Anyone who has been itching to get behind the wheel of a Polaris Slingshot — described by the manufacturer as a three-wheeled motorcycle — will get a chance to do just that this weekend.
The only catch will be to have a valid Class 6 motorcycle driver’s licence and helmet, said Shawna Brackley, who owns and operates Wagons West RV Park with husband Mark.
“This is the perfect place for you to come and get a taste of the three-wheeled lifestyle and the amazing people in it,” said Brackley.
The couple introduced the inaugural Sundre Slingfest in 2017, just a few years after the first edition of the Polaris Slingshots were rolled off the Alabama production lines in 2014-15. The third annual rally starts the evening of Thursday, July 25 with a meet-and-greet, and wraps up on Sunday, July 28 with a farewell lunch.
“Anyone can come test drive one of these machines,” she said. “It’s a really cool opportunity for people in Sundre and the surrounding area to get into one.”
Whereas the last two events had also provided people with the option to take a Slingshot for a spin, the window of opportunity was much more narrow, with only one demo unit available for just one day, she said.
“Now, we have three demo units for four days.”
Those will be at Wagons West throughout the event’s duration courtesy of two dealerships — Rainy Creek Powersports in Eckville and Riverside Motorsports from Edmonton, she said.
On Friday, a group will be headed out to the Airdrie Airport for some drag racing that was made possible through a cooperative effort among the Airdrie Oilmens Association and the Didsbury Car Club, she said.
“It’s gonna be awesome.”
Then, on Saturday, the all-day poker rally featuring thousands of dollars in prizes will start in Sundre and branch out to explore sites in the surrounding area to offer some spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains as riders accumulate their cards in an attempt to get the best hand, she said.
Sunday will bring the event to an end with a final cruise followed by a farewell lunch.
The slingfest’s organizers were among numerous groups and organizations recently granted funding by the municipality, for which she expressed gratitude.
“The town was extremely enthusiastic,” she said, adding the additional injection of funds made advertising the event possible.
“They’re really focused on tourism and promoting Sundre.”
A number of local businesses also contributed some promotional items for swag bags, she added.
“We’re grateful to be part of this community.”
When Mark recently visited Alabama, the home of Polaris’s headquarters and factory, to promote the slingfest, many people were already aware of the rally, she said.
“He was surprised by how many people knew already — they’d heard of Sundre from last year’s exposure,” she said.
“That’s pretty awesome for our little town.”
While the poker rally and drag races are exclusively for slingshot owners who register for those events, anyone is nevertheless welcome to drop by to have a look. Even when the riders are off at the races in Airdrie and the rally in and around Sundre, the demo units will still be available with reps from the dealers on standby, she said.
As the economy continues to struggle along the slow path to recovery, Brackley said they have noticed a difference with customer spending at their park, with sales down “tremendously.”
However, she added the vast majority of people who have previously attended Sundre Slingfest plan to return.
“That’s huge for a small town,” she said.
One rider who came up from Indiana last year, for example, intends to be back, she said.
“Sundre wouldn’t even be on his radar if not for this event,” she said.
“We feel privileged to be able to host it, and hope it keeps growing into something that continues to benefit the whole community.”
