Let me just put this right out there-this DVD is a must-have for all car enthusiasts. I have never been so entertained by an automotive DVD to date. The Gumball 3000 is legendary and the action footage in this DVD is unsurpassed.
This 69-minute DVD takes you on the journey of the 2004 Gumball 3000 rally from France to Spain to Morocco and back again to France. That's three countries, two continents and 192 cars in six days. Driving teams come from all over the world to compete in the event. Americans participating in the race include actor Adrien Brody in his Porsche and some B-list celebrities like pro-skater Rob Dyrdek.
The cars themselves are to die for: Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Bentley, Viper, EVO, WRX, Lotus, and some odd contenders like a small 602cc Citroen, a tiny Smart and the out-of-place-in-a-race Range Rover and Hummer. Notable vehicles include a BMW 840 that shoots flames out its tailpipes courtesy of a 56-liter propane tank in the trunk and a "police enthusiast" who's carrying official police lights and uniforms for each of the countries they drive through.
The Gumball rally is mostly an excuse for rich people to take out their exotics during the day and get drunk and party at night. Sounds like heaven to me but I'm short all of the bribe money needed to pay off the police along the way waiting to catch the rally's participants.
The king of Morocco actually got involved and welcomed the racers in person and allowed for no speed limits for the drivers in the Gumball. Now why can't President Bush give the U.S. the same go-ahead? The African leg of the race ended up being the most dangerous due to the small two-lane roads with donkeys and pedestrians trying to make their way along the shoulders. There is footage of a Viper crashing and rolling as well as a crashed Ferrari along the side of the road. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured. My heart was wounded and has not recovered, however, from the sight of the crashed Ferrari. I wonder if their insurance covers them racing in Africa? Hell, the owner probably has enough pocket change to buy another.
On the route back through Spain the police were out in full force stopping all participants and taking their passports. It was entertaining to see Gumballers trying to dodge the police by taking side roads or peeling the rally stickers off their vehicles. Wait until you see the one driver who bails out out of line and tries to outrun the police.
The best part of the DVD is the driving footage of Porsches passing on the shoulder and Ferraris weaving in and out of traffic. Sheer madness and adrenaline.
The DVD also has bonus features that include interviews with Adrien Brody and race founder Maximillion Cooper. Buy this DVD immediately at: gumball3000.com.