Fast times at Phantom Hill High
By WILLY COOK
The sixth annual Sun Valley Auto Club Road Rally was the biggest to date and most economically successful, grossing close to $300,000 for the nonprofit Blaine County Drug Coalition. Net proceeds help fund the Idaho Drug Free Youth program, which now serves more than 300 youths. Six heats with 13 drivers each comprised a total of 78 runs down a three-mile-plus course on state Highway 75 near Phantom Hill, north of Ketchum. Six Bugattis, a Lamborghini and a performance-enhanced Nissan with 1,200 horsepower were some of the vehicles entered into the event. Clockwise from top: 1) The fastest man on the highway Saturday was Bostonian Ben Chen, who had runs measuring 244 mph and 246 mph in his Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. The Bugattis, which weigh about 4,500 pounds, have an 8.0-liter, 16-cylinder, turbo-charged engine. 2) Potato farmer Bob Schillington, of Twin Falls, proved again he can drive more than a tractor. He powered his white Porsche GT 2 to a speed of 219.6 mph during the first heat. 3) Ketchum Mayor Nina Jonas drove a 2015 factory Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid during the Ketchum Cruise on Friday. 4) Local Mark Williams drove his red Ferrari 458 Italia 188.8 mph in Saturday’s first heat. 5) Sun Valley Auto Club master mechanic Wolfgang Kuhn performs a 50-point safety check on Schillington’s Porsche Friday during the mandatory examination.
Express photos by Willy Cook |
