What does an Olympic gold medalist and World Cup Champion Alpine skier do in the summer? Well if you are U.S. Ski Team standout Bode Miller you go auto racing from London to Istanbul.
That's right, Bode has teamed with Swedish X Games champion freeskier Jon Olsson to drive the famous Gumball 3000 Rally, a Tour de France style auto race stretching from London to Istanbul beginning this Thursday, May 26.
Created in 1999, with just a group of friends rallying across Europe the race has become an international funfest with crowds of over a million people attending last year's event. The 2011 edition will feature over 100 cars that will set off from London on a 3000 mile journey across 10 countries in seven days.
The race will close roads and city centers following a route that incorporates Paris, Barcelona, Monte Carlo (attending the Monaco F1 race), Milan, Venice, Zagreb, Belgrade and Sofia before crossing the finish line in Istanbul on June 1st.
In addition to Bode, Gumball 3000 Rally racers include other sports stars like NFL stars Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts' linebacker Cody Glenn. Celebrities racing include hip hop icon EVE and David Hasselhof. The Gumball also draws Sheikhs, entrepreneurs and dot com billionaires driving high end vehicles by Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Porsche, among others. This year's race will also feature over 20 eco and concept electric cars.
The race begins Thursday, May 26 in London's Covent Garden.
Gumball 3000 Schedule
May 25th - Launch Party
May 26th - London, England Start
May 26th - Paris, France
May 27th - Barcelona, Spain
May 28th - Monaco, Spain - F1
May 29th - Monaco, Spain - F1
May 30th - Venice, Italy
May 31st - Zagreb, Croatia
May 31st - Belgrade, Serbia
June 1st - Sofia, Bulgaria
June 1st - Istanbul, Turkey
If you can - catch Bode at Gumball 3000 Rally
Bode Miller Courtesy James Martin
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