Cannon Ball Run 2002
Trans-European road rally kicks off in October
Withthe freedom of the motorist massively curtailed in recent years, it's nosurprise at the interest in the Cannonball and Gumball type events that havebeen run in recent years. Later this year we'll see another such event crossingEurope with almost 300 people crossing the continent in a variety of exotica.Cannonball Run Europe 2002 kicks off on the 6th of October.
History
The first ever Cannonball Run took place in the autumn of 1971, with a groupof motoring enthusiasts attempting a Trans-American crossing on public roads inrecord time. The event was won by Brock Yates in a ruby red Ferrari Daytona,closely followed by a modified Dodge van designed to complete the 2,863 milejourney without stopping for fuel or oil. The spirit of the Cannonball wascemented in history. Do whatever it takes to get there, and don¹t be afraid tobe different!
Revival
Organiser Ian Whitehorn took part in the Gumball Rally and was keen to applyhis organisation skills to run a better event. Ian - formerly of Santa PodRaceway - has organised many varied motor sport events and is chief organiser ofBug Jam, the world's largest Volkswagen festival.
He's linked up with Tim Porter, managing director of Jap Village (Japaneseperformance car importers) to get Cannonball Run Europe off the ground. Unlikesome of the high profile events of recent years which have played host tocelebrities, Ian and Tim wanted to create an event that would appeal to realenthusiasts who just like driving - driving two thousand eight hundred and sixtythree miles!
Taking place between the 6th and 10th of October, 300 entrants (150 cars)will drive over five days and nights to complete the route. This shall take themthrough seven countries with some lengthy spells behind the wheel. They willenjoy some of Europe's most dramatic scenery, from the Swiss Alps to theMediterranean coast and returning to the UK.
The Difference
There is one difference to previous events though. In an effort to avoid someof the bad press that similar events have experienced, the journey is not aroad-race but a timed evend. Each car will have to complete five stages and eachstage has been timed prior to the start and is based on an average speedconfirmed closer to the event and is dependant on road conditions. The winner ofthe first ever Cannonball Run Europe will be the car which cover the five stagesclosest to the average given.
No one other than the organisers will know how long to takes to get from onecheckpoint to the next. No one will know the route until the day of departure;even then you will only be given a route card to the first checkpoint. Allcheckpoints will be achievable without breaking any speed limits, and there areno prizes for being first on the road sections. Cannonball Run Europe will,however, take on one of the world's most famous Formula 1 race circuits, whichwill allow entrants to go hooning without fear of being caught.
Coupled with stays in some of Europe's top hotels it sounds like a bit of ablast and one that won't be marred by celebrity numskulls.
The entry fee to the Cannonball Run Europe is £2350.00. This is based on onevehicle and two persons sharing a double room. All overnight accommodation,evening meals and all sea crossings are included. Go on... or would you rathersit in the office?
quote:
The event was won by Brock Yates in a ruby red Ferrari Daytona, closely followed by a modified Dodge van designed to complete the 2,863 mile journey without stopping for fuel or oil
[anorak]The first Cannonball Run was performed by just Yates and a co-driver in the Daytona, just to see how quickly you could do the trans-America journey. Upon publishing their exploits Yates was then challenged to the first 'race' across the country by the Polish Racing Drivers Club of America (entry conditions: you had to be either (1) a Polish Racing Driver, (2) a Polish non-Racing Driver, (3) a non-Polish Racing Driver or (4) a non-Polish non-Racing Driver
) who built the above mentioned Dodge Van, which turned out to be more thirsty than expected and ran out of fuel in the middle of knowhere and so lost the race. Again these expolits were published, and the event became open to all in the style of the Cannonball Run film.[/anorak]
PS
Brock wrote about the run in his book "Sunday Driver"
Great book. After the race, Dan was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying "We never once exceeded 175 mph!!!"
Which was true. Once (just once) Dan let the car go. It reached an indicated 172 mph
Thanks.
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