For Hometown news
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - The third annual 2012 Vero Road Rally Magnifique was more colorful and eventful than ever before, according to rally chairman Karl Steene, vice president of Grand Bank.
With the Sun Up-ARC Vero Beach campus serving as the staging area and starting line, Lopresti Aviation hosted the finish line party and champagne awards ceremony in Sebastian, about an hour and a half and 43 miles after the beginning of the rally.
Between, the VRRM's starting and finish line, the course contained countless surprises including pink flamingos, yellow ducks, green frogs and skydivers bedecked in red, white and blue.
Celebrities in attendance at the rally included legendary Formula One and sports car champions David Hobbs and Brian Redman, and James Bond stunt pilot Corkey Fornof, who auctioned off the ride of a lifetime in a Lopresti Fury sports plane.
2012 VRRM winners were: Greg and Jenny Hansen in a Ford Explorer, first place; David and Stephanie Stawara in a Ferrari Scuderia, second place and Jasen and Kat Brietfeller in a Porsche 996 T2, third place.
The combined 2012 Vero Road Rally Magnifique and Casino Magnifique netted more than $44,000 said Chuck Bradley, executive director of Sun Up-ARC.
Mary Beth Vallar, Sun Up ARC president, indicated the two nonprofit agencies, which serve the developmentally disabled, officially joined forces in a much-applauded merger on March 31 this year.
The fourth annual Vero Road Rally Magnifique is scheduled to be held on April 21, 2013 at the Moorings Yacht Club as the grand finale of the spectacular multi-day "Wheels & Keels" event.
Tentative plans may include a black tie optional dinner, invitational sports and exotic car show, a boat show and the VRRM car rally.
For information, call (772) 234-6694.