- Modball
-
The Modball Rally is an international road rally which takes place on public roads, with a different route each year. Founded in 2007 it sees an entry of around 100 cars per event which are mostly modified sports cars. However, modified cars do not stop at sports cars and the rally has resulted in entries including fire engines, hearses, Limousines and QT Wildcats. The Rally is not a serious race in the traditional sense of rally races such as the WRC, there are no prizes for being fastest or official timekeeping of any sort. Organizers emphasize that it is a road trip adventure with lots of partying and not a race.[1]
Contents
History
Noted as the Nitro Circus on wheels for the stories during each event the Modball Rally is widely known to be based on the film from the 1980s Cannonball Run, starring Burt Reynolds. The Modball Rally is not a race or timed event like most assume, the rally is a collaboration of car enthusiasts and party people who travel Europe and the USA seeking adventure.
2007
The first ever Modball Rally took place in June 2007 with over 150 cars at the O2 Arena starting grid. The route began in London and ventured through Amsterdam, Cologne, Prague, Vienna with a casino party, Milan with a live performance from the Fuel Girls before finishing with an awards party in Lyon. On day two of the rally the Modball made German Television and the front page of every German newspaper for being surrounded by 100 German Police cars during a car display at the Cologne Arena. Despite having permission to go through Germany three cars were caught speeding on the hard shoulder in Düsseldorf at over 150 mph (240 km/h) resulting in the chief of German Police classing the event as a illegal street race. The result left each Modball vehicle with a fine of €173 and a Police escort to Belgium taking over 10 hours. This however didn't stop the Modballers from making the next party in Prague as they drove their cars through the night. It was for this reason the award for 'Spirit of the Modball' went to every team on the rally.
2008 Europe
The 2008 annual Modball Rally took place in June. The start line was at the Ace Cafe in London, and the rally traveled through and Geneva, Milan, Zagreb, Budapest before the awards parts in Prague, Czech Republic.
2009 Europe
The 2009 event was a road trip adventure from London to Bratislava from June 11–17. The event also included a live performance from MTV's Dirty Sanchez at the London Launch Party. The rally started in London and traveled through Paris, Lyon, Geneva, Milan, Stelvio Pass, Salzburg before the final party in Bratislava. This event received huge magazine and online video coverage including a DVD front cover of Max Power Magazine including unseen footage from the Fast and Furious movie.
2009 Europe Award Winners
The 2009 “Spirit of the Modball”: Mitsubishi Evo 7
The 2009 “Modball Girl”: Kelli Smith
The 2009 “Best outfit”: The Incredibles – Nissan 200SX
The 2009 “Legends of the Modball”: Team OTT – VW Gold VR6
The 2009 "Best Photo": Monster Dead Beaver
2009 USA
The first USA Modball Rally received a fantastic welcome with two events running simultaneously starting on the same day and finishing at exactly the same time in Las Vegas. The West Coast route started in San Francisco then went on to Los Angeles for the Playboy Halloween Party, San Diego for a Fuel Girls live performance, Phoenix Casino Party then Las Vegas. The East Coast rally started in Chicago then traveled through Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City and finished in Las Vegas joining up with the West Coast Modballers for the final Modball awards Party. After the awards party the Modballers moved to the Modball SEMA party at the Bank located inside the stunning Bellagio Casino and Hotel.
The USA Modball Rally partnered up with Lexani Lifestyle who invited the drivers to a second party the following night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino with live performances from E40 and Rich Boy.
2009 USA Award Winners
The 2009 “Spirit of the Modball East”: Brian Hughes – Team Awesome
The 2009 “Spirit of the Modball West”: Team DTA – BMW M5
The 2009 “Modball Girl”: Susie Ward - Fuel Girls
The 2009 “Craziest Car”: Daniel Martinez - Bulletproof Honda NSX
2010 Europe Rally
The 2010 event traveled from London through San Sebastian, Madrid, Barcelona, Monaco, Lyon before finishing in the center of London. The rally began in London on the June 9th and finished on June 14, 2010.
Drivers Entered included:
- Matthew Pritchard from MTV’s Dirty Sanchez
- Georg Fechter from Masters of Dirt
- Fuel Girls Susie Ward, Vanessa Wise, Sam Britton
- Calum Best Car failure day 1, DNS
Performances...
- Fuel Girls Susie Ward, Vanessa Wise, Sam Britton
2010 Europe Award Winners
The 2010 “Spirit of the Modball”: BMW M3
The 2010 “Modball Girl”: Kelli Smith
The 2010 “Best Outfit”: Simon Mann – The Stig
The 2010 “Legend of the Modball”: Flip Flop – Audi A8
The 2010 “Craziest Car”: ben Gott – QT Wildcat
The 2010 “Best Video”: Pritchard – Modballer drinking pee
The 2010 “Most Money Raised”: The Quest for the Tartan Diddy Riders, £7,500
2011 Europe
In an email exchange between Modball and the 2010 rally drivers, the route for the 2011 European rally was released. In accordance with the email: "So to officially announce next years adventure….its an amazing 3000 mile route that starts in London stopping at Paris… Cannes… Rome… Venice… Geneva… Nurburgring!" [2]
Modball Rally Clothing
Modball Rally Clothing was launched in 2010 as a result of the brand's increasing recognition. The clothing was created with sponsors Estate LA and Masters of Dirt and was seen for the first time on the 2010 European rally.
iPhone Application
In May 2010, CoandCoUK developed a iPhone application featuring a speedometer, HUD mode and MPH/km/h converter.[3]
Spirit of the Modball Winners
The accolade of 'Spirit of the Modball' Trophy is awarded to the driver(s) each year that embody the meaning of adventure that the event strives. The Spirit of the Modball award is often awarded to the driver(s) of the vehicle that has overcome all obstacles in order to complete the 3,000 miles (4,800 km) against all odds, such as fixing their broken vehicle, or getting lost en route.
References
External links
Categories:- Road rallying
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
