Cannonball Run Europe

Cannonball Run Europe 2007? Did it already happen? Yes!!!
This years Rally took place from the 1st July to the 6th July. Cannonball Run Europe organizers chose to do the Rally completely undercover after countless problems with the police in previous editions of the rally. Prior to the event only the start and finish cities were known. During last years Cannonball Run Europe we were informed about their whereabouts and received daily updates from the road. This year however was completely different and the organisers and participants decided to keep a low profile until after the rally finished safely back in Britain.

Is this the future of road rallies in Europe?
Tispol -the European Traffic Police Network- announced this May that they will ban all road rallies from European roads. The last edition of the Cannonball Run Europe shows that the rally organisers adapt quickly to their changing environment and similar events are most likely to be held without stickers and clearly marked routes. We don’t think this is what Tispol tried to achieve with a ban of road rallies in Europe.

Cannonball Run Europe 2007

Day 1 - Start - ‘Dateline Sandown Park’
At 2.30 pm, the Cannonball Run flag was raised and then dropped by Sam’s checkpoint team. First location: Lake Garda in the Italian Alps. In a new twist, drivers have been given different routes to follow this year to each destination, a move which has several benefits. One, it is more courteous and considerate of other road users, as a smaller number of cars will be on each route, and two, it allows the drivers to see more of the beautiful roads of Europe.

More pics in our Cannonball Run Europe forum

Day 2 ‘Dateline Bratislava’
The 2007 Cannonball Run Europe was gathering on the Day 2 evening in the exclusive and futuristic UFO restaurant on the Novy Most bridge here in Bratislava, in the heart of Slovakia. Friendships are being developed and stories are being swapped as drivers and co-drivers relax in luxurious surroundings ahead of their track day tomorrow. And all this whilst having the most incredible revolving view from the restaurant, seeing for almost 50 miles in all directions.

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Two legendary and notorious teams meet during Cannonball Run Europe in 2004. Lonman is driving the silver Porsche GT2, Dado and Dustin (Teckademics) are driving a rental car because Dado’s M3 didn’t make it through customs. With Lonman as one of the first of the ferry in Marbella, Dado and Dustin want to make sure they overtake him on the way to Barcelona. No wonder the Spanish don’t like rallies.

The Cannonball Run HQ made following statement today:

Due to two cars being impounded in France on the July event and the threat by the French Authorities that they will be impounding any of our cars that cross their country, it is with great regret that we have taken the decision to cancel the Cannonball Run Europe event in September 2006. We are not prepared at this late stage to risk the cars of our entrants and at great costs to ourselves we have made this very difficult decision. All entrants have been informed and will be issued with their choice of a full refund or a transfer to one of the 2007 events.

Tim Porter, Managing Director, stated ‘We have other events Worldwide that we will be concentrating on for 2007 due to the anti social behaviour of the French police and I am not prepared to risk any cars that they do manage to catch! ‘

We apologise for any inconvenience that this has caused.

On the last day the participants drove from Lyon, France to Brussels, Belgium.
Lights flashing and horns sounding, the Cannonball cars roared into Brussels at the end of a six day adventure covering six countries (seven if you count dinner in San Marino on Tuesday!), 3000 miles, many parties, and endless fun.

Belgian police were kind enough to welcome many of us personally just on the outskirts of Brussels, but the 450 mile journey went well for everyone.

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With the first Cannonball Run of the year finishing a couple days ago we bring you the best of Cannonball Run Europe. The pictures are taken during earlier Cannonball Run events including the 2005 Cannonball.

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And the ‘Spirit of Cannonball’ winner is…

The Cannonball Run Europe came to an end on friday the 14th of July. It was a close call but in the end the couple in the Ultima GTR was crowned winner of the 2006 July event!

A true winner by all means. The guys in the Ultima were given a ’spirit of cannonball’ award because although the Ultima broke down for a couple of days, they managed to get a new starter motor shipped over from the UK and fitted in time to catch up with the rest of us at the end of the penultimate leg back up Italy into France. The couple driving the Ultima GTR was very friendly when W1ck3d met them, gave the visitors on saturday some engine roares on their way out, finishing with a little burnout before dissappearing in the horizon.

Cannonball Run Europe 2006 - Day Four (back in France)
Start: Rome, Italy
Finish: Lyon, France
Distance: 593.8 miles (955.63 km)

Here some pictures:

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Enjoy this short video of the Start at the Oatlands Park Hotel, Weybridge. It’s been taken by the Ultima GTR fan ‘M3desmo’.

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The court of Béthune (Pas-de-Calais) pronounced on Tuesday the final confiscation of the Ferrari 360 and Porsche 993 turbo, belonging to two British men. They were confiscated on Sunday evening on the A26 with a speed of 257 and 190km/h. Both British men were accused of speed violation and endangering other people.
It seems that the first time in France, that cars remain confiscated definitely. Besides this confiscation, each driver was given a 3-month suspended jail sentence and a 1.000 Euro fine. The cars will be sold by auction.

Day 3 of the Cannonball Run Europe:
Start: Rimini, Italy
Finish: Rome, Italy
Distance: 243.2 miles (390 km)

Here some pictures of the arrival in Rome:

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More trouble for the Cannonball Run Europe. After some police-problems in Switzerland (we reported about it), two Cannonballer are now in prison in France.

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Day 2 of the Cannonball Run Europe:
Start: Le Meridien, Rimini
Finish: AMUB Magione Track, Italy
Distance: 125 miles (201 km)

Track day is upon us in the Cannonball Run 2006, and entrants have driven 125 miles or so from last night’s base in Rimini to the Bacenella Autodromo Dell’Umbria. The weather is hot and the Cannonballers are having a great time testing their cars on the track here. Helmets are compulsory and safety is paramount, but this is a chance to have some fun!

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