posted 02-07-2003 04:05 PM                  

Los Angeles to Miami - Feb 15th to 22nd 2003.

They say it's a combination Cannonball run, one lap of America Gumball and other rallies... I see it's coming through Louisiana and one stop is in New Orleans. I've sent and email for information. Here's there web site...
http://www.playersrun.com/home.shtml

posted 02-14-2003 05:01 PM                  

I think Larry Lord has a group going there tomorrow. If anyone in SoCal gets out to take a look. Please report what kind of cars are participating... I will be on the lookout when they go through Louisiana on Wed. Feb. 19th...

The entry fee is $7,500 and limited to 100 cars...

Here's quote from there web site:

"LA to Miami
(02/15/2003 - 02/22/2003)
Playersrun will start on February 15th 2003 in Los Angeles at Petersen Museum. Here, you will receive your first clues that will lead you to the first driving event. >From there you will continue to, well, this is a secret, for your first overnight stop. More than 2500 miles on the road, on racetracks, in real open wheel race cars and other driving events (besides many more clues to solve) are awaiting you from now on. You will almost touch the Mexican border, than make your way through Texas to New Orleans and from there down to Florida. Be prepared to look good for media since we have several teams on board. You will have to arrive in Miami in time to make it to the secret spot for the grand finale. The event is only as competitive as you want it to be. We use a point system for every driving event. At the end we add up the points to declare the winner. On public highways only the time difference between the set time and the time given in the logbook will be taken into account.This ensures an equal chance for every competitor to win. We will also give you other interesting challenges to solve that again will count for overall. On the other hand you may just want to enjoy the route and some of the most beautiful scenery the southern US has to offer. Either way in the case you get stuck you will have access to immediate assistance."

Update :
Playersrun will touch Las Vegas on the 15th , Phoenix on the 16th, San Antonio on the 18th, New Orleans on the 19th, Daytona Beach on the 20th and Miami on the 21st.

posted 02-16-2003 08:35 AM                  

Tonight they should be in Phoenix. Leaving Las Vegas this morning...

Players run will touch:
Las Vegas on the 15th,
Phoenix on the 16th,
San Antonio on the 18th,
New Orleans on the 19th,
Daytona Beach on the 20th,
Miami on the 21st.

posted 02-19-2003 11:13 PM                  

I met up with some of the Players Run participants at No Problem Raceway while they had the track reserved for Hot Laps around the 1.8 mile road course (from 3:30 to 5:30). They left No Problem around 6:20 with State Trooper escort for the 80 mile trip to New Orleans. I got to cruise along with them. They were spending the night at the Royal Orleans in the French Quarters and Bourbon Street.

Only 14 cars made it out to No Problem during this time frame. We did rendezvous with another 15 or so when our group got on I-10. It was some kind of ride going down I-10 with a State Trooper in the front and one in the rear (with lights flashing). We got up to 90 to 100 mph at times... Unbelievable...

I was told there were about 40 cars left on the trip...The folks I met were from CA, TX, CO and Chicago. Here's the breakdown according to some of the participants...

5 Lamborginhis
10 Ferraris
1 ZR1 Vette
1 Viper
1 Lotus (didn't see this car but, was told it was awesome roadster)
1 H2
1 Escalade
Several Porsche
Several Mercedes
Few BMWs
1 Jeep
1 F40 Lemans Ferrari

Here's some comments from some of the participants:
- Lots of tickets - don't like to talk about it...
- The group that made it to No Problem said they were the most reserved group - there are some wild guys in other groups... The Europeans seem to be the wildest
- Some of these guys were cruising 180 to 190 mph on Hwys
- One wreck - while some guy was weaving in & out of traffic loss control and ran into wall
- Three film crews (2 US & 1 European) - did catch accident on film
- One bunch likes to party until 3 in the morning
- 2 teams from Colorado (20 miles apart and only met on Players Run both Ferrari owners)
- Roland Linder won two Lemans races 1968 & 1969 driving F40 Lemans Ferrari on trip
- All having good time
- The Hot Laps at No Problem were the most fun some of these guys had
- Also ran on tracks in Las Vegas & Phoenix
- Also did Go Cart track - 125cc & 250cc shifter carts
- Everyone I talked to loved the run
- Solved the 17th mystery - they had to drive through the night on leg from Phoenix (16th) to San Antonio (18th).
- Tomorrow they're off to Daytona Beach
- I made one run on ¼ mile drag strip and got a 13.11 ET at 102.41 mph. Much better time than I expected since motor was warm and temps were around 70 & high humidity after running around road course.

I had a good time and took quite a few pics... Here's some...

Lambo

Lambo & Viper

Father & Son team in Viper from CA

State Troopers who will escort group from No Problem to New Orleans (about 80 miles)

Lambos

ZR1 Vette

posted 02-19-2003 11:30 PM                  

Fuel stop on way to New Orleans...

Two Lambos going bye me on I-10 in New Orleans...

Porsche on I-10 in New Orleans

Just behind State Trooper and rear of Caravan before I got off I-10 at Causeway exit to head back to Mandeville... Great trip tonight...

My Time Slip from tonight... Beat a Mustang with lil cobra snake on side...

posted 02-19-2003 11:32 PM                    

Great coverage, thanks. Looking at the count,not many cars as compared to the Gumball3000 run that will pass through NO in April ... they are targeting 200 total cars!! If you ever get the chance, rent or buy Mischief 3000 on DVD ..i footage from last year's actual run from NY to LA ... you'll see the tickets being written.

posted 02-20-2003 09:16 AM                    

quote:

---

Originally posted by mcrealty:
I did a search for Gumball3000, everything I came up with was in Europe.

---

Was in Europe 99 through 01, last year was first time stae-side and then this year ... run is SF to Miami starting April 17th.

posted 02-20-2003 02:45 PM                  

Here's a couple of links with some info on Gumball 3000 2003 for USA...
http://www.steve.dunker.com/ http://www.gumball3000.com/entry/short_entry.asp

Here's one more pic from last night's tirp to New Orleans... I was the last car in caravan (just behind last official Players Run Car) and in front of the Trailing State Trooper... I've never in my life been followed by police car with lights flashing for 40 miles (that wasn't trying to stop me)...

Well, I should have had Dan Pena along. I tried to take a picture with camera in my right hand (steering wheel in left hand) my eyes on the road ahead and pointing the camera backwards to get a picture of the state trooper car...

Well you can see it didn't work to good... But, if you look at the left side of pic you can see one of his Blue lights...

I'm still on a High from last night...

posted 02-23-2003 03:04 PM                  

Looks like there was a little excitement on way out of New Orleans....

From roadralley board:
"Just another brief note. Today we left Daytona after a private VIP tour and luncheon at the Daytona Speedway. Drove through to Miami with only one incident. The yellow Ferrari spun out of control on the 95 and crashed. Totaled the car, but everyone was okay. Major incident with a long story not to go into here, but 14 of the crew were pulled over, ticketed, arrested and the whole **** leaving New Orleans yesterday.

I just left the dinner/party at Shore Club Skybar in Miami as I am wasted from the partying at the 600 Club in Daytona last night. Judged the bikini contest last night, some damn good talent!

RPM Video, dtmpower, this web site and a few others will be posting some photos. This was the freatest road trip ever...I'm prepping for next year.

Oh, incidentally, my daughter couldn't make it (nor my son) due to school commitments and midterms, so a good friend of mine was my co-driver.

Well, gotta go, big party manana on a 87' yacht in the marina!

Goatass"