Cannonball Run
Live the High Life on a Low Budget
Are you looking to for a different kind of travel experience? Still want to see a variety of different countries and feel up to a bit of a challenge? Then read on, as I have the perfect solution right here.More…
I’m talking motor racing with, of course, a travel twist.
Unfortunately, the main drawback with the majority of these automotive extravaganzas is the prohibitive entry costs. The prestigious Gumball 3000, for instance, will set you back a cool £28,000 to get among the action – not to mention the need for Ferrari or Lamborghini or other such machine to actually become any kind of real player.
It’s much the same story for the ROARR classic car race across the Himalayas and the Lisbon-Dakar Rally, coming in only slightly cheaper at £20,000 and £8,700 respectively. Sigh.
If, like me, you are starting to feel a little downhearted at these prohibitive registration levies, worry not. There are other options for the more budget conscious.
Let us focus on a triplet of races that are less Club Class and Caviar, and more Skateboards and Sandwiches. In contrast, the following challenges are infinitely more affordable yet still offer fun and adventure by the trunk load.
The Cannonball Run. London – Puerto Banus
If the Lisbon-Dakar is luxury travel, the Cannonball Run is definitely backpacking. Essentially, it’s a 2,400 mile, 4 day event for pre 1991 vehicles. The cost is £1,350 based on two people, and includes ferry transfers, accommodation at the end of each race day (and champagne!), personal sign writing on entrance vehicles, and the black-tie party on the final evening. For more details visit www.cannonballrunclassic.com
The Italian Job. Venice – Brighton
Cheaper still, this 3000 mile, 10 day charity event will set you back £500 to enter. Competitors must be over 21, and be comfortable behind the wheel of a Mini. Micheal Caine look-alikes are also heartily encouraged to join in the fun. Visit www.italianjob.com to find out how you can get involved and help raise more money for NCH – The Children’s Charity, and other worthy causes.
The Plymouth – Banjul Rally
The Plymouth-Dakar Challenge, as it is now known, has been encouraging hundreds of the world’s lunatics cash-strapped explorers to head into the wilds of the Sahara Desert since its inauguration in 2003. If the Cannonball Run is the backpacker, then this must be the hardcore vagrant. Forget the Gumball 3000, and enter the Oddball 3000.
The 3000 mile fundraising ‘race’ from the South of England to the West Coast of Africa is mere snip at £300 to enter and, now here’s the kicker, you must have a cheap car to enter. It has to cost less that £100, to be precise. Now for an insider tip: Russian built Ladas seem to be the vehicle of choice as none of them have failed to complete the challenge…yet. You heard it here first.
For more information on the mother of all cheapskate rallies, visit http://www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk
About the Author
Part-time Travel Writer and full-time Vagabond, Nathan Richards wants nothing more than to inspire and encourage others to satisfy their wanderlust.
He achieves this by regularly posting valuable travel tips and first hand travel narratives on his popular backpacking and travel writing website at www.ubertramp.com.
In addition to his work on Ubertramp and in other Travel Blogs, his articles have also been featured in Online Travel Magazines such as Budget Travel Online, Backpackers.com, Travelmag, and the BootsnAll Network.
Canon Ball Run 1
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Cannonball $1.99 With its breakout single, “Feels Like It Should”–a high-octane driving anthem in which he sings of putting “the Boss” on the radio and singing along to “Born to Run”–Pat Green leaves no doubt about this album’s primary influence. The opening title track offers hard-riffing guitars over hard-driving drums in another Springsteenesque anthem of love’s redemption. The rest of the album is strong and… |
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Speed Zone – Motion Picture Soundtrack $69.99 Various Artists / Speed Zone Soundtrack Track Title 1. Dizzy Miss Lizzy — Splash 2. Roll Away — Felix Cavaliere 3. Born To Race — James House 4. Good Guys Are Hard To Find / Denny Colt 5. Tiffany’s Theme / David Wheatley 6. Drivin’ — Richie Havens 7. Dreamin’ — Will To Power 8. Perfect Crime — Rocky Burnette 9. Breakin’ Each Others Heart / Charlie Karp & The Name Droppers 10. Rattlesnake Sha… |
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Blind Date [Japan Import] 1987, Alfa records Japan. Out of print original first issue from Japan. Catalog: 32XB-187. 9 tracks in total…. |
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Cannonball Run [VHS] $4.98 Like The Gumball Rally (1976) before it, former stuntman Hal Needham’s The Cannonball Run was inspired by the same real-life cross-country road race. If The Gumball Rally was the critical favorite, The Cannonball Run was the box-office favorite (spawning the almost-as-successful sequel, Cannonball Run II, a few years later). Aside from top-billed stars Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise (stars of Needh… |
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Speed Zone [VHS] $9.99 Push the pedal to the metal with the funniest set of screwballs who ever challenged the Cannonball Run! When a cop who thinks Dirty Harry is a wimp slams the jailhouse door on the Run’s pro racers, a gaggle of top comics grabs the wheels of the driverless monster machines for a coast-to-coast race straight into mayhem. Surprise guest stars from the worlds of entertainment and sports join John Ca… |
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Cannonball Run 2 [VHS] $4.50 … |
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Smokey and the Bandit (Special Edition) $5.38 Get ready to tear up the highway with the Bandit (Burt Reynolds), a fun-loving, fast-talking trucker who takes on his craziest haul yet – delivering 400 cases of beer from Texarkana to Atlanta in just 28 hours. With Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason) hot on his trail and eager to teach him some respect for the law, the Bandit joins forces with good ol’ boy, Cledus (Jerry Reed) and runaway … |
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The Cannonball Run $3.17 Burt Reynolds leads a pack of wacky racers across the country in this rip-roaring comedy that features zany stunts, loads of crashes, and stars galore. With Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Jackie Chan, and more. 96 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; audio commentar… |
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The Gumball Rally $6.52 Before “Cannonball” there was this smashing car-race comedy about a New York-to California dash with quick cars and wacky characters. Michael Sarrazin, Gary Busey, Raul Julia and others partake in the wild stunt work. 107 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; theatrical trailer…. |
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Banzai Cannonball Splash Water Slide $49.99 Slip and slide down this 14-foot-long inflatable diving ramp and into the splash pool. With the included body board, you’re guaranteed a smooth — and cool — ride. Includes inflatable water slide with splash pool, plus a body board. Air pump not included. Made of durable PVC for years of backyard fun…. |