Cannonball 1000 lures 3-wheel Morgans

Three-wheel Morgan cars will add uniqueness to the Cannonball 1000, a novel motorsports event featuring cars and motorcycles in a 1,000-kilometer endurance race that will wind through northern and central Luzon under a 24-hour time limit.

Manila Sportscar Club’s Joe La’O, Oscar Medalla and Michael Aguilar will pilot their half-car, half-motorcycle Morgans in the Jan. 9 competition.

The field of superbikes and cars will be flagged off at Widus Hotel and Casino in Clark Field, Pampanga, on the night of the race.

Prominent personalities are among those vying in the race, including TV host Danby Henares of Xtreme Riders, Filipino-American rider Rene Marquez, actors Richard Gutierrez and Dominic Ochoa, circuit racer Gaby dela Merced, chef Andrew Lopez, host-model Andy Smith and Team Thunderbugs from Bacolod City led by its chair Manuel Lamata.

Cannonball 1000, which is also backed by Ducati (Access Plus), Granstar Motors (Vespa, Aprilia, KTM) and BMW is open to all cars and motorcycles with displacements of 301cc and above.

The North Luzon race loop will pass through Baloc, Ilagan, Tuguegarao, Aparri, Pagudpud, Laoag, Vigan, La Union, Baguio, and Tarlac and back to Clark.

Underbones and scooters with engine displacements of 300cc and below will be race in the Cannonball 500. The competition will trace a more compact route of 500 km under a 12-hour time limit.