Cannonball Blog

Up bright and early, the Cannonballers collected their final mission packs and drove the 425 miles to Calais to get the Eurotunnel back to England. There was a lot of police presence along the route, including helicopters but the boys and girls generally behaved themselves and the day panned out without major incident.

Cannonball Run 2008 finally came to a halt at the glittering Grand Hotel, Brighton where drivers were waved through the chequered flag and given a very welcome glass of champagne. Six days and almost 3000 miles of motoring had given this years Cannonballers a lifetime of memories and some new friends too!

After a quick wash and brush up it was tuxedo time.  Before Cannonballers dined on their salmon and succulent lamb, they were first shown the preview of this years Cannonball Run film. Was it really almost a week ago we were in Sintra?

As dinner came to a close, it was time for Jan to take to the stage for a final time this year and read out the honours list. Every Cannonballer is a hero and a winner of course, but now it was time for the prizes.

Third this year was the Mustang crew of Andy & Mike, competing in their second Cannonball. Second to great acclaim were Jamie & Anisa also Cannonball veterans in the BMW 530D. The winners, announced to a huge roar were David & Adrian in the Brabus Smart car. Proof again that size is not the most important when it really matters!

The final award of the night was the one most acclaimed by Cannonballers - the Spirit of Cannonball trophy. As Jan put it “most of you started in a car and finished it in the same one”, Not Darren and Dean though! They started in their Vauxhall Vectra, but an amazing 7 cars later (including Spanish and French taxis) they arrived at the Grand Hotel in a Golf GTI. That’s what Cannonballing is all about and that’s why they picked up the Spirit of the Cannonball award.

And now…a day or two to catch your breath, and then its time to start thinking about Cannonball Run 2009. Will you be on the starting grid this time?

Under the very watchful eyes of police cars, bikes and even a helicopter, the Cannonballers left the beautiful city of Barcelona heading north.  Crossing the border into France, drivers were welcomed by the local gendarmerie, who it must be admitted, cast a few admiring glances at the gleaming machinery as they checked cars for tracking devices. 

However, when they clocked Kevin and Robbie arriving in their TVR, the famous French sang-froid disappeared as the policemen fell about laughing at the sight unfolding before them.  Asked to open the bonnet so that the police could make the normal device check, the lads pleaded not to, on the basis that the bonnet was held down with their last pieces of gaffer tape!  The temperature in the TVR was up to 105F and the boys had their own in-car sauna as the car’s thermostat had packed up and the only way to keep the engine cool was to have the heater on full blast!  As a wringing-wet Kevin and Robbie pulled away from the checkpoint, the gendarmes had only two words of advice for them as they drove into France - “sell it!”

After all cars had safely negotiated the border, a stunning drive unfolded through the Pyrenees, with the undoubted highlight being a crossing of the world-famous Foster designed Millau Bridge.  Opened in 2004, the Millau is the world’s tallest road bridge, soaring more than 300 metres over the valley and river below.  Everyone remembers the famous episode of ‘Top Gear’ with the Zonda, Ford GT and Ferrari 430 coming over the Millau - well now the Cannonballers have all experienced it for themselves!  

All drivers arrived safely at the five star Sofitel Celestins at Vichy where they chilled out with a drink or two and recounted their tales of the day.  Dinner was a stroll away beside the lake, and thoughts turned to the homeward journey…

The cars left Merida early Wednesday morning to travel 590 miles across Spain to Barcelona. Prior to leaving all drivers had to take the obligatory daily breathalyzer test. This inevitably meant that we had a couple of late starters as a zero reading was required before departure.

The route to Barcelona took the drivers across the stunning Spanish countryside. The roads had it all; fantastic scenery, great views and winding mountain passes. In 35 degree heat the Cannonballers had never appreciated their air conditioning more!

Drivers were making good progress until they hit a road block 50 miles outside Barcelona.  The Catalonian Constabulary were keen to meet the legendary ‘ballers and get a closer look at their stunning machines.  The Spanish police pulled over 7 cars and after a few hours of questioning each received a fine and a slap on the wrist.

Andy and Mike’s Mustang encountered mechanical difficulties and had to crawl the entire leg after an over-enthusiastic track outing the previous day. However the boys are confident that they will make it home.  Unfortunately Neil and Mark in the XKR won’t be so lucky.  Their 2 day wait in Bordeaux for a new tyre proved to be a waste of time as the initial blow out buckled the wheel rim making fitting a new tyre impossible.  Gutted to have lost two great Cannonballers, but look forward to catching up with them at the final night party in Brighton.

After all the cars arrived safely at the hotel, some a lot earlier than others, there was time to chill out over a few beers and relive the adventures of the day.  In the evening the ‘ballers headed to the Opium Mar, an exclusive beach side restaurant and club to enjoy a delicious meal.  After dinner we settled down in the VIP areas reserved to us and partied into the early hours.  As the girls were setting up the checkpoint for the 4^th stage, some of the guys were only just making their way back into the hotel from the club! 

Today the ‘Ballers left the hotel and drove just a couple of miles to the world famous Estoril racing circuit, regarded as one of the best circuits in Portugal. Estoril has seen many legends of motor racing grace it’s tarmac including the great Ayrton Senna & the multi F1 champion Michael Schumacher.

After a safety & track etiquette briefing by Phiroze Bilimoria, a British GT & soon to be BTCC racing driver, it was all systems go.  An ‘open pit-lane’ made it possible for the cars to take to the track as and when they pleased & wasted no time tearing up the asphalt under the heat of the Portugese sun.

With no serious ‘offs’ (just one or two visits to the gravel traps!) Estoril was good to our cars & after 6 hours of exhilarating, unlimited track time it was time to leave with all prides intact & the smell of burning rubber and brakes still lingering in the air.

Next stop Merida, a medieval town 190 miles from the track, just inside the Spanish boarder.  Little did the guys know what was in store for them when they reached their destination. It seemed that the whole of Merida turned out to greet the drivers.  Suddenly every Cannonballers became a film star. The guys were greeted to rounds of applause as the roar of exhausts bounced off the town’s ancient walls.  Never has this beautiful town experienced anything quite as spectacular in it’s 500 year history as the arrival of the Cannonball Run Europe!!!!  Most of the onlookers had only seen these cars in magazines & their dreams, now they had the chance to get VERY upfront & personal causing the town to come to a complete standstill.

After an afternoon & early evening of madness and mayhem the excitement died down, just enough for the ‘ballers to freshen up and make their way to Los Lomas, a beautiful amphitheatre, their evening meal & entertainment.

Our unfortunate casualties today were Sam & Colin in their VX220. After a great track day the car packed up 30 miles from Merida, shedding most of it’s oil in the process! The guys are certainly not ready to go home and will now be hitching rides with other Cannonballers.  The Vauxhall Vectra of Dean & Darren has a suspected head gasket failure & is now residing in a garage just inside the Spanish boarder. The guys will now continue in another Vectra, courtesy of the local hire company!  They may have lost their cars, but none of  the Cannonball spirit!

All the drivers gathered at Sandown Park on Sunday morning with their stunning cars gleeming and engines revved and ready to go.  Ranging from, and lets not forget the

On Sunday morning the drivers gathered at Sandown Park Racecourse in Surrey for the start of the 2008 Cannonball Run Europe.  A fantastic range of cars were on display ranging from Ferraris, Porsches & Lamborghinis, to Brabus Smart car, Mini Cooper Works, Vauxhall VX2000 and the rally cars (Impreza & Evo). All the cars looked stunning, gleaming, fully prepped and raring to go.  The countdown is finally over!  At midday the drivers went into the Drivers´ Briefing before lining up on the starting grid.  With a crowd of excited onlookers, at 12.30 the first car pulled up onto the starting grid.  The co-driver ran out and was given the first mission pack and the chequered flag went up for the first car; an Audi RS6, the very first in the country!  The other cars followed in quick succession until all the cars were on their way.  The 3000 mile adventure has begun.

The first leg was to be a thousand mile trip of pure driving pleasure through France, Spain and Portugal, where their final destination was Sintra (just outside Lisbon). However, in order to get to France the drivers first had to board a ferry from Portsmouth bound for Caen. This is a 6 hour crossing to the beaches of Normandy which, for some Cannonballers, itching to get back into their cars and onto the open roads, felt like a lifetime. The journey (pretty choppy at times!) was spent chatting and getting to know one another.  Some drivers tried to get 40 winks, some compared engine specs, others discussed tactics and route options and many of them were trying to predict what lay ahead of them for the rest of the week.

The drive down was tough at times. The weather wasn´t always kind to us but drivers got through the night knowing what was in store for them when they arrived at their destination…the beautiful 5* Penha Longa hotel complete with swimming pool, bright sunshine, nice cool beers and buckets of chilled champagne (a very welcome change to the litres of Redbull that have been consumed during the night!).

The first to arrive in Sintra was Jamie Chapman, in his BMW 530D with 3 chicks on board, one was his girlfriend Anisa, the other two were stuck in his grill!! Second were the Dutch duo of Rene & Patrick in a BMW 325. They were able to plug their route onto the internet to allow friends and family back home to watch their progress. Rene´s mum was delighted to hear they had arrived safely, but couldn´t believe how quickly they got there.

All cars made it in for 16:30, except for one. The Jaguar XKR driven by Neil Legget and Mark Stewart. They are currently waiting in Bordeaux for a new tyre after they suffered a blow out on the Motorway.  Now you would think burst tyre, get it replaced and they would be back on the road, simple.  Wrong! The boys have custom made 20″ tyres and have to wait 2 days to get them shipped in!  Never ones to give up though and in true Cannonball style, they will be re-joining the Run on Wednesday.

The afternoon was spent relaxing by the pool of the hotel exchanging stories and reliving their journeys down, which for some, were much more eventful than others!

The Cannonball Run Europe is off to a fantastic start and, although the boys don´t know it yet, they have an amazing track day lined up for them tomorrow.

With just a few days to go now until the chequered flag flashes down at 30 second intervals to send the 2008 Cannonballers on their mission into the unknown, we are opening up our official 2008 Cannonball Run Europe Blog.  Excitement is guaranteed, limits will be explored, reputations will be made and broken as Cannonball crews battle for the trophy over a secret 3000 mile course around Europe.  There can only be one overall winner who will lift the coveted trophy at the black tie final night party in Brighton but along the way there will be thrills and spills and nightly awards as the drivers sink tall drinks and tell taller tales! 

One thing is for certain though.  Wherever the Cannonball Run chooses to flash through the hot spots of Europe, the cars will always be the stars (sorry guys!)  Here, we can reveal just some of the beasts of the road which will be part of this year’s adventure!

Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins & Jags. Porsches and BMWs are out in force along with the first RS6 in the country!  Also on the starting line is a McLaren SLR, a Mustang and a Corvette.  But it’s not just about the muscle cars as proved by the Mini Cooper S GP and Brabus Smart Car!   As you will see, there’s something for everyone on the Cannonball Run!

Follow our progress on our daily Blog as the Cannonballers live the dream and explore their limits.