Bucket List / Adventure Travel Goals
Participate In The Gumball 3000
Still to do
Around 3,000 miles, a convoy of supercars, cheering crowds at every stop and a party waiting at the end of each day.
The adventure
The Gumball 3000 is part road trip, part travelling festival. Each year a grid of cars, from hypercars and wrapped supercars to the odd eccentric classic, gathers for a launch party in a world city, then sets off together on a route of roughly 3,000 miles across countries and sometimes continents. Founded by Maximillion Cooper in 1999, it has drawn racing drivers, musicians, actors and skateboarders alongside entrepreneurs who simply love cars.
The days are long and loud. Crowds line the streets and bridges to watch the convoy roll through, and each overnight stop ends with a party at a club, castle or racetrack. It's not a race, and the organisers are firm about that, but there's plenty of theatre: themed liveries, matching outfits and the sight of a row of supercars parked up in a town square. The Gumball 3000 Foundation also raises money for youth projects around the world.
Why it’s epic
- Driving around 3,000 miles in about a week alongside some of the world's most extraordinary cars.
- Launch parties and grid events in a different set of cities every year.
- Celebrity drivers, with past participants including racing drivers, musicians, actors and pro skaters.
- Supporting the Gumball 3000 Foundation, which funds youth projects worldwide.
What it is
The Gumball 3000 is a celebrity car rally across countries, with parties along the route.
How to do it
Entry is by invitation and very expensive. Following the rally as a spectator is free.
Top tip
Check the route each year to catch it in a city near you.
Need to know
- Places are limited and entry is by application, with a very high entry fee on top of your own car and running costs.
- You still have to obey local traffic laws, and speeding fines and impounded cars have made headlines in past years.
- Routes change each year and are announced in advance, so spectators can catch the convoy for free at public stops.
Make it happen
Why it’s on my list
Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.
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