Steel Ball Run (race)

The Steel Ball Run (スティールボールラン) is the race that delivers the setting of Part VII: Steel Ball Run; a series of checkpoints and routes on a rough course between San Diego and New York City, USA.

Summary
Part VII: Steel Ball Run is named after this event, hosted by Steven Steel and the President of the United States, Funny Valentine.

The idea of the Steel Ball Run was imagined both by Steven Steel and a young Lucy Pendleton at one point between 1884 and 1888. Listening to Steven's ramblings about organizing a long distance horse-ride, Lucy proposed that Steven made it a race across America instead with an enormous prize money. Steven first found the idea ridiculous, but talked about it anyway, which caught the attention of numerous sponsors ready to gamble on that huge event. At one point, Funny Valentine involved himself in the organization of the race, determining the journey with Joseph of Arimathea's map and secretly taking command over the whole event. It would then serve as a front for the search for the Saint Corpse Parts, Funny Valentine and a number of competitors participating in the race to gather the relics.

The race takes place in the USA, starting September 25th, 1890 at 10 AM on San Diego beach, with the final finish line located in New York City. The total distance is estimated at around 6000 km, made up by several routes (called "Stages") seperated by known landmarks.

The champion is to receive 50 million dollars. Other prizes: 2nd place 1 million USD; 3rd place 500,000 USD; 4th place 250,000 USD; 5th place 120,000; special prizes up to 10th place such as the checkpoint award are available.

The original competitors use horses, camels, the new automobile and (in the case of Sandman) their own two feet in this mad-dash across the country. Different kinds of hazards and climates await them, between the dryness of the Arizona desert or the challenge of crossing a frozen lake.

The race ended January 19th, 1891. It was heavily criticized for the numerous deaths it caused among the competitors, and had and economic result of 7,000,000,000,000,000 yen. Steven Steel donated everything to various causes, stopping the criticisms altogether.

Stage 1

 * "San Diego Beach", San Diego, CA 
 * TO
 * "Santa Maria Novella Church" 

Stage 2

 * "Arizona Desert" / Monument Valley, AZ/UT 

Stage 3

 * "Cannon City" (or "Canon City") 

Stage 4

 * "Kansas City" 

Stage 5

 * Chicago, IL;
 * "Michigan lakeline" 

Stage 6

 * "Michigan lakeline";
 * Mackinaw City, MI;
 * Lake Huron, MI 

Stage 7

 * "Philadelphia" 

Stage 8

 * "New Jersey" 

Stage 9

 * Trinity Church, Lower Manhattan, New York City, NY 

Trivia

 * The grand cash prize of $50 million is given in modern values, and is not to be confused with what $50 million would be worth in 1890 (which would equal $1,283,369,506.24 in 2016's USD currency value). It has been written as such to convey its value to the standard reader, and is said to be closer to 6 billion yen.
 * The list of the first stages reveals a lot more than just the results. Several important characters are named there, as well the next minor villains Gyro and Johnny will face.
 * For example some riders (never seen in the manga) whose names are music references are; Billy White (American composer Barry White) and his horse Love Unlimited (Orchestra featuring Barry White), Sloop John B (Beach Boys song) and his horse Catch a Wave (another Beach Boys song) and Iglesias (Spanish singer Julio Iglesias) and his horse Natalie.
 * Another example are riders named after albums like Dixie Chicken (album by the American rock band Little Feat) and his horse Ramblin' Man (song by The Allman Brothers Band), Nellyville (The second album by American rapper, Nelly) and his horse Country Grammar (the first Nelly album released) and Zenyatta Mondatta (from the album by The Police and a self reference to the English names of Oingo and Boingo in VIZ Media's translation of Stardust Crusaders) and his horse Roxanne (a song by The Police).
 * The name of the race and of Part VII appears to reference the film The Cannonball Run.
 * According to the overall results of the Steel Ball Run, 3,852 competed in the race and 88 died.