Michael Bannon (Michael Sarrazin) is distracted while sitting in a board meeting. Ignoring the man who is delivering a report, Bannon uses his phone. When Steve "Smitty" Smith (Tim McIntire) at the other end answers, Michael says, "Gumball." Soon, multiple phones ring and the word 'Gumball' is repeated. No sooner is the word given than the receiver rushes out the door. The various folk assemble in New York City and plan to race to Los Angeles, namely the parking lot of the Queen Mary. The time to beat is 34 hours, 11 minutes! The main competitors to follow are Bannon in his Cobra and Smitty in a Ferrari. Smitty has hired an Italian driver, Franco (Raul Julia), to give him an edge. However, there is a snag. Lieutenant Roscoe (Norman Burton) has been trying to stop this crazy race and he is confident he will get them this year!
This is an ensemble cast so the story bounces from character to character. This is mostly about the funny moments for each team as they traverse the United States. It is often slapstick silly, especially the antics of the mad Hungarian motorcyclist or Gary Busey's Camaro Team. Some bits reminded me of The Great Race (1965). Of course, this movie inspired the later Cannonball Run movies.
The movie is based on the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, a race that was run several times in the 1970s until it was shut down by a real-life Lt. Roscoe. However, the Cannonball Run Challenge continues. The most recent record (according to Wikipedia) is 25 hours and 39 minutes. This saw three men in the car with lots of James Bond-like gizmos to allow them to evade the police. At an average speed of 110 mph, smokey will give chase!
Good popcorn fun.
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