Salute to Driving serves as fundraiser and to educate

The popular event Salute to Driving returns Feb. 18-20, and has a two-fold purpose serving as a fundraiser and to also educate people about the sport of combined driving.

Salute to Driving is a United States Equestrian Foundation benefit to support the High Performance Driving program clinics given by the American Driving Society clinicians, said Bev Lesher, Salute to Driving assistant chairman and owner Courage to Lead Farm, in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon.

"It will be similar to last year's event," said Lesher. "Hardy Zantke and Tjeerd Velstra will be the clinicians this year. They'll be working with the long listed drivers."

The fundraiser is dedicated to helping send the best and the brightest in the United States associated with the sport of combined driving to the World Championships, said Lesher.

"Salute to Driving is also about educating people about the driving discipline," said Lesher. "It piques their interest, whether it be about participating in the sport or through observation. It brings exposure to Aiken's strong driving community."

The event itself will be held over three days, and features a busy itinerary. Salute to Driving begins Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. and will go to 5 p.m., and on Monday the hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Courage to Lead Farm and Chateau Log Farm. The weekend will feature a number of demonstrations, clinics and several fun activities including an opportunity for spectators to drive a golf cart through a cones course, while they are blindfolded, giving them a better understanding about the importance of navigators (who will be helping to guide them through the cones). Monday's schedule includes a Pas de Deux with Shelly Temple and a rider, and a combined test.

There will be a benefit dinner Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. at Wendy O'Brien's Trout Walk Farm. The cost is $55 per ticket, and checks should be made payable to Salute to Driving. There will be a live auction, with auctioneer Paul Z. Martin, and there will also be a silent auction. Donations of $300 or more will receive two dinner reservations, United States Equestrian pins, with checks made payable to the United States Equestrian Team.

Reservations and checks should be made payable to Paul Dougherty, Briarwood Farm, 364 N. Windsor Road, Windsor, S.C. 29856.

For more information about Salute to Drivng, you can access their website at salutetodriving.com.