Gumball 8000 on TV last night

[njw 77]

Anyone else see this on TV last night? About 1am? (was up feeding the baby:yawn: )

Couple of Tuscans and a blue Chim, but there was a car I didnt recognise. It was gunmetal grey, looked for all the world to have a Tuscan front end, but had 2 humps of bodywork running back from behind the driver's head to the car's bum, a bit like a double Jag D Type affair. Very rounded arse and 3 or 4 circular rear lights each side.

Any ideas folks? I was in 'bloody baby woke me up' mode so wasnt really paying much attention

[insurance_jon]

I asked the owner of it and it was a short run of a make I haven't heard of, nor can remember. I do remember it was one of only 8 made though and it was british, and it went like shit off a shovel!

I will try and find out for you though

[njw 77]

Thanks Jon, Ive just posted in your Events post too

Glad its not just me that didnt know what it was. Im normally pretty good on such things, but it did have me stumped. I wondered if it was an AC Ace or some such?

>> Edited by njw 77 on Wednesday 15th December 12:04

[sales]

it was a Ronart Lightening

[sales]

it was a Ronart Lightening

[njw 77]

Thats the fellah! www.hallettfamily.org.uk/pagesronart/lightgallery.html



Didnt realise the roof came off tho'

Good work Stuart

>> Edited by njw 77 on Wednesday 15th December 13:05

[sales]

No Problem, if i recall they only made 8 or so cars, around £55k carbon fibre body with a big Mustang V8

Stuart

[olly]

Was powered by the 4.6 32V Ford V8 (32bhp), but only weighed about 1000kgs (I think).

They were at the British motorshow in 1998 or 1999 with a Blue car (very like the one in the pics) and a white one..... At the time they were still working on the roof for it !

[insurance_jon]

Thats the bugger. went like stink though, and sounded amazing!

[insurance_jon]

Oh it was the Cannonnball, not the Gumball BTW. There is a slightly more hardcore version on men and motors on sat night.

[J_S_G]

Seen about 3 or 4 Lightnings - one white, one blue, and one purple, I believe... was looking into getting one instead of the Tuscan I ended up with - NOONE's selling, though.

[ccharlie6]

i saw one in swindon over the summer, looked very smooth and sounded lovely and burbely (is that a word?)

[deanpluthero]

shame you didn't see me, i was up the front (leading) at one point until co-pilot took me a little sightseeing and arrested in a petrol station... we weren't racing monsiour.... i had the porka planted!!

roll on next year!

Dean
www.theratpac.com

[njw 77]

I did notice one Ratpac sticker, think it was the only one being left on a car as the others where removed. Wasnt on your Cerb tho Dean? Silver something. To be honest I was concentrating on not letting the baby puke all over me at the time

[sacha]

Just watched the version on men & Motors,

i have to say, a bit disapointing, having done the cannonball run europe this year, and the first leg actually being longer than the entire cannonball 8000 run, i would find it a large waiste of money or should i say not good value for money!
Sorry to be a bit down beat, but i find some of the events on the market slightly caitered toward letting people do these events so that they then can say they have done the cannonball, when the original cannonball was all about endurance.
The route they took was nothing special, i have done this route on a yearly basis (having family down near monaco) and each time done it in a day on average 12 to 15 hours.

So in the end, all i ask is what is so special?
(sorry if i am a bit negative, but i think many of the people who did this event are not used to driving, many people on this forum who go to Le Mans do more driving in a weekend then these guys, but dont pay £4k! and probably have more fun!)

[FourWheelDrift]

I only saw the 1st half, did the Lotus Esprit get away from Chelsea in time to catch the boat?

[sacha]

they said yes.