The Gumball 3000 is an annual British 3,000-mile (4,800 km) international road rally which takes place on public roads, with a different route around the world each year. Founded in 1999 by Maximillion Cooper, it sees an annual entry of 120 cars, which are mostly exotic and powerful sports cars. However, more unusual entries (such as police cars and camper-vans) have been seen. The Rally is not a serious race in the traditional sense of rally races - there are no prizes for being fastest or official timekeeping of any sort. Organizers emphasize that it is a road trip adventure and not a race.

In 2008, the rally included a unique stopover in Pyongyang, the project having been initiated by the North Korean ambassador to Britain. Permission was initially granted to drive from South Korea through the fortified border, though in the end the stopover was without the cars.

Often compared to the 1980s Cannonball Run films, starring Burt Reynolds, the Gumball 3000 is actually not influenced by these or the stories that gave rise to those movies, but instead draws inspiration from movies such as Two-Lane Blacktop, Vanishing Point, Bullitt and Le Mans. However, there was a 1976 movie called The Gumball Rally featuring a 3000-mile race across America with exotic cars and international drivers on public roads that may be the source of the name of the race.

Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera (pronounced /mɑrˈdʒɛərə/ mar-JAIR-ə; born September 28, 1979) is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew. He has since appeared in MTV's Viva La Bam and Bam's Unholy Union, all three Jackass movies, and Haggard and Minghags, both of which he co-wrote and directed.

Margera was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, to Phil and April Margera. He is the younger brother of Jess Margera and nephew of Vincent Margera. His grandfather nicknamed him "Bam" at the age of three after his habit of running into walls. He attended East High School and cites friend Chris Raab as his only reason for attending high school.

Margera began shooting videos of himself and his friends skateboarding and doing stunts, which eventually turned into the CKY video series. He independently released CKY. CKY2K, CKY3 and CKY4 have also been released. CKY stands for "Camp Kill Yourself", a reference to the film Sleepaway Camp. These early videos feature many of Margera's friends, including Ryan Dunn, Brandon DiCamillo, Rake Yohn, Chris Raab, Brandon Novak and others who form a loose collective known as the CKY Crew. CKY is also the name of a rock band featuring his brother Jess, and the history and relationship between the video and band projects is heavily interlinked.

Maximillion Fife Alexander Cooper (born 7 June 1972) is a British entrepreneur, creative director, racing driver, ex-skateboarder, and founder of the Gumball 3000 brand.

Cooper was born in Stone, Staffordshire, and grew up in Upton-Upon-Severn, Worcestershire, England. He is the son of an abstract artist and musician. After studying at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design Maximillion founded Gumball 3000 in 1999, a lifestyle brand that has gained recognition through creative pursuits including organizing the annual Gumball 3000 car tour and music concerts.^{[citation needed]}

Cooper gained a BA Hons Degree in Fashion Design at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London in the early 90s whilst also pursuing a career as a racing driver. On completion of this degree Cooper modelled for numerous fashion brands in advertising campaigns and runway shows, including Giorgio Armani, Romeo Gigli, Joseph, Ralph Lauren and Mulberry. He also worked at Conde Nast Publishing as an assistant to Lucinda Chambers, Fashion Editor of Vogue Magazine. Later he gained a second BA Hons Degree in Law at Sussex University.