VERO ROAD RALLY MAGNIFIQUE

SUN UP REVELS WITH VERO ROAD RALLY MAGNIFIQUE

Fifty-five driving teams in a wide array of exotic, fun, everyday and unusual vehicles paraded into The Sun Up Center as early as 10:30am to secure their starting position and tailgate before they took to the streets in VRRM’s very casual, family-type outing.  The fabulous “convertible-worthy” weather provided perfect conditions for maneuvering the 40 mile/2 hour route that went south to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in northern St. Lucie County, east to Vero’s south beach and along Cardinal Drive to as far north as the Vero Beach Airport and west to the finish line at the home of Honorary Rally Chairs Kathi and John Schumann. 

Participants eagerly awaited to receive their VRRM rally packet filled with clues and goodies one-minute before they departed the starting line at The Sun Up Center.  Karl Steene, chairman of the rally and route designer extraordinaire along with Honorary Rally Master James Redman of Wire Wheels, stated, “We ran this route at least five times with various people to tweak it and had to make a few last minute changes since a sign got taken down at one spot and things changed that we had no control over.”  Mr. Steene added, “The route was designed in such a way that no matter what someone drove, the car would not hold a competitive edge. All in all though, we made certain that the drivers and navigators had a scenic, historic, fun and educational tour of the area.”  In order to be eligible to win prizes, each team’s goal was to score points by answering questions pertaining to visual cues along the route; by identifying the make and model of an antique vehicle at the seven rally checkpoints manned by the Indian River Region Antique Automobile Club of America volunteer checkpoint marshals, and to get out of their vehicle to identify specific items. 

At the Finish Line Party, Dr. Susan Blair Fries, D.C., the Ferrari 430 Racing Team physician, provided VRRM team members free adjustment after their rally drive while Finish Line Party attendees ogled Ferrari's, Porsche’s, Aston Martin's, a very rare Maserati Birdcage, Jaguar’s, Alfa Romeo's, Bentley, and Rolls Royce to name a few from both the Schumann’s private collection and those driven by rally participants. Nearly everyone strolled down to the observation area to watch professional Formula One driver, Brian Redman, take the winning bidder for the ride of their life in John Schumann’s screaming red Dodge Viper on their private test track. 

With only a few points separating the winners, the First Place trophies for driver and navigator went to VRRM Driver Jack Illare, III and Navigator Jeff Green driving a 2005 Ford Expedition completing the course in 2 hours/ 2 minutes.  Trophies for Second Place driving a 1996 Acura NSX were Driver Dick Patton and Navigator Ray Brown finishing in 2 hours/ 8 minutes.  Third Place trophies went to Driver Lacey Rice and Navigator Barbara Rice, Lacey’s mom, driving a 2007 Honda Element finishing in 2 hours/ 12 minutes.   

All drivers will be receiving a VRRM grill medallion and all navigators a car window decal according to Dennis Bartholomew, Executive Director of The Sun Up Center. “We received very positive feedback from everyone and they are all ready to do it again,” said Mr. Bartholomew enthusiastically.  The Sun Up Center Board President Mary Beth Vallar agreed saying “This fundraiser has been so overwhelming successful that we will gladly make it an annual event!”  Our special thanks to Kathi and John Schumann for providing the perfect venue for the rally conclusion and to Dawn and James Redman for helping perfect the route and providing publicity at Vero Beach Polo and at Wire Wheels.  Also, thanks go to our Aston Martin Awards Sponsor – George E. Warren Corporation, our Mercedes Media Sponsor – Treasure and Space Coast Radio and the numerous VRRM Enthusiasts Sponsors and In-Kind donors who helped made this fundraiser possible.”

Proceeds from the Vero Road Rally Magnifique benefitted The Sun Up Center. Since 1994, its mission has been to provide programs, services and residential opportunities to those with special needs.

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               George E Warren Corp.

VRRM Enthusiasts

Anonymous Donor
Block, Block & Pegler Attorneys at Law
Dr Susan Blair Fries, D.C., ART
George Schroeder @ UBS Financial Services, Inc
Gold Coast Landscape Lighting
Greens +
GT Rhodes
Barney & Hariot Greene
Harris, Cotherman, Jones, Price & Associates
Irish Treasures
James & Mary Rogers
The Lemon Tree
James & Lisa Dobbs, III
Northern Trust
RBC Bank

In-Kind Sponsors
 
Brian Redman
Crown Wine & Spirits
EmbroidMe
Frosting
MinuteMan Press
Tropic Art & Frame
Vero Beach Polo
Wire Wheels

VRRM WINNERS
1st Place
   
Jack Illare, III, Jeff Greer, Stacy Greer, Shelly Rostosky, Nancilee Wydra & Patricia Burke

2nd Place


Ray Brown & John Payson

3rd Place


Lacey Rice & Barbara Rice

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VRRM @ Vero Beach Polo Club
Sunday, February 28th, 2010

 Mr. & Mrs. Musante 1927 Rolls- Royce

 
Pictured L to R: Karl Steene, John & Kathi Schumman, Dennis Bartholomew,
Dawn & James Redman and Mary Beth Vallar.


John Walsh in his XK140


Dolph Kahle