We just received the following press release from "Mad" Maximillion Cooper, the chieftain of the Gumball 3000, giving the dates of the annual road race rally by way of Des over at the all-rally all-the-time site of GT Spirit. We used to be on the press release distribution list but it appears alas, no longer. Probably has something to do with our coverage of the 2007 ball-run. Anyway, moving on. As expected, the 2008 running of the balls will start in San Francisco (actually, we were originally told it'd start in New York — but who's counting, at least it's the same country) on August 9th and finish 8 days later in China at the Beijing Olympics on August 16th. Also, as we reported first, the 2008 Gumball 3000 will feature a passport-surrendering stopover in North Korea, where the balls of Gum race drivers rally drivers will be feted in style by the Communists celebrating the "Mass Games." We think "Mass Games" is either their version of the Olympics or it's Engrish for "Mass Graves." Either way, we're sure the $120,000 entry fee is money well spent. Unless the "Graves" are empty. Full press release below the jump.
Gumball 2008 press release from Max 19th February 2008
The dates and route of the "10th Anniversary" Gumball 3000 Rally are officially announced.
The Gumball 2008 will take place in August this year starting in San Francisco and finishing 8 days later in China at the Beijing Olympics. Dates of the rally are August 9th-16th 2008.
Being the 10th anniversary this route is nothing short of spectacular, and ground breaking to say the least! Setting off from San Francisco, the Gumball 2008 route incorporates Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas, with checkpoints each day and VIP parties each night. From Las Vegas all 120 vehicles (low-riders to supercars) will be flown on 3 of the worlds largest Antonov Cargo Planes to Nanjing, China; and all participants will get to experience an unprecedented 1 night in North Korea as part of a global 'friendship' initiative, getting to watch the Mass Games (their version of the Olympics) en route to rejoin their cars in Nanjing. From Nanjing the Gumball 2008 route heads north to Shanghai and then Xuzhou, before crossing the Gumball 2008 finish line in Beijing during the Olympic Games.
Gumball 2008 entry fee is £60.000 (90.000 euro or 120.000 dollars) per car (2 people) and of course includes everything throughout the 8 days, incl. hotels, parties, flying the cars around etc...and tickets to the Olympics.
The clock is now counting down to the launch of Gumball's completely new website that goes live on April 1st. The new site will represent all elements of the 'Gumball 3000″ lifestyle, incorporating a social network to bring fans all over the world together, along with a user generated videos section (so you can show us what you get up to), as well as celebrity blogs, and a fully loaded store with the new Gumball 3000 Apparel Collection, and a Gumball Cars 'for Sale' section to advertise your classic, super or daily run around to the masses!
Along with daily news, and everything you'll ever need to know about the rally and everything automotive, the site will also cover everything else that we love, including news and reviews on music, films, sports, sneakers, street art and entertainment.
Maximillion Cooper