The Gumball Rally1976

[At the Guest Back Room of Gallagher's Steak House, Michael Bannon welcomes the racers]

Bannon:
Ladies, Gentlemen, you have been selected because you have the necessary skills. You are here because you have the determination to suceed. Now, it won't be as easy as last year. There are some who will use any means to try and stop us. Some of you won't make it. For those of you who do, there'll be no glory, no headlines. But... just a few magic hours flat out against the red line, with no catalytic converter and no 55 mile-an-hour speed limit.

[Guests chuckles]

Bannon:
Ladies and gentlemen... The Gumball Rally has begun!

[Guests cheers and applauds; Smith taps glass to quiet them down]

Smith:
Um, for those of you who never done this before, I think I better go over the rules. Um, first thing to remember is there are no rules.

[Guests laughs]

Smith:
The first vehicle to reach the parking lot of the Queen Mary in Long Beach is the winner, the unofficial winner, as this is an unofficial race. And, uh, so it follows thst none of us are in this race. We don't want any civilian involvement. No accidents, please. Remember, it's 2,900 miles. That, 34 hours and 11 minutes, is the record, set last year by our dear friend, Mr. Bannon.

[Guest cheer as Graves shakes Michael's hand]

Smith:
Now I know we all oughta get some rest tonight, but, uh, may I? I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.