Motorsports family joins Cannonball 1000

MANILA, Philippines - A family of motorsports enthusiasts is throwing their support behind the Cannonball 1000, a 24-hour endurance drive next month traversing a scenic North Luzon loop.

The Paragon Group of Companies, led by its vice president Rhodora “Tita Doray” Morales and her children Renan and Erika, is backing the unique motorsports event on Jan. 9 as major sponsor and participant.

The Morales matriarch used to be a motocross rider with Cannonball 1000 organizer Joey Almeda during the 1970s, while her children Renan and Erika are multi-titled circuit-racing champions. Renan, for one, will be the co-driver of GT racing champion and Big Brother participant Gaby dela Merced, using a Mazda car, in the Celebrity Class, where his sister Erika is also entered.

A fellowship night for the participants will be held at the Urdaneta Village Club House on Jan. 2, from 6 p.m. onwards.

Also backed by Granstar Motors, KTM, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Vespa, MV Augusta, Ducati, BMW, Mazda, Jeep and Harley-Davidson, the Cannonball 1000 is a unique motorsports endurance drive covering a Luzon route of over 1,000 kilometers under a time limit of only 24 hours.

Interested drivers may register at tel. Nos. 0919-6100588 (Smart) or 0927-3607309 (Globe) and at www.cannonballclubph.com. Other details can also be found at the event’s Facebook account.

Participants such as TV host Danby Henares, actors Richard Gutierrez and Dominic Ochoa, actresses Diana Zubiri and Jackie Rice, chef Andrew Lopez, host/model Andy Smith, Team Thunderbugs from Bacolod City and Miata Club of the Philippines will get their need for speed satisfied as they pass through towns Baloc, Ilagan, Tuguegarao, Aparri, Pagudpud, Laoag, Vigan, La Union, Baguio and Tarlac before coming full circle in Clark.

The 24-hour endurance drive 1000 is open to all cars and motorcycles with displacements of over 300cc.

The field will be testing their superbikes and cars to the limit as they begin their day-long journey from the Widus Hotel and Casino in Clark Pampanga on the night of Jan. 9.