There comes a time in most everyone's life when the automobile holds a particular fascination.  Watches hold a similar sort of mechanical and artistic kind of mystique and intrigue.  We can all remember our first car and most can remember their first watch, but only a select few have a desire or urge in their psyche that brings them to the point of actually collecting cars or timepieces.  Many who do joined the first annual Going to the Sun Rally that started September 11 in Red Lodge, Montana...  Click to download the entire article

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RALLY 2006

We were happy to welcome all of the returning Founding Members and the new Members who joined us. It was a fantastic Rally.

Again, we are pleased to announce that Premier Financial Services is the named Rally Sponsor for 2006-2008 and we would like to thank Mitch Katz and all of his staff.

In addition The Club at Spanish Peaks joined the Rally as the official Montana Host Sponsor and we would like to both thank Jim, Patty and Brian Dolan, and, Dean and Margot Genge and all of their staff.

The first day of the Rally we went over the Beartooth Highway, through Yellowstone National Park and down the Gallatin Canyon where the Movie "A River Runs Through It" was filmed. We stayed at The Club at Spanish Peaks. All I can say is WOW. The Club at Spanish Peaks went all out to Host the Rally. 

The Rally Roads and were some fantastic Montana drives.

Brad Sangray of the Montana Highway Patrol came on the Rally once again. 

It really was a DRIVERS RALLY.


The Rally dates for 2006 were:
SEPTEMBER 4th to SEPTEMBER the 10th.

We added an extra day to the Rally to:

• • cover the Glacier to Yellowstone Route distance,
• • drive the GREAT Roads
• • allow more time for Members to get to know each other
• • START and STOP in the same location Red Lodge Montana.

Itinerary for Going to the Sun Rally 2006

9/04/06 Day ZERO: Fly into Billings, MT.

9/05/06 Day One: RALLY STARTS - Leave Red Lodge, MT and drive through Yellowstone National Park to The Club at Spanish Peaks, Big Sky, MT

9/06/06 Day Two: Leave Spanish Peaks Club, Big Sky, MT and drive through the Big Hole Valley to Missoula, MT (Double Tree Hotel)

9/07/06 Day Three: Leave Missoula, MT and drive through Libby, MT to Whitefish, MT (Grouse Mountain Lodge)

9/08/06 Day Four: Leave Whitefish, MT and drive through Glacier National Park to Helena, MT (Great Northern Hotel)

9/09/06 Day Five: RALLY ENDS - Leave Helena, MT and drive to Red Lodge, MT (Pollard Hotel)

The Going to the Sun Rally would like to thank all of the Founding Members for coming on this inagural event and in making it the success that it was.

While the cars were great it was the people that made this event special. Our memories are more about the people and the fun that we had together. The smiles on faces after the run up the Rockies, the fast winding turns and open plains, of people getting out of their cars and saying.."I want to DANCE".. and then dancing.

Of someone saying that this is road was better than "SE..", and meaning it, and then having to sleep on the couch that night .. and this after six kids.

Farnum Alston 1957 Jaguar XK140 MC
Kirsten Alston

Dave Berghold 1968 Karmann Ghia
Paul Manney

Nick Blackman 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
Kathy Blackman

David E. Davis 1962 Chevrolet Corvette
Jeannie Davis

Jim Dolan 1965 AC 427 Cobra
Patricia Dolan

Brian Dolan 1966 Ford Mustang GT350 (Hertz)
Dean Genge

David Draper 1961 Ferrari 250GT LWB California Spyder
Stephanie Draper

Paul Felton 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB
Jim Salestrom

Steve Gordon 1965 Jaguar XKE FHC
Allyson Gordon

Sam Haberman 1963 Chrysler 300 Convertible
Toby Haberman

David Hammond 1956 Triumph TR 3

Donald Kaitz 1967 Chevrolet 427 Corvette Roadster
Barbara Kaitz

David Kelley 1969 Porsche 912 (RGRUPPE)
Bill Potts

Terry Larson 1966 Jaguar XKE Roadster
Darlene Larson

Scott McPherson 1965 Chevrolet 327 Corvette
Debbie Usery

Wendell Morrill 1956 Ford Sunliner Convertible
Judy Morrill

Garth Norton 1969 Jaguar XKE Convertible
Gary Horstkorta

Peter Read 1960 Aston Martin DB4-GT-Zagato
Peter Stoneberg

Phil Reyns 1963 AC 289 Cobra
Francoise Reyns

Matt Sell 1967 Jaguar XKE Roadster (Series I)
Chris Sell

Jim Sitton 1956 Jaguar XK140 Roadster
Jean E. Deming

Hank Torian 1962 Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster
Dennis Birkhimer

Dick Vento 1961 Ferrari 250 SWB California Spyder
Lana Vento

Bill Warden 1966 Triumph TR4A
Nathan Terre

Sir John White 1961 Jaguar MkII Coupe
Margaret Somerville

Eric Zausner 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast

The Rally covered over 1,000 miles across Montana from Yellowstone to Glacier National Parks. While a few cars had mechanical problems most were up and running at the end and the obvious excellent state of the cars was impressive. Leo DeVires our Rally mechanic worked his magic on the short term fixes and our thanks go out to him and his family.

We had typical Montana Weather from some snow the first day to sun shine on the rest of the route. The major storm that hit Montana Sunday Night and Monday closed Glacier National Park's Going to the Sun Road for several days but when we got there it had just opened and we were some of the first cars over it.

The snow covered peaks were magnificent... The Alps have nothing on this road.

The second, third and fourth days saw sunny skys and incredable cloud formations as we drove across the southern plains of the Beaverhead Valley, up along the Rocky Mountains and into Glacier, and, then up to Libby and down to Missoula.

The roads were fast and dry and many people said that "these are the best roads of any Rally that they had ever been on".

THIS IS A DRIVERS RALLY.

The run from Helena up along the Rockies is truely one of the outstanding drives in the US.

At the closing night event Jim Salestrom put a slide show together with our photographer Will Brewster. Jim's music and the slide show captured the feeling of the event in pictures and song and there were a few wet eyes in the group.

Several people won awards at the event -

Steve and Allyson Gordon who drove a 1965 Jaguar XKE FHC won one of two "Corps of Discovery" awards for going to Idaho and Canada during the event, and, getting into a cattle drive. They brought back Canadian Beer and a hockey stick to prove that they had gone there.... They almost did not get back as they had no passports.

Gary Horstkorta and Garth Norton who drove a 1969 Jaguar XKE convertible won the second "Corps of Discovery" award for exploring Yellowstone Park long after others were in the Bar and for getting into a "Buffalo" drive. In spite of the questionable nature of their accomplishments they won an award.

Phil and Francoise Reyns won one of the "Spirit of Discovery" awards for driving a 289 Cobra with no top across Montana in all weather. The award was a hand made silver and gold belt buckle from Montana Silversmiths and a $500 gift certificate from Car Man's Garage (www.carmansgarage.com).

Kirsten Alston won a "Spirit of Discovery" award, a silver and gold belt buckle from Montana Silversmiths, for her spirit and work in helping to support the event both before and during the Rally.

Peter Read who drove a 1960 Aston Martin DB4-GT-Zagato won a "Going to the Sun Rally" award for his outstanding contribution to the Rally.

This award is a post Rally award voted on by the Executive Committee of the Going to the Sun Rally and is given to a individual or organization that best exemplifies the spirit and values that the Rally was founded on. You can get to know a person quickly by what they do and how they do it and Peter's quiet humanity and grace shone. We are honored to present him this award.

Jim Salestrom the co-pilot in a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB won a "Going to the Sun Rally" award for his outstanding contribution to the Rally.

This award is a post Rally award voted on by the Executive Committee of the Going to the Sun Rally and is given to a individual or organization that best exemplifies the spirit and values that the Rally was founded on. Jim's musical and photographic contribution to the event helped to make this a very special Rally. His music and pictures captured the soul of the Rally. He was working when others were sleeping and provided music when ever the opportunity came up and he helped to pull together a very special closing program. We are honored to have had Jim on this event and to present him with this award.

Our congratulations to all of the above award recipents and to all the Founding Members who helped to make this event both special and a success.

Brad Sandgray of the Montana Highway Patrol was presented with a Montana Highway Patrol commenative rifle (which was auctioned off, bought by a Founding Member and then presented back to Brad as a thank you for all his assistance).

Our thanks also go out to our many sponsors and supporters including: Spanish Peaks, Girard-Perregaux, Premier Financial Services, The Last Wind-up, Arfive, Big Trout Ranch, Black Bear LLC, First Interstate Bank, The Igniter Car Club, and the Montana Highway Patrol.

The auction we held and the Rally itself raised over $10,000 for charities - The Montana Highway Patrol Fund; Vocational Education; the Blackfeet Community College and a River Restoration Fund. We and the Rallies Founding Members are proud to have provided this needed support to these organizations.

We would also like to thank our Rally team: Will Brewster photographer; Brian Cavalier (Luggage and Transport), The Montana Rose Band; Matt Sitton photographer and videographer, and, our support team Brickhouse Creative; and, Promotions West.

A special thanks to John at Helena Trailer Sales for his loan of a car trailer to the event and to SiteforLess our web site team John and Frankie for their support and last minuet changes. They have a great web site service.

There is an old saying "You don't want to see how sausage and politics are made" to which we want to add "and Rallies" ... however this one tasted pretty good.

Farnum Alston
Jim Sitton
Kenny Williams

Wow! What a week.

We are all still having “smile” flash backs, about every 2 or 3 hours.

It was a fabulous event, the roads, the scenery, the people, the towns we visited. All off the chart of our expectations. Patty and I, Brian and Dean all had a most memorable week. Thanks for all you did to make it happen

Highway 37 from Eureka to Libby should be renamed the “Better than Sex Highway”.

My wife and I have been residents of Montana for 10 years, but we saw and experienced more of the beauty of Montana and her people in these four days than I ever could have imagined. It was fantastic!

Montana has the best roads in North America – smooth, wide, and totally unpopulated by traffic. Yes there are a few cows and elk here and there, but they seemed to enjoy the Ferraris and the Jaguars! Montana is the only state that considers barbed wire a guard rail - we covered a 1,000 miles and saw less than 10 miles of modern interstate guard rail. There is something to be said about a wheat field that runs right to the road’s edge – its vintage - the way it used to be.

“No state has people that made us feel more welcome than the people we met in Montana”

Thanks for a great trip! I think the Going to the Sun Rally was the best of the seven or eight rallies I have run. What scenery, what roads, what hospitality Montana so generously provided. I have never had such fun driving my E type. I must again tell it once again, "what a good car you are."

The rally was awesome!

We had a great time. Count us in for next year! I enjoyed the less formal atmosphere of the Montana event and would not suggest that it be changed very much.

You treated us as "old friends" right from the first contact in the Red Lodge hotel lobby for registration. It is the people that makes these events and not only the roads.

We felt right at home from the first day. We are already planning for next year. I am thinking about a higher rear end for the Vette. 135 MPH is not enough for those roads!

“Many thanks for a truly spectacular event! I have been on events all over the world, but never one I enjoyed more. You put together a great event”.

"It was a great trip and you all did an outstanding job on the organization. My friends and I all expect to be regulars on the event--if you will have us."

“Great rally, nice people, spectacular scenery, wonderful roads which meant excellent behind-the-wheel-time. Congratulations on a terrific event!”