Despite last year's deadly early ending, Gumball 3000 founder "Mad" Maximillion Cooper's dropped yet another press release announcing his intentions to include North Korea as a one-night stopover on this year's "10th Anniversary" Gumball 3000 rally. But now he's also providing a list of attendees he plans to bring on his little merry-go-round-the-world adventure. Expect to see such luminaries as the entire crew of MTV's "Jackass," Tony Hawk and David Hasselhoff brought on for the ride. Good god, will the madness ever end? Full press release below the jump.
GUMBALL 3000 CELEBRATES ITS "10th ANNIVERSARY RALLY"
San Francisco to the Beijing Olympics, August 9-16, 2008
LONDON, ENGLAND (June 17, 2008) — Superstars and supercars converge on San Francisco, Saturday, August 9 for the "10th Anniversary" Gumball 3000 Rally. 120 of the most amazing cars, driven by film stars, musicians, sports stars, billionaires, and the cast of "Jackass," will set on an incredible eight-day drive to the Beijing Olympics - incorporating one night in North Korea. This ladies and gentlemen is Gumball 3000 - and is certain to be nothing short of spectacular.
From San Francisco, the 3000 mile route incorporates overnight stops in Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas, with VIP parties each night. Upon reaching Las Vegas, all participants will be flown directly to Pyongyang, North Korea, to spend an unprecedented night in this undiscovered city to watch the incredible 'Mass Games' (their spectacular annual display of arts and sport) as part of a global "friendship" initiative. (And you thought Gumball was just another Cannonball Run - this one's more likely to get the Nobel Peace Prize than Burt Reynold's version - that's for sure!)
Following the Mass Games and the "first ever" western music performance in Pyongyang promoting peace and friendship, all participants will be flown on to Hangzhou, China to be reunited with their vehicles. From there the Rally then heads north to Shanghai and Xuzhou, before crossing the finish line in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Saturday, August 16, just in time for the Gumballers to watch a week of Olympic finals.
Entrants already include David Hasselhoff driving the legendary K.I.T.T. car from Knight Rider, famous drummer Travis Barker, MTV's Rob Dyrdek (Rob & Big) in a fully customized '69 Camaro as well as Johnny Knoxville and the rest of the "Jackass" guys...driving everything from Ferrari Enzos to Bugatti Veyrons, Rolls Royces, old Cadillacs, low riders and even a few electric cars. This rally is nothing short of stunning - closing city streets and boulevards throughout the entire route to make it Gumball's most spectacular event to date.
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.
About Gumball 3000
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 more than a million people attending the start last year in London, and a televised and online audience that reached more than 60 million in more than 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's" Johnny Knoxville, Hugh Hefner, supermodels Jodie Kidd and Caprice, "Kill Bill's" Daryl Hannah, action sports legends Tony Hawk, Matt Hoffman, Carey Hart, and rock stars including Snoop Dogg, Blink 182, 50 Cent, The Fun Lovin' Criminals, The Happy Mondays, Placebo, Jamiroquai and even Ms. Minogue.
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 nine 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 world's three largest aircrafts, created untold amount of "Jackass's" fuelled mayhem, hung out at Hugh Hefner's mansion, and most recently has been invited to work with the United Nations, all through the language of the motor car.
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