Two Days of Amazing Roads and People
STORY | CHRIS SEELY
PHOTOGRAPHY | BRAD MEIER & CHRIS SEELY
Three pre-teen kids sit on the curb of Front Street, lazily throwing small stones and bits of gravel at a nearby stop sign; one of just a few in town. They have no agenda, no plans, and no obligations other than to be home before dark to keep their mothers from scolding them or worse yet, grounding them from tomorrow’s prospective adventures. These are the children of Haines, “The biggest little city in Oregon” a sleepy town with a population of just under 400. Haines is a farming town. To the East extend pastures and rolling fields as far as the eye can see. To the West, a wall of snow-capped mountains laced with winding roads that seemingly switch back their way to heaven. In a sense, Haines is the gateway to adventure, and although the town has just one school, one church, two local restaurants, and no Main Street, this little-known destination is the starting point for something miraculous.
As the three kids begin their walk home, they notice something peculiar. The Haines Steak House (one of the best in Oregon) has a hand scribbled sign in the window which reads “Closed for Private Event”. Nobody ever comes to visit Haines. It is an honest place with beautiful scenery, but very few attractions for tourists or passersby. Surely this must be a mistake.
A raspy rumble is heard in the distance. Still perplexed by the newly drafted sign in the window, the children turn to see unfamiliar headlights approaching from the South. With blue paint and a short, rounded stance, the vehicle contrasts the surrounding brown fields like a spaceship from a sci-fi film.
“Oh my god, it’s a Porsche” the first kid says. The rumble grows louder, and soon a second set of headlights appear from the South. “Another one!” Exclaims the second, pointing fanatically. “And that’s a Viper, with a V10” says the third, as he takes off running across the street, unable to contain his excitement.
Within minutes, the formerly empty Front Street teems with cars that the kids have only ever seen in photos. Vintage sports cars and family haulers line the streets for half a mile. Dozens of drivers and co-drivers climb out of their vehicles and begin to greet each other, weary from a day of dirt driving, or in some cases, a road trip across the country. Running down the line of cars in glee, there is no chance the kids will be home before dark.
“It’s more about the experience of travel, getting out there, and obtaining a new perspective than it is about going fast in whatever car it is,” Jake said in an interview. “The car is the greatest tool for exploration that mankind has ever had,” Kris added. “Nothing allows you to experience more things at a high rate than being in a car.”
The format of the rally follows this idea precisely. Kris, Jake, and Jeff provide rally goers with a route book of different driving options and roadside destinations. After a morning debrief, drivers are free to choose their own adventure and group up with whoever they please. Some take off immediately to get ahead of the peloton and experience the open road to themselves. Others hang back, meticulously constructing a convoy and planning each stop. There is no right or wrong way to complete the Overcrest Rally, so long as everyone is experiencing new places, being safe, and having fun.
After two days of driving, each year’s rally ends with a drive-in film festival to celebrate automotive content and content creators that capture the essence of the “Take the Car’’ mantra. Under starry skies, everyone from the rally says their goodbyes before heading back to normal life, while the best automotive films of the year are projected on a massive outdoor screen. The film fest is an homage to people around the world who continue to build excitement for cars and inspire the community to drive them to new places.
So far, Overcrest has taken participants to Utah, Idaho, and Oregon. Each year, the rally brings drivers to new destinations, staying loyal to the theme of discovery and exploration. In the small span between Utah and Oregon, Overcrest has grown into one of the most selective car events of the year. To attend, you must apply by writing a short personal statement about why you want to go, and hope you are adopted as part of the family. This year, less than 15% of applicants were selected, a process that Kris and Jake note as being “One of the most difficult and heartbreaking things ever.” This is just the nature of the event, the small towns, narrow roads, and remote locations cannot support the huge number of people that apply.
Kris, Jake, and Jeff are working to make the future of Overcrest more inclusive. This year they added a scholarship program, opened the film festival up to the public, and for future rallies, are scheming ways to bring more people into the Overcrest experience without soiling the formula. “More inclusion for more people. That’s what I would really love to have happen,” noted Kris.
The Overcrest Rally is a breath of fresh air from the regular cars and coffee routine. The destinations are astonishing, but truly, it is the people that make it special. These drivers and co-drivers see more than just four wheels, a motor, and a steering wheel when they look at their cars; they see a tool for exploration and discovery. Kris, Jake, and Jeff have built a community of people who share that strand of DNA. But whether you were a part of this year’s rally or will be a part of the next, just remember that adventure is always out there, and you never need an excuse to take the car.
