Gumball 3000: The Cross-country Race for the Rich and Famous

The Gumball 3000 is a 3,000 mile road rally. Some have also called it a 3,000 mile party. So far, there have been nine Gumball 3000 races taking place across Europe, North America, North Africa, and Asia. Participants have been a mix of the rich and famous.

1999

The Gumball 3000 was created by Maximillion Cooper as an event for the jet set complete with posh parties and luxury hotel overnight pit stops. The first race was held in 1999 and included 50 of Cooper's friends traveling from London to Rimini, Italy and back to London via Paris. Participants in the six-day rally included actors Billy Zane and Jason Priestley, supermodel Kate Moss, director Guy Ritchie, and even Monica Lewinsky.

2001

By the time of the third Gumball 3000, it had become a worldwide celebrity event with MTV and BBC1 Television coverage. One car was driven by MTV "Jackass" stars Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O.

2002

The fourth Gumball 3000 rally was the first one held in North America and included even more celebrities such as designer Donna Karan and actor Matthew McConaughy. The stops along the way included the White House, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion, the final stop.

2004

The sixth Gumball 3000 was the first one to take place on two continents. Celebrities included former boxing champ Chris Eubank and movie star Adrien Brody. The race began at Paris's Eiffel Tower and went to Spain, where the cars and drivers were transported to Morocco, where they were guests of the King. The race ended back in Europe at the Cannes Film Festival.

2005

In 2005, there was even a celebrity car entry, the "General Lee" from the "Dukes of Hazzard" movie.

2006

2006 marked the first Gumball 3000 to take place on three continents. The race's first leg was from London to Belgrade. The second leg was in Thailand from Phuket to Bangkok. The third leg was from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles.

2007

The 2007 Gumball 3000, to some, marked the beginning of the end for the event, because for the first time there were casualties. In Dubrovnik, a VW Golf wandered into the middle of the race. Two Dubrovnik residents in their late sixties were in the car, and were hit by two English race participants. Both residents died, and the English racers were arrested by Macedonian police.

2008

According to the Gumball 3000 web site, a race is still scheduled for August, 2008. The first leg will take place from San Francisco to Las Vegas. The second leg will take place in China from Pyongyang to Beijing.