Sun Valley Idaho Is A Supercar Haven With No Speed Limit — Sometimes
Sun Valley Tour De Force offers exotic car owners a rare opportunity to max out their cars on a public Idaho highway.
Getting an opportunity to see a Pagani Huayra is not all that common. It’s especially uncommon, though, to see three in one place. When you add to the mix a McLaren Sabre, Bugatti Veyron, and a handful of Singer 911s, there’s only one place you could be. The small, ski-loving town of Ketchum, Idaho. Where the population is only 2,800 people, according to the 2020 Census. So. what gives? Why are all these world-class supercars, hypercars, and collectible cars in this little Idaho mountain town?
Way back when the Sun Valley Ski Resort first opened in the 1930s, a clever marketing ploy to grow its attendance was hatched wherein the resort offered free ski vacations to celebrities. The plan worked, and soon enough, the Sun Valley Ski Resort was on the map as one of the best places to ski in the world. Some celebrities enjoyed the town so much they decided to stay. For Example, Earnest Hemmingway purchased a house in Ketchum and even finished writing his iconic novel For Whom The Bell Tolls in his Ketchum home. Though decades have passed since then, one thing has remained constant. Ketchum, Idaho, is still a haven for celebrities and wealthy individuals, with the likes of Bruce Willis and the late Adam West having owned property in the area within the last handful of years.
It only makes sense, then, that it plays host to one of the craziest car events in the country. The Sun Valley Tour De Force is a high-speed event that invites drivers to push their limits and see how fast their cars can go on a closed highway.
Crazy Cars Come to Play in Sun Valley for a Good Cause
Each year, the Sun Valley Tour De Force picks a beneficiary charity local to the event. For 2021, the charity of choice was The Hunger Coalition. The Hunger Coalition is a charity that strives to help families suffering from food insecurities throughout Blaine County, Idaho, where Ketchum is located. Their goal is to provide healthy meals to those in need, and they currently serve over about 6,500 people, which is approximately 28% of the Blaine County population. They also host a community farm and a community food center. Additionally, they take online donations. So, if you feel inclined to help, please do so.
I arrived at the Sun Valley Auto Club early Friday morning to check out the cars arriving for technical inspection. Perhaps the most remarkable part of this event is how they never cease to surprise. The last time this event was hosted was in 2019 (2020 was canceled due to COVID-19). In attendance that year was a Bugatti Chiron, a McLaren Senna, a Porsche 918, a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, and iconic Youtube content creator The Stradman and his purple-wrapped Aventador. In the past, too, I’ve been in the presence of insane cars like the Aston Martin One-77 and as many as eleven Bugatti Veyrons at once. They set a high mark and somehow manage to keep to it every single year.
This year I was blown away to see not only a one of 40 Pagani Huayra BC Roadster but a total of three Pagani Huayra in attendance. If that’s not exclusive enough for you, a McLaren Sabre was oh-so-casually parked outside the auto club. Only 15 Sabres exist for those who aren’t in the know.
Something for Every Car Enthusiast
The Stradman made a triumphant return as well, this time with his purple-wrapped Bugatti Veyron. He, too, has been in attendance at this event for many years. Interestingly enough, seven years ago, he was at the high-speed event and filmed a video of his Veyron reaching a speed of over 200 miles-per-hour, having no idea that he would someday own that very car.
If you’re more into beefy American V8s, don’t worry. Your preferences are certainly represented here. Take, for example, the mighty 427 Cobra, whose owner set out to achieve a speed of 213 miles per hour. Not only did he crack his goal, he pushed on to 223 miles-per-hour, according to the Sun Valley Tour De Force Instagram page.
Also in attendance were two 2020 Shelby GT500s and a widebody Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. Plenty of American muscle to go around!
If you like classic Porsches, we’ve got great news. You couldn’t possibly throw a rock at this event and not hit a 911. I’d advise not throwing rocks, though. Especially considering a handful of them are Singer 911s and are often worth upwards of one million dollars. Modern Porsches are plentiful, too. This year, a host of Porsche Taycan examples made an appearance.
You Never Know What You’ll See
Though the Sun Valley Tour De Force does not host guests for the Saturday high-speed event, they do host an amazing public car show. Locals and travelers alike show up with some breathtaking vehicles. Especially mind-blowing was a set of three vintage Ferrari continuation cars, including a 250 GTO. There’s something extraordinary about hearing a classic Ferrari V12 roaring through a field.
If there’s any car show you’re looking to travel for in 2022, I highly recommend you choose this one. The small town of Ketchum offers a lively downtown scene, biking trails, gorgeous scenic hikes, and much more. So make a weekend out of it; you won’t regret it in the slightest.
 Can’t-miss EventÂ
There really isn’t another event that one can compare to the Sun Valley Tour De Force. If you’ve got a vehicle you’d like to partake with, the weekend experience includes a scenic drive, spirit tastings, lunch, and 2021 even introduced a weekend-closing comedy show. It is much more than just a high-speed car event; it is an affair that would nearly feel too good to be called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, if not for the fact that it happens annually.
Whether or not you intend to partake, I can’t imagine being unimpressed by this remarkable event. So, even if you live on the other side of the country, put it on your bucket list. Whether you fly in or make a multi-day drive, it is absolutely worth the effort.
For a more in-depth look at the Sun Valley Tour De Force, check out my youtube video and my photo gallery below.
Photos for Teamspeed by Braden Carlson