Today is the last day to drive home a brand new Porsche SUV for only $150.
A 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid will be raffled off tonight as part of the Sun Valley Road Rally event, now in its third year to raise funds for the Blaine County Community Drug Coalition.
As of Thursday morning, 613 tickets of a maximum 1,000 had been sold for the vehicle raffle. The price per ticket is $150.
The Drug Coalition purchased the Porsche for close to the retail price of $67,000, taking a gamble that it could sell enough tickets to make a tidy profit to raise funds for youth alcohol and drug prevention programs. Five hundred tickets needed to be sold to break even, so the gamble has paid off.
"Well I'm relieved that we're not going to lose money, but we're in that gray area and we'd like to make more," said Terry Basolo, Drug Coalition executive director.
The Porsche has been displayed at various locations and events around the Wood River Valley. Most of this week, it was parked on East Avenue near Atkinsons' Market in Ketchum. Tickets are available at the Porsche display, online at www.sunvalleyroadrally.com or at the Drug Coalition in Suite 200 at St. Luke's Clinic on Aviation Drive in Hailey.
Basolo said he hopes to at least reach the 750 mark in ticket sales.
The drawing is set for 9 p.m. tonight as part of a gala dinner and reception at Trail Creek Cabin in Sun Valley.
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Basolo said things are looking up for the fundraiser. As of Thursday, 150 tickets at $175 apiece had been sold for the dinner. He said more than 600 tickets out of an anticipated 750 had been sold for the rally itself on Saturday.
The rally is a chance for drivers to see how fast their machines can go on a three-mile stretch of highway north of Ketchum between the Sawtooth National Recreation Area visitor center and Cathedral Pines. Expect speeds close to 200 mph as drivers of Ford GTs, Porsches, Ferraris and other fast machines put the pedal to the floor.
The public can meet with drivers and inspect their cars at a "spectator concourse" event set for 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday in the lower parking lot at River Run Lodge.
River Run is also a good place to park for the rally. Mountain Rides Transportation Authority will be providing shuttle bus service from River Run and Baker Creek to and from the rally site throughout the day.
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River Run will also be a good place to check out a new Porsche, as company officials will have new vehicles available for test drives throughout the day in the graveled parking lot at the facility. Porsche vehicles will also be available for test drives Sunday at the Sun Valley Golf Club.
Porsche North America and Porsche of Boise are two of the main sponsors for the road rally. Others are Sun Valley Co., the Sun Valley Auto Club, Commercial Tire, Cooper Tire and the Blaine County Sheriff's Office.
"I'm really excited that we've been able to elevate this to one of the larger fundraisers in the valley," Basolo said. "Substance abuse is a very serious problem and I'm thankful that the community, our sponsors and the drivers have come forward with this level of support."
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Expect traffic delays
Traffic delays for the Sun Valley Road Rally of up to 15 minutes will be experienced on Saturday, July 30, between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. between Ketchum and Stanley just north of the SNRA visitor center to Cathedral Pines. Motorists are asked to be patient and understand that the rally is being held to raise money for youth alcohol and drug prevention programs.
Road Rally schedule
Today:
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: driver technical inspections and Ride and Drive with Porsche professional drivers and provided Porsche inventory at Sun Valley Auto Club in Hailey
5 p.m. to midnight: gala dinner, receptions at other events at Trail Creek Cabin in Sun Valley
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.: VIP reception and tech talk with racing star Johnny Unser
6 p.m. to 7 p.m.: reception and silent auction
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.: gala dinner
8 p.m. to 9 p.m.: youth presentations, sponsor presentations, live auction, driver awards ceremony and 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid drawing
9 p.m. to midnight: dancing with music provided by the Paul Tillotson Trio
Saturday:
8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.: spectator concourse at River Run lowest parking lot
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Sun Valley Road Rally on state Highway 75 north of Ketchum
Lee Pelligreen, a Sun Valley visitor from St. Louis, Mo., fills out a raffle ticket to win the 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid SUV parked behind him. Pelligreen said that having his photograph taken while buying the ticket might be the good luck charm he needs to win. Anyone who wishes to prove him wrong can buy a ticket for $150 and come up with his or her own winning formula. The Porsche will be raffled off tonight as part of festivities for the Sun Valley Road Rally.
Express photo by Roland Lane
