The Sunriver Festival of Cars began as an all-exotic-car event in the mountains of Central Oregon, but it has grown in the past couple of years to encompass any beautifully designed, hand-built car with a ridiculous power-to-weight ratio and an ability to hug curves -- including vintage models.
Each year in September at the Sunriver Resort near Mount Hood, owners of the finest automobiles dust off the Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches, Astons, and more, then drive through the twisty mountain passes to reach meet for dinner with fellow horsepower fiends.
On Saturday, the festival is held, with cars perched on the grounds of the resort's golf course for judging. Owners camp out with their cars from mid-morning to mid-afternoon to answer questions and tell stories to anyone who passes by. In the evening, the group holds a dinner and awards banquet with a twist -- no one knows what the award categories are. There's a People's Choice award that everyone votes on; other than that, the categories and winners are anybody's guess.
Sunday morning, participants take part in a tour along scenic Oregon roads that organizers promise is a "no-way-to-get-lost" event. While police patrols can be few and far between in Central and Eastern Oregon, if you're driving a fly-yellow Ferrari, you're going to attract attention. Luckily, the switchbacks up and down the mountains are a speed regulator all by themselves.
For being an exotic car weekend, it's not all that expensive at $200 for two people and one car. That includes food, a goody bag, and participation in Sunday morning's road tour. It does not include a room at the resort, transportation to and from the event, or the massive amount of premium gas these cars suck down when they're at full throttle. But if you've got it, floor it.
- Sunriver Festval of Cars 2008
- September 12-14
- $200 for food and fun; room and transportation not included
- Friday night dinner, Saturday festival, Sunday morning tour
- Open to exotic and vintage autos
