The Sea-to-Sky ALS rally is a performance-car cruise with a twist

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Founded in 2019, the Sea-to-Sky ALS rally is an atypical performance-car cruise event. Yes, there’s a parade formation of cool cars. Yes, there are scheduled stops where the cars park up so that the public can come enjoy an impromptu car show. The difference from the usual supercar-focused events is both that it’s far more inclusive, and that this rally raises money for a charity that couldn’t be closer to the founder’s heart.

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“I like to say that if someone might stop and take a picture of your car when it’s parked, then that’s the kind of car we want to have in our rally,” says Aidan Bate-Smith, creator of the ALS rally.

Aidan’s father, Greg, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gerhig’s Disease, four years ago. He died of the disease in 2021, and Bate-Smith speaks of his experience with both appreciation for how hard local support services work, and also frustration at how underfunded they are. A university student, he wanted to pitch in to create something that would help. Thus far, the ALS rally is closing in on having raised nearly $200,000 for the ALS Project Hope on UBC’s campus.

It’s a great cause, and also a cool event. On Saturday, June 10th, entrants will gather in Bellevue Avenue in West Vancouver, between 14th and 15th. Onlookers can enjoy the pop-up car show there, and the parade lap out towards downtown Hope, where there will again be a car show. Bate-Smith works with local police departments to ensure that the travel portions of the cruise are fun but also safety-conscious.

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On the Sunday, entrants get to exorcise any need-for-speed demons with a stop at the Lillooet airport, which is rented out for quarter-mile drag racing. There’s a bracket system so everyone has a chance at the trophy, plus it’s a chance to race your friends for bragging rights. Then a loop down the Sea-to-Sky highway with a stop at Whistler.

All told, it’s a little over 800 km of driving. The other fun part is the mix of cars: unlike some of the more supercar-focused local rallies, the ALS event sees everything from tuner Audis to rare Japanese-market machines to vintage Corvettes. There’s also a smattering of Lamborghinis and Ferraris, but more as icing than the whole cake. It’s the type of gathering where car enthusiasts can geek out over cool machinery, while also having the feel-good experience of charitable work.

This year, Bate-Smith says he’s hoping to reach 100 cars, and starting to think about adding additional one-day shows or track days to the calendar in the future. If you’d like to enter, you can find the registration link here. Or just swing by to see the cars at one of their stops, and feel free to pitch in a little to support ALS research and treatment.