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, Ferraris, Limousines and everything else you can imagine. The Rally is not a race nor a rally in the traditional sense 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]
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 Europe rally
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 an 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 Rally
The 2008 annual Modball Rally took place in June. The rally started in London and traveled through Geneva, Milan, Zagreb, Budapest before the awards parts in Prague, Czech Republic.
2009 Europe Rally
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 USA Rally
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 E-40 and Rich Boy.
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
Performances...
- Fuel Girls Susie Ward, Vanessa Wise, Sam Britton
2010 East Coast USA Rally
In 2010 Modball Rally organised two American events starting off with the East Coast. The rally started in New York City and finished in Miami, Florida after stopping in Washington DC, Tail of the Dragon, Atlanta and Orlando.
Entrants included the Fuel Girls and Mike Busey's live stage show who toured the entire rally in a RV.
2010 West Coast USA Rally
The west coast Modball Rally saw a huge array of cars travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Death Valley, Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. The rally finished in the Hardwood suite at the Palms Resort and Casino with a concert co-organised by Modball's sponsor Lexani Wheels.
2011 Europe Rally
ROUTE: London Paris Cannes Rome Venice Geneva
The 2011 rally started with a road closure in Covent Garden, central London. After the start all participants headed to Paris for their first checkpoint. The rally made headlines with the participation of models Lucy Pinder and Rhian Sugden who entered the event in a Range Rover Sport. In Paris a couch hit their car and broke the rear left door. The remainder of the rally Lucy and Rhian's door was attached by duct tape and ropes and managed to hold all the way to Geneva for the final party.
2012 Europe Rally
The rally started off in London by closing down three streets in Piccadilly Circus including Rupert Street, Oxendon Street and Coventry Street. During the launch the Queen's fly by coincided with the cars leaving the start line.
Modball rally finished the 2012 in Ibiza, Europe's party capital. 100 cars drove 2000 miles, boarded two boats over 6 days to reach their destination. ROUTE: London Paris Lyon Saint Tropez Barcelona Valencia Checkpoint Denia, ferry Ibiza
2013 Route
The 2013 European rally was announced on June 1, 2012: London Amsterdam Luxembourg Zurich Milan Venice Vienna Bratislava Prague
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 an iPhone application featuring a speedometer, HUD mode and MPH/km/h converter.[2]
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
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