| Helper citizens are treated to some serious vintage, foreign concept and custom automobiles during the local “Fast Pass” tour stop. |
On Tuesday, Carbon County residents had the opportunity to view some rare, expensive cars parked on Main Street in downtown Helper.
The cars were part of the 2007 Utah Fast Pass, a four-day road trip around the state. Vehicle owners participating in the annual event get to show off their wheels while helping the Utah Highway Patrol.
The cars ranged from a 1970 Shelby GT 500 to a 200 BMW Z8, one of the first models the company manufactured.
This year, there were 32 registered cars taking part in the Utah Fast Pass.
Before participants began the trip around the state, the vehicles were inspected by Utah Highway Patrol troopers.
The purpose of the inspection was to make sure the vehicles complied with street legal rules.
The first leg of the tour was a day at Miller Sport Park in Tooele County. Some of the cars reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour on the track, something many of the drivers have never done since the vehicles are, for the most part, rare show cars privately owned by non-racers.
The Utah Fast Pass event is designed to showcase the rare “super cars of yesterday and today” in an excursion along Utah’s most scenic roads.
The cars in the ensemble that showed up July 31 in Helper came from across the nation and some from outside the confines of the United States.
But the Utah Fast Pass isn’t only about speed or showing off rare cars. During the process, event participants raise money for the heroes fund that benefits the families of Utah Highway Patrol troopers who have been injured or killed in the line of duty.
In addition to the participants in the event, the Utah Highway Patrol’s presence was clearly evident on Helper’s Main Street on Tuesday.
A number of UHP cruisers and motorcycles were on display at the event. Most of the vehicles were escorting the cars from town to town.
Drivers and officials were welcomed by the Helper community and treated to a luncheon at the pavilion near the parkway.
The event also provides scholarships to students in rural communities along the route. Last year, almost $140,000 was raised for scholarships and charities funded through the Utah Fast Pass program.
Donations come from sponsors and the public. For information on donating, residents with Internet access may visit www.utahfastpass.org.