Police thwart 'Cannonball Run'

MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- Spanish police temporarily seized luxury and sports cars driven by people they suspected of participating in an illegal road rally named after a 1981 film starring Burt Reynolds, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

Police said they were tipped off by a driver of a family car who said he had been overtaken by high-powered cars bearing rally-type markings in the northeastern region of Catalonia.

The managing director of Cannonball Run Europe, Tim Porter told Reuters on Tuesday that entrants in the rally of the same name had been fined by Spanish police, citing a law which the Spanish embassy later told his organisation does not exist.

"I think it is absolutely outrageous the police can make up laws as they go along," Porter said, adding that another of the rally entrants detained was charged with suspected speeding.

"At least half a dozen of them were picked up in a service station drinking coffee."

www.cnn.com... eut/index.html

Police said they tracked down and impounded 71 cars including Porsches, Ferraris and Rolls Royces and took statements and addresses from their mostly British drivers.

A judge is now deciding whether to formally charge the drivers, he added. Their cars were released after they paid fines of between 150 and 400 euros ($183.6 -$489.6).

Police are attempting to identify the organisers of the rally, which drivers are believed to have paid thousands of dollars to join.

Originally posted by elevatedone
Police are attempting to identify the organisers of the rally, which drivers are believed to have paid thousands of dollars to join.

That sounds like a blast.

All hail Chaos!

I thought that race was called the Gumball run. Wasnt the Cannon ball run just a movie?

Anyway those guys are crazy I saw some guy in one of those races total his Lamborginie and it didnt even phase him he was like oh well.

Seems like a sport for spoiled rich kids to me. Become a Indy car or GT racer.

[edit on 14-9-2004 by ShadowXIX]

[edit on 14-9-2004 by ShadowXIX]

The Gumball is the more famous one, and attracts the really rich kids/celebs/race drivers etc. (also named after a film)

This Cannonball Run is a copy of that and not as well organized it seems!

[edit on 14/9/04 by muppet]

AWESOME! How much fun would that be! Pure chaotic, adrenaline filled pedal-to-the-metal racing.... quick! to the batmobile!

there was also a movie called the Gumball Rally....

I forgot about captain chaos....

We do a cannonball run from Brisbane to Cairns once a year, so far the worst accident was a burst tire which led to a spin and partial roll over of an IS200.