’s Carlton Banks aka Alfonso Ribeiro together with Natalia Cigliuti of Beverly Hills 90210 fame, presented Gumball live daily online shows: http://www.youtube.com/user/gumballrally08
The wrap party took place in the amazing Beijing Westin Hotel, and ‘gold’ Gumball Olympic medallions were awarded to all participants, with ‘special awards’ presented as follows; The Mechanics Award – went to father and son entry Breson and Richard Delator; the ‘Green’ car award to Arkady and Ilya Golubovich in the hybrid Lexus 600L Sedan; Best car was awarded to non other than ‘KITT’ the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird (despite sadly breaking down on route to Shanghai!); Best Car Graphic to Dimitry Zelenov and Alik Gold in the Russian ‘hammer and sickle’ Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead; the Veteran Award went to Karta Healy, for participating in all 10 Gumball’s; Most Stylish went to ‘the Sheikh’ Amro Kayal; and the main accolade for 2008 ‘Spirit of the Gumball’ was deservingly awarded to Dave Carrington and Phillip Wright in the 1960 VW T1 custom Samba Campervan (complete with Porsche engine and nitrous!)
This was by far Gumballs most spectacular event to date – everyone that took part enjoyed a safe and epic ‘once in a lifetime’ journey! Thanks to Puma, Monster Energy Drinks, Nixon Watches, Spy Optics, Top Trumps and everyone that helped to make this event happen.
For more information go to www.gumball3000.com bringing you the latest news, reviews, videos, products and celebrity blogs. The social network for the Gumball generation, incorporating art, apparel, music, films, events, street culture and everything automotive.
Editor Notes:
The first Gumball 3000 took place in April 1999, when British creator Maximillion Cooper invited 50 of his friends to take part in a 3000-mile party around Europe to bring together the music, film, fashion and sport industries. Ten years later, and things have certainly grown, with crowds of over a million people attending the start last year in London, and a televised and online audience that reached over 60 million in over 150 countries around the world.
Gumball 3000 consistently hits the headlines as ‘Cool Britannia’s’ most unique addition to pop culture, described by Vanity Fair Magazine as ‘the most rock ‘n’ roll car rally ever staged’ and famed for its exploits and celebrity participation. The event annually attracts stars including Oscar-winning star of the Pianist Adrien Brody, Jackass’ Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera and Ryan Dunn, David ‘The Hoff’ Hasselhoff, Hugh ‘Playboy’ Hefner, supermodels Jodie Kidd, Caprice and Tyson Beckford, Kill Bill’s Daryl Hannah, action sports legends Tony Hawk, Matt Hoffman, Carey Hart, and rock stars including Snoop Dogg, Travis Barker, Jamiroquai and Xzibit!
Incorporating a new 3000 mile route each year, the attraction of the Gumball transcends social barriers, appealing to the adventurer in everyone, regardless of status or wealth; combining grease, glamour and guts in equal measures, stretching the experiences of travel and entertainment – just that bit further. Over the past 10 years Gumball 3000 has been hosted by Kings and Presidents, partied with Snoop Dogg, appeared on the Jay Leno Show, raised awareness for testicular cancer, chartered the worlds 3 largest aircrafts, created untold amounts of ‘Jackass’ fuelled mayhem, hung out at Hugh Hefner’s, and most recently has been invited to work with the United Nations, all through the language of the motor car.
Team Masters of Dirt on Gumball 3000
Comments
No comments
Post a comment