Fabio421

I didn't realize there were so many Grandma's around here. Yes they are driving faster than the legal limit. But so do ALL of us, just not as fast. I guess its ok to break the law by a little but not alot. The Gumballs that have taken place here in the states ARE more dangerous because American drivers have no clue how to properly drive. I have driven in Europe and I can tell you that there is a huge difference. If you go into the lane of oncoming traffic to pass someone the person you are passing will move to his shoulder and drivers in the oncoming lane will do the same. And people don't get to upset over that sort of thing there. Over here in the States you would end up with some out of control road rager chasing you down with a pistol. Most Europeans appreciate these fine automobiles and they seem to enjoy seing you speed past them. There is even stories of Gumballers being led through towns in Italy with police escorts etc. I even saw one ideo where a Gumballer in a Ferrari got lost and was given a police escort all the way to the next checkpoint. I guess what I'm saying is that there is a different mentality there and it lends itself to a lower risk for all parties. And at the group meeting before the Gumball starts the guy who runs the rally tells everyone " do not speed". " I'm serious, do not speed or drive crazy and do burnouts". " The police will not tolerate it and you will ruin it for everyone else". " you will end up with a citation or in jail". And plenty of people do end up in jail. But they sure seem to have a hell of alot of fun in the process.
I propose a mini rally next year on the way to SITM. From FL to NC. What could we call it? Rum Ball ?

adam928

"I have driven in Europe and I can tell you that there is a huge difference. If you go into the lane of oncoming traffic to pass someone the person you are passing will move to his shoulder and drivers in the oncoming lane will do the same. And people don't get to upset over that sort of thing there."

Speaking as a European I say youre dead wrong about this.. Yes.. we do move over. Not because we like it but because we have'nt got that many options when morons occupy our lane. This tactic will probably work for a while... until you meet the first driver fumbling with his car stereo or just a truck driver with a bloody big truck that could'nt care less if you got to be a hood ornament on his Scania. </rant>

Nevertheless I must say its kewl that the old beast is still kicking hard

deimos

Wait until you've killed a set of parents and left their 5 year old daughter a child of the state because you were "having fun" testing out your new supercharger. It wrecked 4 lives; the parents, the 5 year old, and my best friend's. "Vehicular manslaughter" is not something you want to hear at 17.

As for European drivers, they may be better trained, but no one appreciates an a-hole in a Porsche barrelling at them in the wrong lane with nothing but a ditch as an option. I've been there, not in a Scania, but in an M-B truck. The driver basically said, "let him hit me, i will win." Of course, my boss with the $1M of networking equipment in the truck behind him didn't agree with the first truck driver.

Best thing I ever did was get my SCCA National Competition License. Now I can speed excessively every weekend. Call me a grandma, go ahead. Too bad there isn't a formula porsche series, now that would be fun.

Fabio421

Carl, Its Gumball time again. Please give us an update as to your sponsored Gumballers. I think we are starting an official Gumball 3000 thread in the OT forum if you wanna post updates there.

perrys4

Isn't the gumball being run here in the U.S this year? Did I miss this point? I have an e-mail regarding it somewhere. Found it.....



LOS ANGELES, APRIL 25, 2006 – Cannonball Run World Events announced today the state-side arrival of Europe’s most outrageous road rally taking place July 29 – Aug 4, 2007. The Great American Run, produced by Cannonball Run World Events will unite car enthusiasts and racing fanatics from around the world in the largest moving car event across North America.



On July 29, 2007 four hundred cars will start from four originating cities—Atlanta, Miami, New York and Washington DC on a 3000 mile, cross-country adventure. Each route will cover approximately the same distance from start to finish. The object of the competition is to obtain an average speed of 61mph over the entire 3000 mile route, while stopping overnight in various cities along the way to take part in the notorious evening parties.



“Safety is paramount to this event and in the previous 5 years and 7 events held in Europe we have never had a serious accident and we believe that this is due to the way we police our own event with very strict rules,” said Tim Porter, managing director, Cannonball Run World Events. “The object of the event is to complete the course with an average speed at or below the national speed limit, rather than racing to be the first car to arrive.”



All 400 drivers and their co-pilots will ultimately join together in Las Vegas and travel together on the final 270 mile journey to Los Angeles. The cars will have to negotiate 16 different checkpoints along the routes and complete a track day at one of four different race tracks rented out for the event to get to the final destination. The event will culminate with one winning team and a two-day celebration for participants and guests in Los Angeles.



The Great American Run will be the largest of its kind. The number of entries will be strictly held to an exclusive four hundred drivers and co-pilots who are expected to drive everything from exotic Ferraris and Lamborghinis to American muscle and high horse-power customized Japanese imports.



“This event is based on the success of our European Cannonball Run Europe events which embody the spirit of the original U.S. Cannonball Run event and 1981 movie,” said Porter.



The event is open to all licensed drivers for an entry fee of $10,000 dollars. The fee covers all accommodations, meals, and parties. With a combination of air and ground production teams, 40 film crews will capture the entire event along the route to make this experience a memory to be revered for a lifetime. A full length feature will also be available on DVD. Previous best-selling DVDs of the European Cannonball events include “Chasing the Cannonball” and “The Great Escape” distributed by Warner Brothers.



The original Cannonball Run was conceived by automotive journalists Brock Yates to commemorate the legendary Erwin G. “Cannonball” Baker, who defied speed limits and set 143 American distance records, including a cross country solo drive in less than 54 hours and averaging more than 50 mph in 1933. In 1971, the first Cannonball Run was run from New York to Redondo Beach, Calif. It was followed by four more events that ran until 1979. Interest in the race died off until a series of Cannonball Run movies, starring Burt Reynolds and Farrah Fawcett, were produced during the 1980s.



The race was then revived in 2002 by Tim Porter, who introduced the race in Europe. Since the initial run, nearly a thousand drivers have competed in seven additional runs, thus rekindling the legend and excitement of the Cannonball Run in Europe.



Unlike the original Cannonball Run events, the organization of this Great American Run makes it logistically more feasible for the average driving enthusiast to participate. For entrants that live on the West Coast, there will be pick-up points in major cities so participants can have their car transported at special Great American Run as significantly reduced rates. All drivers living on the East Coast and entering the event will have the same service available to them for their return from Los Angeles after the event has finished.



Flights will also be arranged from the West Coast at a discounted rate to the various starts. For all European entrants there will be discounted flights and car shipping available to those who book early.



There are nearly 100 cars entered to date and the booking forms can be downloaded from www.cannonballworld.com. Call our US office at 714-391-2486 or email info@cannonballruneurope.co.uk for further information or bookings.

# # #

1981 Shark

So next year, they'll be see AND heard.

As you should. I watched the video and they and the 928 represented you well without the supercharger; next year will be even more impressive!

Fabio421

Perry, The rally you posted about isn't the Gumball. Its a different one. The Gumball this year will span three continents with the cars and participants flying from one continent to the next. It is gonna be wild. I'm sure its a logistacle nightmare. The entry is 50,000 british pounds sterling.

perrys4

Guess I better read things closer, sorry!!

zoltan944

the gumballs in US of course went through Vegas here, and i hung out with some of these crazy gumballers. everyone was always the coolest guy you ever met. I saw a lex/CF lotus, F50(trailerd most of the way) etc....
They had permision in alot of the way in the US to speed, so they were legal in some areas!

Alan

As a European implant to the USA: on European driving - there are lousy drivers everywhere of course, but as other have said Europeans are not more tolerant - if anything I'd say they are less tolerant of bad driving. (tough to live in the USA..!)

However they are usually used to rather higher speeds and so have a better appreciation for what it takes to stay alive - if they get out of your way its probably only that sense of self preservation - you can bet they are swearing at you - but true they usually will not chase you for the same reason and they also don't have guns...

Where Europe does work for driving faster is that people understand big differential speeds much better when entering roads and changing lanes.. especially on ~freeways - this makes life much safer. People tend to look for a while to determine closing speed and not just distance to determine if a lane change is safe. In the US it seem if there is a 20 foot gap many folks feel they can change lanes regardless - a complete murder/suicide on the Autobahn...

The other major factors I see are fewer really young - really inexperienced drivers (European tests are more thorough and you can't drive as young), fewer really old incapacitated drivers driving 'carnival float' sized cars AND the big one - people take driving rather more seriously and don't try to do anything else at the same time. Substitute your own favorites here.... (driving isn't considered a secondary activity to something else... movie anyone..?)

Alan

Carl Fausett

I want to second that comment. At a very young age I was already struggling to keep my driver's license with many, many speeding tickets. Fortunately, I landed on the decision that, if I am going to speed (and I am) I am going to do it where speed is ENCOURAGED and legal - the race track.

I get my fix on the weekends, and I am boring driver on weekdays. It is much better that way.

You should have seen me this weekend. I put the last 200 miles on my new motor in mineral oil. Now with 500 miles on it, I will switch to synthetic and call it "broken in". I have a PCA DE event at Road America this coming Saturday.

But yesterday,driving the interstate in a 200 mile loop around my home, there I am in a lowered Porsche 928 with nearly-open exhaust, SC, approx 450 HP (haven't dyno'd yet) and full race tags on the bodywork.... rumbling down the right side while all the yahoos pass me on the left. And happy. Big Smiles.

Looking forward to the weekend at RA, and I do not have to endanger Grandma, Grandpa, and Mom with Toddlers just to flex my motor-muscles.

Take it to the track!

heinrich

I would expect a turbo to overheat pretty quickly at full tilt, riding someone's tailwind.