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The Gumball 3000 is an annual 3000 mile (5000 km) international road race which takes place on public roads, with a different 3000 mile route around the world each year. 120 cars participate, often driven by their owners. Now in its 11th year the event has grown into an established fixture on the popular culture calendar - annually attracting household names from music, film and sport to participate, including David Hasselhoff, Adrien Brody, Johnny Knoxville, and Tony Hawk. Although set up as a rally with no official timing, or prizes for reaching checkpoints first, during the rally, some participants have been fined for speeding and other traffic offenses by the police in countries they passed through. Cars participating have also been confiscated by the authorities of countries they pass through. In 2007 the rally was cancelled after a car participating in the rally was involved in a fatal collision with a non-participating vehicle. Although the organizers are careful to emphasize that it is a rally and not a race, it is sometimes referred to as a streetrace.
The 2009 event is a 'coast to coast' road trip adventure from Los Angeles to Miami from May 2 - 8th. The event will also include free music concerts and car displays throughout the route[citation needed] in Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Dallas, New Orleans and Miami.
A precursor to the Gumball rally was the Cannonball Run that was a no holds barred illegal "street" race in America in the 1970's. It was run from the East Coast to California.
In Hot Rod Magazine of the day, they ran a series of step by step articles on their preperation of a Chevy van disguised as an Ambulance to partake in the race. (Those were the days before lawyers held positions on the boards of American Corporations)
A movie, The Cannoball Run, was also released on circuit at the time. Watch it if you can find it. (Vader will love the girls in the black Porche convertible)
