Okanagan car rally delivers a dream come true for kids
Sitting in an impossibly cool 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia, Ethan Audette was perhaps most excited by a simple hand-held radio.
On Sunday at 10:30 a.m., the 16-year-old Kelowna teen was about to roar off with driver Stephen Fuhr in the third annual Okanagan Dream Rally.
Drivers and kids in more than 200 sleek sports cars were going to travel to Penticton and back, the children getting an exhilarating ride and the adults enjoying the satisfaction of helping raise money for Ronald McDonald House.
All the kids were excited, but only Addison was going to get the added thrill of using the radio to talk to the pilot of a CF-18 jet, which roared low overhead just before rally participants set off from the corner of Abbott Street and Bernard Avenue.
“I’m going to ask the pilot how he’s doing, and thank him for coming out today,” Audette said.
Fuhr, the Liberal MP for Kelowna-Lake Country, used to be a CF-18 fighter pilot, and he arranged for the jet’s fly-by, which drew applause from hundreds of people gathered on sidewalks to watch the rally's departure.
Fuhr’s flying nickname, ‘Picasso,’ was stencilled on the Ferrari supplied by Dream Rally organizer August Luxury Motorcars.
“Some of the cars are decalled up like jets. The kids think it's really cool,” Fuhr said, adding with a laugh: “Of course, we’ll all be going the speed limit today.”
Celebrity drivers included Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran in the lead car, and well-known local philanthropist Tom Budd. Vehicles spanned the spectrum of supercars, including Lamborghinis, Porsches, Jaguars and Bentleys.
Ramsey Jaswal was delighted to bring his Bentley Continental to the rally, giving a ride to six-year-old Addison Brett. "Once we get on the highway, I'm going to let Addison take over," Jaswal joked.
Drivers paid fee to participate, and other funds were raised through business sponsorships and donations.
"People have brought their cars from all over Western Canada to be part of the rally," event organizer Matt August said. "I think it makes a real big impact on the drivers, participating in something like this for a good cause.
"Word spreads, and we get more people interested each year," August said.
With the proceeds from this year's event, more than $400,000 will have been raised for Ronald McDonald House, which provides a place for families to stay when their kids are being treated at B.C. Childrens Hospital in Vancouver.