gumball 3000 - 2005
Discussion
911nutter said:
anyone up for it?
I know a few guys who are doing it. The 5K price tag put me off I'm afraid.
Steve, 996TT
www.theratpac.com
A chance for a bunch of twa*s with too much money and even more time on their hands to endager the lives of the commoners in several European and Eastern block countries.
Is there an entrant list in order that we might organise a road race /binge drinking / all nighter, on their doorstep and introduce ourselves - cars - driving habits, to their bicycle riding children.
Henry "mirror signal manouver" F.
Is there an entrant list in order that we might organise a road race /binge drinking / all nighter, on their doorstep and introduce ourselves - cars - driving habits, to their bicycle riding children.
Henry "mirror signal manouver" F.
Interesting one.
Like many 'nifty concepts,' the modern world invariably corrupts the spirit of such events.
They get bigger, greater media exposure and lose their esoteric sheen as the twin ogres of rampant commercialism and that vilest of recent human conditions - the desire for celebrity, notorious or otherwise - overwhelms the fundamental idea and leaves the bitter aftertaste of gross tw@ttology, as referred to by our glorious 911 Vendor Supreme.
A single or very low key convoy across large continental distances, taking in the landscapes and appreciating the graceful ambiences should be something to be savoured, very much like the finest plonk di cellar.
Gumball Whatever et al and all such events, are by comparison, the equal of a shipwrecked borstel of antipodeans crashing foresquare upon the beech at Aya Nappa, for the annual XXXX puking championships.
Look at me, Me, MEEE!!!
Peasants (of the mind).
Like many 'nifty concepts,' the modern world invariably corrupts the spirit of such events.
They get bigger, greater media exposure and lose their esoteric sheen as the twin ogres of rampant commercialism and that vilest of recent human conditions - the desire for celebrity, notorious or otherwise - overwhelms the fundamental idea and leaves the bitter aftertaste of gross tw@ttology, as referred to by our glorious 911 Vendor Supreme.
A single or very low key convoy across large continental distances, taking in the landscapes and appreciating the graceful ambiences should be something to be savoured, very much like the finest plonk di cellar.
Gumball Whatever et al and all such events, are by comparison, the equal of a shipwrecked borstel of antipodeans crashing foresquare upon the beech at Aya Nappa, for the annual XXXX puking championships.
Look at me, Me, MEEE!!!
Peasants (of the mind).
Nothing against cross border jaunts. Far from it. I remember a most excellent long weekend a couple of years ago taking in the sights and sounds of the Champagne region of France. A gross of supercars taking the scenic route and bringing small towns to a standstill along the way. The difference being there were no stopwatches, the journey was easily completed even with a couple of hours for lunch and there was no competing for position in the convoy - bar the Mercedes 500SL that has no doubt long since met it`s maker on a past Gumball event.
Oddly enough putting numbers on the side of your car, wearing funny pyjamas and driving in circles with other like minded folk at the weekend makes you a lot more aware of your mortality on the road.
Henry
Oddly enough putting numbers on the side of your car, wearing funny pyjamas and driving in circles with other like minded folk at the weekend makes you a lot more aware of your mortality on the road.
Henry
i have to say i am VERY surprised by some of the comments made in response to my question.
i feel some of the reponses to this have been extremely patronising, higly cynical, overly arrogant, and downright hypocritical.
i make no apologies for my aggressive stance on this, but as i mentioned i am surprised by the comments that have come back.
i thought the gumball was a bit of innocent fun... clearly i am extremelty naive...
i feel some of the reponses to this have been extremely patronising, higly cynical, overly arrogant, and downright hypocritical.
i make no apologies for my aggressive stance on this, but as i mentioned i am surprised by the comments that have come back.
i thought the gumball was a bit of innocent fun... clearly i am extremelty naive...
In fairness to the posters on this thread some of them will be aware of various entrants exploits that will never make it onto the DVD movie. Although there are a number of very skilled drivers who drive very quickly in the event I can't help think that as the gumball has gained infamy/notoriety/celeb status over the years, there are now more people than ever driving at very high speeds with the front runners, but not necessarily having the same driving skill.
You only have to have heard of the carnage in the 2004 event with a number of cars being written off and a few entrants sustaining serious injuries (I've seen piccies of three cars that were written off and there were others). As Guy mentioned so far no innocent people have yet been killed......
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 9th July 14:15
You only have to have heard of the carnage in the 2004 event with a number of cars being written off and a few entrants sustaining serious injuries (I've seen piccies of three cars that were written off and there were others). As Guy mentioned so far no innocent people have yet been killed......
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 9th July 14:15
Obviously I`ve got nothing against racing and when on the race track I`m a fairly committed driver. But everyone else on the track with me knows the crack. In racing you push the boundaries and sometimes overstep them a little. If all you want to do is potter round then there are trackdays. Again it`s on a designated bit of tarmac and if you don`t want to risk getting hit by a spinning car you don`t go on it. Certainly you don`t ride your bike there !
These guys are imposing their reckless desire to race on innocent people without warning. Not only that but many are driving whilst under the influence of drugs. Even the the ones that aren`t, and haven`t had a skinfull the night before, will be dead on their feet from the hectic schedule.
Even the Le Mans 24 hour race, probably one of the most demanding events in the world, shares the driving between 3 people and only lasts 1 day. Not only that but it is run over many laps of the same course so the guys can get into a rhythm and pace themselves. With G-B each corner is a journey into the unknown and so the driving requires far more concentration, you`ve also got to navigate as well.
Burt Reynolds and his buddies didn`t really drive accross America, it was only a film and unfortunately when you crash a road going car without it`s roll cage the consequences can be quite horrific.
My worry though isn`t for the drivers or their passengers, they are old enough to make thier own minds up about when they choose to meet their maker. It`s for your mum, dad, sister, brother, grandparents or children that get taken with them.
This is a really great forum with loads of fun exchanges of ideas but never forget that the roads are not for racing on. It`s one thing "doing the ton" on a straight bit of road with no one else about, but to start getting brave not knowing what`s round the corner is silly, and you do feel a twa* standing beside your bent car waiting for the old bill to turn up with everyone driving by looking at you !
Henry.
These guys are imposing their reckless desire to race on innocent people without warning. Not only that but many are driving whilst under the influence of drugs. Even the the ones that aren`t, and haven`t had a skinfull the night before, will be dead on their feet from the hectic schedule.
Even the Le Mans 24 hour race, probably one of the most demanding events in the world, shares the driving between 3 people and only lasts 1 day. Not only that but it is run over many laps of the same course so the guys can get into a rhythm and pace themselves. With G-B each corner is a journey into the unknown and so the driving requires far more concentration, you`ve also got to navigate as well.
Burt Reynolds and his buddies didn`t really drive accross America, it was only a film and unfortunately when you crash a road going car without it`s roll cage the consequences can be quite horrific.
My worry though isn`t for the drivers or their passengers, they are old enough to make thier own minds up about when they choose to meet their maker. It`s for your mum, dad, sister, brother, grandparents or children that get taken with them.
This is a really great forum with loads of fun exchanges of ideas but never forget that the roads are not for racing on. It`s one thing "doing the ton" on a straight bit of road with no one else about, but to start getting brave not knowing what`s round the corner is silly, and you do feel a twa* standing beside your bent car waiting for the old bill to turn up with everyone driving by looking at you !
Henry.
www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=43461
Looks like us peasant 911 drivers wouldn't be welcome anyway.
DAZ
Looks like us peasant 911 drivers wouldn't be welcome anyway.
DAZ
henry-F said:
...but many are driving whilst under the influence of drugs.
Henry.
with respect, you do not know this for a fact. that is a sensationalist daily mail-esque type comment that is nothing more than stuff & nonsense. however, let us for a moment assume that this statement is factual. does this mean that gumball should be banned? let us then extrapolate this to the thicker end of the wedge... i propose a ban on all brits driving down to le mans in their fancy cars, on account of the fact that a large majority will be driving dangerously recklessly and probably under the influence of booooze.
let's go further and ban sport cars from public roads full stop, on the off chance that a number may or may not 'hoon' round country roads (without careful consideration of the odd possible diesel spill on the odd bend) that may end in death for the driver and the odd sheep that happens to be in the adjacent field.
clearly i am being flippant, but can you see my point...
i realise this rant will not win many votes, but do you catch my dirft???
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