Bannon Quotes in The Gumball Rally (1976)

Bannon: Fifty-five is fast enough to kill you, but slow enough to make you think you're safe.

[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.

Smith: So Mike... what is this, a vintage car event?

Bannon: Well Smitty, you know some things get meaner as they get older.

Bannon: [Answering telephone] Hi, Sam.

Prof. Samuel Graves - Cobra Team: Bannon?

Bannon: It's on, we're go.

Prof. Samuel Graves - Cobra Team: [about the Gumball Rally] Look, I've been giving this matter a lot of thought, and... look, you don't have anything to lose. I mean, to you this thing is just a stunt! I've got a position at this university. I've got a shot at tenure... all I have to do is stay out of trouble a couple more years, I'll be set for life. I can't risk that!

Bannon: It's not a risk... it's a challenge.

Bannon: Hey Franco! Your mother called, she's been looking all over for you!

Franco: Now you make jokes on my mother, huh?

Bannon: No... about your mother, not on your mother. I wouldn't get *on* your mother!

Bannon: The age of the motor car is over.

Smith: [Last lines] Um... how are you going to get back to New York?

Bannon: Hadn't given it much thought.

[pauses]

Bannon: This is ridiculous.

[pauses]

Bannon: Where do you get cars around here?

Smith: Well, it's America, babe.

Bannon: [to Professor Graves] Gumball.

Smith: [watching "The Rabbit" drive off in his T-bucket] That's the ugliest looking car I ever saw.

Bannon: Looks like a jukebox.

Bannon: I never did like actors. My wife ran off with one. But I still don't like 'em.