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Coming Attraction-High Speeds, Supercars and Mountain Cruising
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Wednesday, February 14, 2018
 

STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK

PHOTOS BY JON CONTI

The Sun Valley Tour de Force is poised to take the Wood River Valley by storm this summer.

And it will benefit the Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

The Sun Valley Tour de Force will bring drivers from all over the country to show off their supercars and put their machines to the test on a closed stretch of Highway 75 known as Phantom Hill during a three-day charity fundraiser July 26 through 28.

More than a thousand spectators will be able to share the experience while enjoying concessions provided by local restaurants in an event similar to the Sun Valley Road Rally that took place on Highway 75 north of Ketchum a few years ago.

The weekend will also include guided scenic mountain drives, a downtown car show, hosted sponsor events and other evening activities such as cocktail shows.

Sun Valley Tour de Force is produced by Intrepid Events, Inc., an Idaho nonprofit founded by Maya Blix and Whitney Werth Slade.

Blix, a Norwegian nonprofit fundraiser who moved to Sun Valley four years ago, produced the Sun Valley Road Rally in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Slade joined her in producing it in 2015 and 2016.

They hope to use their Intrepid Events, Inc., to produce events that support local businesses, raise funds for causes making a difference in the community, while offering unique experiences for locals and visitors.

Advocates CEO Tricia Swartling said that her organization is grateful that Sun Valley Tour de Force has chosen to contribute to The Advocates.

“At a time when our country is experiencing a major culture shift around the rights and safety of women and survivors of sexual assault, our work is essential,” she added. The raised funds will go to support programming in our local schools, our shelter, new safe housing options and ongoing support services for survivors of domestic violence and their families.”

“We’re really excited that we are going to be raising funds for the Advocates,” added Slade. “They do such excellent work. And they’re such an important piece of our community, especially in this social landscape of change.”

Slade and Blix created the Sun Valley Tour de Force after being asked by drivers and others whether there would be ever another road rally north of Ketchum. They decided to move forward after getting a show of support from decisions makers.

The Friday evening event will put the car show back in downtown Ketchum. The event, which brings 6,000 to 7,000 people—many from out of town--is a boon to Ketchum restaurants, said Slade.

The new Cruising in the Mountains event on Thursday will give car manufacturers and owners a chance to show off their vehicles in Idaho’s beautiful landscape as they travel to a destination like Redfish Lake for a nice lunch and some social networking.

“It’s not easy to travel to Idaho so we wanted to make it worthwhile for the people who come here and invest in here,” said Blix.

The Seattle-based Race Rescue Solutions headed up by John Madden will oversee the logistics of the road rally on Saturday, with local law enforcement, fire and EMS assisting with the safety of drivers pushing their cars over 200 miles per hour.

“The Sun Valley Tour de Force team ha the integrity and experience to produce this type of event. I have total faith in their success,” said Madden.

A media team led by Andrew Kane, owner of Grizzly Peak Marketing, will produce multiple videos, including a same-day edit that will premiere at the Saturday night fundraiser.

Peter Bush, veteran New York radio personality and producer of the popular Connecticut car event series, “Caffeine and Carburetors,” will emcee and entertain guests throughout the weekend with his color commentary and knowledge of automobiles.

“He’s so much fun,” said Slade. He knows a lot about cars, and he knows a lot of the drivers personally so he can draw fun stories out of them to make it entertaining for the spectators.”

Early registration for drivers opens this weekend. Drivers who lock in their registration before March 1 can choose their preferred heat and run, availability permitting. Spectator tickets will be available this coming spring.

For more information, visit www.sunvalleytourdeforce.com or email info@sunvalleytourdeforce.com.

SUN VALLEY ROAD RALLY RETURNS

The 10th annual Sun Valley Road Rally is scheduled July 20-21 in support of the Blaine County Drug Coalition.  It will kick off that Friday with the Ketchum Cruz and Block Party with Porches, Corvettes and Ford GTs converging on Festival Meadows.

Drivers will be allowed to push their cars to the max on a five-mile stretch of Gannett Road the following Saturday.

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