Wow… Another Gumball 3000 rally has passed. While about 40 cars are in China right now, the rest of us have departed Las Vegas and back in the real world. It is only obvious why it has taken me 2 days to finish this blog wrap up on the Gumball 3000 US Leg event… Las Vegas! Having arrived into Vegas on Monday, we partied in true Gumball fashion after an incredible drive through the desert.
Team Vivid Racing’s 996TT and 997TT left The IVY hotel in San Diego at 8am to embark on its final leg to Las Vegas. The teams going to China headed to Victorville where they dropped off their cars to be loaded into cargo planes. We cruised the highway and took in the scenary. Where it was safe, we did some high speed runs. We took our 997TT to 162mph where we let off as any faster would have ripped our faces off. The car pulls and pulls and pulls!!! Most of the time we cruised around at about 100mph and 85mph when in traffic. We did come across a couple of Gumballers, but with the large stretch of highway on the I-15, cars were very spread out. We finally arrived into Las Vegas after a couple of pit stops at 2:00pm.
Upon arrival, we headed to the 8th floor of the parking garage where a small crowd had gathered for our arrival. We checked into our room overlooking the famous Hard Rock pool and started to meet up with other Gumballers. Friend and 3 time Gumballer Jarod DeAnda, “The Voice of Formula D”, flew in and met up with us. Other friends including Bam and Ryan Dunn, Tyson Beckford, and Curtis from the Famous Stars and Straps skate team all hung out. The night line up was a VIP party at Wasted Space. There we would have an awards ceremony for the US Leg finishers and a couple of special performances by the infamous Cuban Brothers and the Alkoholics. The rest of the night involved all of bicep movement!
This US leg of Gumball 3000 was an amazing time. Reflecting on the past 3 Gumball 3000 rallies we have done in 2003, 2004, 2006, I felt that after last years issue, Gumball has acted professionally and taken control. To my knowledge there were no major incidents, a low amount of tickets, great checkpoints and driving, as well as a new level of media coverage. Over 50 film crews were involved in the rally shooting for everything from CNN, to Fuel TV, Internet shows, and more. Just do a search on Google News or YouTube for Gumball 3000 2008 and you will come across many great stories. In the end, I got to see old friends, meet great clients, and receive some cool gear from Nixon, Puma, Rogue Status and DTA, as well as Famous Stars and Straps. After 3 Gumball 3000 events and 1 Bullrun rally, am I retired? 2009 Los Angeles to Miami, we will see!!!
Special thanks to my co-driver Bucky Lasek pro skateboarder for showing me how to drive a 997TT to death. All the customers that brought out the display cars to each stop. Team Vivid Racing drivers Matt and Jack for keeping it real and representing the spirit of Gumball. Maxx and Julie of Gumball 3000 for continually giving me the most exciting experience of the year. HRE Wheels, JIC Cross, VRTuned ECU Tuning for making this Porsche 997TT mean as hell. Mr. Valentine whoever you are for getting me out of many tickets! Finally all the Vivid Racing crew for making sure the boat was still going straight. Good luck in China to everyone else!
Check out all the great 2008 Gumball 3000 US Leg photos we shot here.
