Gumball 3000 was created 16 years ago by Maximilion Cooper. He invited 50 friends to take part in 3000-mile race across Europe. Six days, six countries and each-day parties in different places. This great idea was approved immediately. This story began in London where the great number of VIPs was invited: Kate Moss, Billy Zane, Guy Ritchie, Chris Eubank, Danii Minogue and even Monica Lewinski. 55 cars stood on start when Sir Terence Conran waved a flag and the race Gumball 3000 was began. Later it became an international event.
The competition grew larger and criticism and disputes began to appear. Of course, the event didn’t take place without incidents. Participants had been stopped for excess of speed many times. Police had taken away their driving licenses and car. Things took an awful turn when in 2007 two pensioners were hit by a Gumball rally car in Macedonia.
Gumball 3000 is a magnet for rich celebrities. Yet, as I said, participants quickly fell in love with this event and number of the well-known rich people which want to take part in Gumball grows every year. Some of them managed single participation and others became "Gumball family". I decided to stop on several participants as it is possible to call them the real veterans of Gumball 3000.
Tony Hawk
“The Birdman” is one of the most successful and influential pioneers of a modern skateboarding. When he isn't occupied with his records or with new commercials, he collects money from his licensed video games. And then he spends these funds for Gumball 3000. Tony hadn’t taken a part in Gumball since 2010. And in 2013 he returned to drive. This time he conducted Land Rover Defender from Copenhagen to Monaco. I’m not sure if he’s going to race this year, but he is the participant of the final party. It will take place in MGM Resorts Village set for May 29 and 30.
David Hasselhoff
I already mentioned that the TV star comes back this year for a race. David will be driving the same car as last year - Nissan GT-R. This Baywatch buff has been part in Gumball 3000 since 2008. He had Trans AM 1982 better known as KITT. This year the 62-year-old actor declared that he will sell KITT at auction for charity.
Xzibit
Pimp my Ride. It’s what you probably know him for. Famous artist and also veteran of Gumball 3000. In 2007 Xzibit rushed on Lamborghini Gallardo when the Dutch police took away its driving license for speed excess. He was doing 160 km/h in 100 km/h limit. His co-driver took over, and they finished competition. The rapper later recognized that he mistook the kilometers for miles. In 2010 Xzibit participated on Porsche Cayenne Turbo. And last year he was driving Bentley Continental GTC when the French police stopped it. And again for speeding. This time he has 198 km/h. Xzibit got a penalty of 750 euros and deprivation of his license. But the most ridiculous thing was that the French cops asked to make a selfie with him.
Jon Olsson
The Swedish professional mountain skier is one of the Gumball 3000 partakers. In 2010 John had Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV with a ski box on a roof. Next year he joined his American colleague, the skier Bodi Miller on Nissan GT-R R35. Olson came back to the 15th anniversary rally on custom made Rebellion TK. Actually, the Swedish sportsman is famous among the Gumball 3000 participants for his good taste. This year Olson asked designers and mechanics to improve Audi RS6. I don't know as they made it but the car turned into the 950 h.p monster.
Eve
She's on the right
We speak about the international event which was created by Maximilian Cooper ,so I decided that it’s fair to include in this list Grammy award winner, the singer and the actress, Eve (Jihan Jeffers-Cooper). Eve isn’t just magnificent and talented singer who visited Gumball 3000 for many years she is a founder ‘s wife. In 2013 "First lady of Gumball" celebrated the fourth Gumball 3000. That year she drove Morgan Aero Supersports together with Cooper. And after the race which ended on Ibiza they got married.
That’s all. I could forget about someone, but I’m sure that these participants of Gumball 3000 are the most active!
