Last week, while I was deep in scavenger hunt mode for the Pontiac Vibe launch. I needed some help, so I contacted the Team Polizei head honcho Alex Roy. Herr Roy informed me he was on a run to Atlanta and would have to call back. That run wasn’t they type of run most of our readers would normally think of when Gumball 144 is discussed.

Alex and Interceptor 144B were leading a parade of 275 BMWs from Braselton, Georgia to nearby Road Atlanta in an attempt to break a Guiness Book record. Following the event, many participants headed to 4ngiefest 2008, a giant gathering of car fanatics in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. While you may have missed the parade, you can still visit the 4ngiefest site to donate.

As our regular readers know, retired underground cross country rally guru Alex Roy has become a close part of the circle here in The Garage. While many may feel that some of the risks Roy has taken, it is impossible to deny that the Cannonball/Gumball legacy has become part of the fabric of North American automotive culture. No matter how irresponsible you may find some of this stuff, there is no avoiding the fact that Roy has been part of something seriously cool.

Even cooler, is that Roy is David Letterman’s guest tonight on the Late Show for no reason other than he is the modern gearhead’s biggest hero. Perhaps anti-hero might be a more fitting term. No matter, as Roy will representing the automotive fraternity in style this evening.

Anyone care to guess which leather he’ll be wearing?