Steel Ball Run (race)

About the Steel Ball Run
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Part 7, Steel Ball Run, is named after this event reminiscent of The Cannonball Run. It 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 race is hosted by Stephen Steel and the president of the United States, Funny Valentine.

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

The race ended January 19th 1891.

The competitors' motives
With the glory of victory Gyro Zeppeli hopes for his country's king to release an amnesty in order to save a young boy from execution, Sandman hopes to buy the land from the 'white man' back for his people, Poco Loco had hopes in becoming the luckiest and richest man in one shot and Johnny Joestar follows Gyro in hopes to learn about his "spin", which he believes is the key to recover himself from his crippled state.

Trivia

 * 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; Barry White (American composer) 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 Melanie.
 * 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).
 * One of the participants is named Norisuke Higashikata, possibly paying homage to Josuke Higashikata, the protagonist of Diamond is Unbreakable.