The thing about the Gumball and Cannonball is this:
Way, way back in the sixties or seventies, some guy orignialy from eastern Europe struck a bet with someone that he could go from New York to LA in under 48 hours or something.
He got himself a van, installed the biggest engine available, installed aviation fuel tanks and FAA approved fuel pumps and kicked it, and did it.
The press dubbed this stunt "The Cannonbal Run". Since there was no general speed limit in those days, he got of free.
Some rich people then licked the idea so much that they got together and had an annual race on the same route, for four years. When speed limits had come along, though.
The scheme was eventually ended, but Hollywood had heard about it.
Then came the film Cannonball (without Reynolds), a copy cat called "Gumball" and later the infamous (but funny) Burt Reynolds films.
Now, a few years ago, the Gumball 3000 was invented.
So far, races have been carried out in the US and in Europe.
If you are a regular Jackass watcher, you might have caught the coverage of the last European race, a round trip from London to Moscow (military escort in Russia included).