What is the Gumball 3000 Rally All About?

WHAT IS THE GUMBALL 3000 RALLY?

The Gumball 3000 Rally was founded in 1999 by British entrepreneur and former race car driver Maximillian Cooper, in London. Legend has it that Mr. Cooper dreamt of creating an aspirational lifestyle brand that combined his love of cars, art and popular culture.

Cooper landed on the name “Gumball” based on Andy Warhol’s description of how society ‘chews up and spits out pop culture like a piece of gum’. This, of course, gave a definite pop art/rock ‘n’ roll vibe to the rally.

Then, he invited his celebrity friends like Kate Moss, Johnny Knoxville and Jay Kay from Jamiroquai for a drive across Europe with stops along the way to have star-studded parties with the biggest names in music, film, business, and sports.

Despite its similarities to the motor movie classics, The Gumball Rally and The Cannonball Run, the Gumball 3000 is by definition a rally event; it is neither an automobile race or a competition among drivers.

Therefore, participants must not compete in any manner with other drivers or drive recklessly in the rally.

WHAT IS THE GUMBALL 3000?

What started as a cool concept for the rich and famous to gather in Europe’s most glamorous cities for a celebration of all things Britannia has grown over the past two decades to epitomize the ultimate opportunity for car enthusiasts to declare their love of motors (for those who can afford it).

Over the years, drivers of the event read like a Who’s Who of celebrities from all walks of society and has drawn sponsorships by brands like Nike, Sony, Google, MTV and Intel to name a few. This time around, Ignition Casino adds their name to that illustrious list of blue-chip corporations.  Have a glimpse of previous Gumball 3000 rallies:

1999-2004

2005-2010

2011-2016

2017-2019

WHAT IS THE ROUTE?

TORONTO- Start of the Gumball Rally

Not only is Toronto is the largest city in Canada, it’s also the fourth largest in North America. The city is also home to the only caste on the continent, which make it a befitting place to launch the Gumball Rally on May xx, 2022.

FUN FACT- The PATH is the largest underground shopping complex in the world.

INDY 500- First Stop

Indianapolis is home to the mecca of motor racing in the US…the Indy 500. The first Indy 500 took place in 1911, and winners traditionally drink a pint of milk at the end to pay homage to Louis Meyer, who guzzled chilled buttermilk when he won in 1936.

FUN FACT- Indianapolis is known as the ‘Crossroads of America’ thanks to the four interstate highways and two auxiliary interstates that intersect the city.

NASHVILLE- Second Stop

Nashville is known as the capital of country music and is home to the Grand Ole Opry, where legends like Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Patsy Cline and Carrie Underwood launched their careers. Elvis Presley also laid down more than 200 tracks in the historic RCA Studio B.

FUN FACT- Nashville is names after Revolutionary War hero, Francis Nash.

ATLANTA- Third Stop

Atlanta is Georgia’s largest city and serves as the state capital. Its nickname is the ‘City in a Forest’ with more than 100,000 shade trees, covering almost 50% of the city. It’s the place that hip-hop superstars like Outkast, Ludacris, Waka Flaka and Gucci Mane call home.

FUN FACT- There are no peach trees in Atlanta. Its name is derived from ‘pitch trees’ which are native pine trees in the area. Still, there are 71 streets bearing the word ‘Peachtree’ in their name.

MIAMI- Fourth Stop

Miami’s reputation as one of the most exciting cities in America is well deserved. From the renowned collection of art deco-inspired buildings to the sunny famed beaches, the glamorous setting is a perfect pit stop for the Gumball 3000.

FUN FACT- The very first Burger King opened in Miami in 1954, and the famous Whopper was introduced a year later.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE DESTINATION CITIES?

Drivers gather in some of the glitziest cities in the world for epic dinners or parties, attended by the likes of Snoop Dog, Usher, Tony Hawk, Dennis Rodman, Guy Ritchie, and others.

Much like Las Vegas, what happens at the Gumball 3000 parties stays at the Gumball 3000 parties.

Beginning in 2014, the Gumball 3000 promised to show more appreciation for their fans by throwing free public events like beach concerts, Kids’ Zones, mini-festivals, and car displays on the route of the event.

WHO ARE THE DRIVERS IN THE GUMBALL 3000 RALLY?

The list of drivers for the 2022 Gumball 3000 Rally have yet to be confirmed. But to get an idea of the previous participants, you can check out the official Gumball 3000 YouTube channel for slick videos from past rally participants and the amazing cars they drove.

HOW DO YOU WIN THE GUMBALL RALLY?

It’s important to stress again that the Gumball 3000 is a rally, and not a race where driver compete for the fastest times. However, there are other accolades awarded to participants like The Spirit of Gumball based on enthusiasm and back-seat driving, rather than being the fastest.

RECENT SPIRIT OF GUMBALL AWARD

This honor is bestowed on rally participants who epitomize what the Gumball 3000 rally represents; automotive fun, comradery and extravagance.

The most recent Spirit of Gumball honoree was handed to Deadmau5 and his co-driver Tori Belleci of the MythBusters by Maximillian Cooper, Mr. Gumball himself.

IS THE GUMBALL 3000 LEGAL?

The Gumball 3000 is not a race, and participants who drive above the speed limit, drive recklessly or otherwise break the law can be arrested and charged by local police.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ENTER THE GUMBALL 3000?

As one can imagine, entering the prestigious rally costs a pretty penny. Recent entry costs are roughly $75,000 to participate which does not include the cost of the car or in some cases, a professional driver.  There is a maximum of 120 cars allowed to enter, with certain considerations for making the cut to drive in the Gumball Rally.

To give you an inside peek into what it’s like to partake in the rally, here’s a recap from Josh Cartu’s interview with Insider.

WHAT IS IGNITION ALL ABOUT?

Ignition is the #1 site for real money poker tournament, table games, slots and live dealers.

Launched in 2016, it’s a fast-growing i-gaming destination with exiting games, great welcome offers and generous bonuses with quicker pay-outs than most online casinos. Play with crypto for even faster pay-outs.

We’re proud to sponsor the Gumball 300 Rally, and you should watch this space for information on how to get involved with the rally and our Gumball giveaways.