Lap Of The Goods
Obviously, the Cannonball Run could not be allowed to exist. So Yates got involved in the One Lap of America. The first event took place in 1984, when Yates circled the lower 48 states. It got better. First by being a series of timed stages on public roads, then developing into a succession of track stints, with competitors driving from one track to the next (at legal speeds, but sometimes for 24 hours). Once trackside, the race is against the clock, not each other, with participants divided into classes according to retail prices, number of doors, etc. The duration of these events has been variable, with one covering 10,000 miles in 10 days and another completing 4000 miles over six days. In either case, the rules state that only one set of tires can be used, which makes things a little more interesting.
Smoking Gum
The Gumball Rally was a 1976 movie, reputedly a comedy, 'inspired' by the real-life Cannonball Run. Its name was hijacked by a bunch of rich, spoiled brats who think nothing of handing over thousands of dollars, pissing off every other road user and blasting their fast cars through various parts of Europe and the US, all in the name of fun. The Gumball 3000 is so-called because participants must cover 3000 miles in six days. Its organizers claim it's all done at legal speeds, but the reality is somewhat different. The Cannonball Run only saw a broken arm. In Europe, the Gumball 3000 has seen two fatalities, neither of whom were participants.