Antonov Transport For Big Boys' Toys

The Gumball Rally, an annual repeat customer for the An-124 to move it's competitors cars between continents, is now in its 10th year, and lining up again to raise the stress levels of every police officer on it's route, same as usual.

Starting the US leg in San Francisco at 10am on Saturday the rally will be stopping off in Hollywood for an invitation only VIP party in Hollywood that evening.

With an entry fee of US$120,000 and the need to supply your own, usually rather expensive, motor this is no game for anyone who has to ask how much it costs.

Next day it's off to San Diego and Vegas, not forgetting to take your hangover with you, oh, and stay within the speed limit, right?

From Vegas it's onto one of the three An-124s, all equipped with specially designed double deck car transport systems, being used to fly the entire complement of competitors to Nanjing, China before they end up in Beijing for the Olympics via a quick night stop in North Korea.

The Gumball has often created news for not necessarily the best reasons. Let's wish them well this year and hope that they can enjoy themselves without damaging the countryside too much along the way.

Photos of 2007 Gumball 3000 Rally in London courtesy of John Griffiths via Flickr