Gumball 3000

Known world-wide, as "THE" road Rally for the international jet set,  the 2008 Gumball 3000 held its kick-off festivities in SF at the posh Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill.  Gumball is "not a race, its a road rally" explained founder Maximillion Cooper.  What makes this year's 3000 mile journey especially interesting are the rally stops in N. Korea and China.

2008 is the 10th Anniversary for Gumball 3000.  It's open to anyone willing to pluck down the $120,000 entry fee, plus expenses... to join in.  After that, "You need 8 days to drive it and 2 weeks to recover" joked one veteran participant.   The 121 car field took off from SF with huge "party stops" in LA, SD and Vegas, before everybody flies in a "decked out " 767 (also used by The Rolling Stones) to N. Korea followed by 3 days of hard driving in China.  The rally finishes up outside the "Bird's Nest "Olympic Stadium in Beijing.

Thousands of curious spectators crowded the streets of Nob Hill to catch a glimpse of the exotic, expensive and super-charged cars as they prepared to embark on their 3000 mile journey.  

Check the pix at GUMBALL 3000.