Steel Ball Run (race)

Steel Ball Run
Sbr-logo-transfer.jpg
General Information
Location(s)	San Diego - New York City
Country	United States
Date(s)	September 25th, 1890 - January 19th, 1891
Organized by	Steven Steel Funny Valentine Speedwagon Foundation

The Steel Ball Run (スティールボールラン, Sutīru Bōru Ran) is the race that drives the plot of Steel Ball Run; a series of checkpoints and routes on a rough course between San Diego and New York City, USA.

Summary

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

The concept of the Steel Ball Run was conceived by Steven Steel and a young Lucy Pendleton at a 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. Steven first found the idea ridiculous, but talked about it anyway, which caught the attention of numerous sponsors ready to gamble on such 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, with Valentine and a number of competitors participating to gather the relics.

The race took 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 nine routes (called "Stages") seperated by known landmarks.

For each stage points are awarded and the one who completed the race with the most points becomes champion. The champion is to receive 50 million dollars, eventually changed to 60 millions. Other prizes include respectivelly 1 million USD, 500,000 USD, 250,000 USD and 120,000USD for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and fifth ranking finalist. Special prizes up to 10th place such as the checkpoint award are available.

Points are awarded following this table:

Placement	Points
1st	100
2nd	50
3rd	40
4th	35
5th	30
6th	25
7th	20
8th	15
9th	13
10th	12
11th	11
12th	10
13th	9
14th	8
15th	7
16th	6
17th	5
18th	4
19th	3
20th	2
21th	1
Unranked	0

A cash prize is awarded for the winner of each Stage and a one cumulative hour bonus is awarded for the first eight ones to be used at the end of the 8th Stage and adjust their arrival time accordingly.

The original competitors used horses, camels, the new automobile or even their own legs in this mad-dash across the country. Different kinds of hazards and climates awaited, 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 numerous deaths among the competitors, and raised seventy trillion dollars in revenue, which Steven Steel donated to various causes.

Route

This section requires expansion.

1st Stage - First 15,000 Meters

"San Diego Beach", San Diego, CA

TO

"Santa Maria Novella Church"

Results

Place	Points	Jockey	Time
1st	100	Sandman	18m 9s
2nd	50	Diego Brando	Flower
3rd	40	Pocoloco	Flower
4th	35	Mountain Tim	Flower
5th	30	Johnny Joestar	Fish
6th	25	Hot Pants	2½ Horses
7th	20	Fritz von Stroheim	3¼ Horses
8th	15	Dixie Chicken	5 Horses
9th	13	Benjamin Boom Boom	8¼ Horses
10th	12	Andre Boom Boom	8½ Horses
11th	11	L. A. Boom Boom	8¾ Horses
12th	10	Zenyatta Mondatta	11 Horses
13th	9	Caravan Serai	13 Horses
14th	8	Baba Yaga	13½ Horses
15th	7	Nellyville	13¾ Horses
16th	6	Dot Han	15 Horses
17th	5	Gaucho	17 Horses
18th	4	Mrs. Robinson	17¼ Horses
19th	3	Norisuke Higashikata	21 Horses
20th	2	Sloop John B	23 Horses
21th	1	Gyro Zeppeli	18m 9s ~Penalty~
22th	0	Billy White	28 Horses
23th	0	Iglesias	35 Horses

2nd Stage - Crossing the Arizona Desert

"Arizona Desert" / Monument Valley, AZ/UT

3rd Stage - Rocky Mountain Breakdown

"Cañon City" Steel Ball Run Chapter 28: Scary Monsters, Part 1

4th Stage - The Small Gravestone on the Wide, Wide Great Plains

"Kansas City" Steel Ball Run Chapter 33: The World of Man, Part 1

5th Stage - Illinois Skyline

Chicago, IL;

"Michigan lakeline" Steel Ball Run Chapter 40: Silent Way, Part 1

6th Stage - Michigan Lakeline

"Michigan lakeline";

Mackinaw City, MI;

Lake Huron, MI Steel Ball Run Chapter 45: The Promised Land: Sugar Mountain, Part 1

7th Stage - Philadelphia Triangle

"Philadelphia" Steel Ball Run Chapter 55: The Victor's Qualifications

8th Stage - Both Sides Now

"New Jersey" Steel Ball Run Chapter 60: Both Sides Now, Part 1

Final Stage - Manhattan Rhapsody

Trinity Church, Lower Manhattan, New York City, NY Steel Ball Run Chapter 90: High Voltage, Part 1

Overall

Outline of Each Stage and Winners

SPOILER WARNING: Part spoiler details may follow.

STAGE	SUBTITLE	ROUTE	TOTAL DISTANCE	DAYS TRAVEL	TOTAL PARTICIPANTS	WINNERS	RETIRES	DEATHS
1st.	15,000 Meters	San Diego Beach - Santa Maria Novella Church	15 km	18 Min.	3852	Gyro Zeppeli (downgraded) Sandman	79	3
2nd.	Crossing the Arizona Desert	- Monument Valley	1,200 km	18 Days 7 Hours 24 Min.	3770	Diego Brando	1219	82
3rd.	Rocky Mountain Breakdown	- Cañon City	710 km （Mountain Route）	5 Days 9 Hours 51 Min.	2469	Hot Pants	551	0
4th.	The Small Gravestone on the Wide, Wide Great Plains	- Kansas City	Approx. 1,250 km	21 Days 7 Hours 10 Min.	1918	Norisuke Higashikata	1476	1
5th.	Illinois Skyline	- Chicago, Michigan Lakeline	Approx. 780 km	14 Days 2 Hours 11 Min.	441	Pocoloco	65	2
6th.	Michigan Lakeline	- Mackinaw City - Lake Huron	Approx. 690 km	-	374	Gyro Zeppeli	313	0
7th.	Philadelphia Triangle	- Philadelphia	Approx.1,300 km	21 Days 6 Hours 5 Min.	61	Diego Brando	9	0
8th.	Both Sides Now	- New Jersey	Approx. 140 km	2 Days	52	Sloop John B	7	0
9th.	Manhattan Rhapsody	-Trinity Church in Manhattan	Approx. 13 km	30 min.	45	Diego Brando (disqualified) Sloop John B	6	0
Overall	Steel Ball Run	San Diego Beach - Trinity Church in Manhattan	Approx. 6000 km	116 Days 6 Hours 33 Min.	3852	Diego Brando (disqualified) Pocoloco	3725	88

Participant Data

SPOILER WARNING: Part spoiler details may follow.

Jockey	Age	Country	Horse's Name	Age	Species	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	Overall	Points
Completed
Pocoloco	21	USA	Hey! Ya!	4	Quarter Horse	3	9	5	2	1	3	3	4	2	Champion	398
Norisuke Higashikata	68	JP	Hono	4	Bavarian Warm Blood	19	6	12	1	2	4	2	3	3	Second	353
Sloop John B	?	USA	Catch a Wave	4	Quarter Horse	20	10	Out	8	6	6	4	1	1	Third	314
Georgie Porgie	?	FR	?	?	?	Out	20	11	12	17	7	8	6	4	Fourth	123
Nellyville	?	USA	Country Grammar	4	Quarter Horse	15	12	13	13	11	9	9	7	5	Fifth	122
Drop outs
Diego Brando	20	UK	Silver Bullet	4	Arab Thoroughbred	2	1	3	54	Out	20	1	2	Disqualified		342
Johnny Joestar	19	USA	Slow Dancer	11	Appaloosa	5	2	2	4	5	2	7	5	Disqualified		295
Gyro Zeppeli	24	Neapolis	Valkyrie	4	Stock Horse	21	4	4	3	4	1	6	Dead			246
Baba Yaga	?	RU	Nut Rocker	5	Arab	14	15	8	Out	10	5	5	Retired			102
Hot Pants	23	USA	Gets Up	3	Mustang	6	5	1	7	3	Retired		Dead			215
Sandman	?	USA	None			1	3	6	6	Dead						190
Dot Han	?	MN	#1	4	Boulonnais	16	8	7	5	Dead						71
Gaucho	-	ES	Peg	6	Criollo	17	Out	10	Dead							17
Mountain Tim	31	USA	Ghost Rider in the Sky	5	Mustang	4	Retired		Dead							35
Fritz von Stroheim	?	DE	Europe Express	4	Trakehner	7	Retired									20
Benjamin Boom Boom	?	USA	Crosstown Traffic	4	Quarter Horse	9	Dead									13
Andre Boom Boom	?	USA	Foxy Lady	3	Quarter Horse	10	Dead?									12
L. A. Boom Boom	?	USA	Little Wing	3	Quarter Horse	11	Dead?									11
Mrs. Robinson	?	MX	El Condor Pasa	7	Appaloosa	18	Retired									4
Oyecomova	-	Neapolis	-	-	-	Out	Dead?									0
Urmd Avdol	-	EG	-	-	Camel	Retired										0
Baron Roocatugo	-	GE	Automobile			Retired										0
Mark Becker	-	-	-	-	-	Dead										0
David Hagen	-	-	-	-	-	Dead										0
Paul Lukather	-	-	-	-	-	Dead										0
Unknown
Zenyatta Mondatta	-	IN	Roxanne	5	Arab	12	7	?	10	?	8	-	-	-	-	57?
Caravan Serai	-	MX	Moon Flower	4	Andalusian	13	18	14	11	7	-	-	-	-	-	52?
Dixie Chicken	-	USA	Ramblin' Man	4	Pinto	8	19	?	?	9	-	-	-	-	-	31?
Nightfly	-	-	-	-	-	Out	Out	?	?	8	-	-	-	-	-	25?
Iglesias	-	PT	Natalie	5	Palomino	23	11	?	?	12	-	-	-	-	-	21?
Kanye	-	-	-	-	-	Out	13	?	?	13	-	-	-	-	-	18?
Mack the Knife	-	-	-	-	-	Out	21	9	?	19	-	-	-	-	-	17?
Shigechi	-	-	-	-	-	Out	14	?	?	15	-	-	-	-	-	15?
Billy White	-	USA	Love Unlimited	5	Mustang	22	16	?	?	14	-	-	-	-	-	14?
Rotters Club	-	-	-	-	-	Out	Out	?	9	-	-	-	-	-	-	13?
Tarkus	-	-	-	-	-	Out	17	?	?	16	-	-	-	-	-	11?
Mister	-	-	-	-	-	Out	Out	?	?	18	-	-	-	-	-	4?

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 7 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.

Gallery

• 

  The trophy of the Steel Ball Run

• SBR First Stage Results Horses.png

  Results of the First Stage

• 1st Stage Steel Ball Run.png

  The First Stage, Map

• SBR C28 P22 2nd Stage Results.png

  Results of the Second Stage

• SBR V6 P178-179 2nd Stage Full Results.png

  Full Results of the Second Stage

• SBR C13 P17 2nd Stage Map.png

  The Second Stage, Map

• SBR C32 P54 3rd Stage Results.png

  Results of the Third Stage

• SBR C40 P8-9 4th Stage Results.png

  Results of the Fourth Stage

• SBR C45 P12 5th Stage Results.png

  Results of the Fifth Stage

• SBR C51 P38 1st-5th Stage Overall.png

  Results of the First through Fifth Stages

• SBR C57 P3 6th Stage Results.png

  Results of the Sixth Stage

• SBR C57 P3 1st-6th Stage Overall.png

  Results of the First through Sixth Stages

• SBR C60 P11 7th Stage Results.png

  Results of the Seven Stage

• SBR C60 P11 1st-7th Stage Overall.png

  Results of the First through Seventh Stages

• SBR C91 P26 8th Stage Results.png

  Results of the Eighth Stage

• SBR C91 P26 1st-8th Stage Overall.png

  Results of the First through Eighth Stages

• 

  Final Results