The rally ran successfully through beautiful terrain, via a number of picturesque, premium pitstops. But it was only three weeks before the rally began in Bozeman on September 25th that the idea of the Absaroka Run was put into motion, with the goal of EVESO executing its first major community event before the region’s autumn and winter weather rolled in. 

“It was hard work to put it all together,” Alex Waters, CEO and Founder of EVESO, said, “but we had amazing support from local businesses that wanted to sponsor the event, which made it possible, for which I'm very, very grateful.

“Honestly, it couldn't have gone better. We had the most wonderful autumnal weather you could ever dream of having on these insane roads.”

That backdrop, set against the roads of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, which included sections inside the Yellowstone National Park, created a stunning setting for the first EVESO rally. 

The route ran smoothly, thanks to a busy schedule scoping out and finalising the best roads that were suitable for high performance cars and showed the best of the natural scenery in the region.

“The biggest challenges are the passes through the mountains and the weather this time of year, it’s about not getting caught out planning this beautiful road, and then the road's shut and you get there and you're like, 'Oh, what do we do now?'.

“We did a recce the week before the rally, so I went and did the entire lap. We actually managed to do the whole thing in a day - it was a very, very long day, but an extremely important step in the process towards building the kind of quality event that EVESO aims to put together regularly, long-term.”

The rallygoers were therefore allowed to focus wholly on carefully designed experiences both on and away from the road. 

To Alex, the second part of that plan was just as important as the first: to create an out-of-car experience that was as enjoyable as the on-road treat. It was thanks to close work with a selection of local businesses that Alex curated a suite of experiences which complemented the route, one of which, on the second day, was a visit to the shooting range at the Cody Firearms Experience, which encapsulated that foundational goal.

“It's not just any old gun range,” Alex explained. “It's quite a famous one that we can shoot all sorts of crazy World War Two weapons, Gatling guns, and all sorts of stuff.

“People were excited about doing something that morning and it broke the day up. The scenery does that for us too, the lunches do that as well. And then, we finished [the rally] with a highlight in the hot springs in Bozeman, which again, shows off some of the cool local things to do in Bozeman and the fantastic local business, as well as just being able to sit down and drive for three days.”

Meanwhile, on the second night of the trip, the party was treated to a three-course meal in Island Park, served by Bozeman-based Primal MT. A beautiful route, good weather conditions, and well crafted stops combined to create a spectacular experience that quickly became a favourite of regular rallygoers. 

But ahead of the next edition of what is set to become a regular annual EVESO rally, Alex is keen to retain an emphasis on human connection, having seen how the Absaroka Run led to new friendships and a shared sense of enjoyment.

“People really appreciate that human connection, and I think that's going to grow and grow and grow as time passes. These experiences will therefore become more important to have in people's lives, so I'm really leaning into that, and I get excited about it. 

“It's what I want to do everyday: if I get to wake up and go drive off-road race cars in the woods, and that's work? Are you kidding me? It's like the best job ever. Or if I get to take people on a rally and watch a group of people have the best time ever, that is so much more rewarding than me looking at spreadsheets all day and getting a salary.

“If I can deliver some value to some other people, that gets me really excited.”

Following the success of the Absaroka Run, which was planned and successfully held under a short timescale, the next EVESO event in 2027 is set to raise the level further. 

For Alex, this was the first demonstration of the community spirit that he hopes to build with the EVESO project.

“I was really grateful to the rallygoers for sharing their experience with me and allowing me to go with them, a great group of people, in phenomenal cars. 

“I’m really excited for what’s to come, and with a bit of effort, and with a team, what we can deliver is going to be unbelievable.”