Twelve road-rally participants cited for speeding on I-5

The Washington State Patrol yesterday cited 12 drivers of high-dollar sports cars speeding down Interstate 5 in the first leg of a Seattle-to-Las Vegas rally.

More than 50 exotic and sports cars took off from Seattle at about 9 a.m. yesterday as part of the Players Run road rally.

State Patrol troopers pulled over two drivers for speeding in King County — but had less luck getting the others to slow down.

Troopers in Cowlitz County said they saw vehicles with Players Run decals on them driving as fast as 120 miles an hour. The troopers said the cars were veering between lanes, following too close and driving aggressively.

As two troopers tried to pull over a group of six of the cars in Clark County, they slowed to the speed limit but didn't pull over. The troopers had to stop all traffic on the freeway with a "rolling road block" in order to pull over the vehicles.

A Players Run organizer said last night the group has clear rules about driving the speed limit and even disqualifies drivers who speed.

"We state very clearly to all the participants that it's a rally, not a race," said the organizer, Valerie Lex.

Troopers ticketed three of the drivers for going more than 90 mph, one for negligent driving and eight for reckless driving. One of the vehicles was recorded going 126 mph, according to the State Patrol.

This is the third year the Players Run has done the drive from Seattle to Las Vegas, Lex said. Drivers pay $9,800 to participate.

Emily Heffter: 425-783-0624 or eheffter@seattletimes.com