Anthony and Amy Dorazio expect to have one of the most unique Fourth of July experiences in the United States.

The Columbia Falls couple will drive their 2005 Ford Expedition to a private spread in Glacier View, Alaska and then watch it get launched off a 300-foot cliff.

Yahoo!

“We celebrate freedom,” said Arnie Hrncir, organizer of the Glacier View Car Launch 99 miles outside of Anchorage.

More than 20 years ago Hrncir’s wife hit a moose with their Volvo. Any other car would have been destroyed and his wife would have likely died. But the car was well-built and went on to live another life, post moose collision. Eventually, though, it had engine problems and Hrncir had enough.

“I’m sick and tired of jacking with this thing,” he recalled.

So for fun, they sent it off the cliff above the river.

“One thing led to another,” Hrncir said. “People like watching things get annihilated while celebrating freedom.”

Nowadays it draws a crowd. Last year they sent 30 rigs off the cliff, which is on private property. The fluids are drained from the rigs, the Dorazios said. Then they’re rigged up to drive themselves, sans humans, off the bank. The crowd actually watches from below.

The event also has a parade of clunkers, plenty of food and family fun, Hrncir said.

He said anyone who sends a rig over also pays $300 to have the rig scrapped when it’s all over. He said when they’re done cleaning up, the area is pristine.

The event is all about celebrating the U.S.A. and the military, Hrncir said.

Last year a C-130 cargo jet flew over the proceedings.

The Dorazios heard about it after Amy attended an event at Gear Shift Garage in Columbia Falls. They sold a $500 rig to them to take to the event last July 4.

Now the Dorazios need to experience it. They’re calling themselves the “Mustache Mouses” and they’ve painted the Expedition red, white and blue with hand paint.

They’ve done a few improvements to the interior so they can sleep inside, but not too many. The rig already has 200,003 miles. They might have to put brakes on it to make  the 2,333 miles to Glacier View. But no worries. Anthony is a mechanic at Kalispell Ford.

“We’ll be all right,” he said.

They leave June 27 and hope to arrive by July 2.

Hrncir said he’s flying a Freedom Bank flag the event, where Amy is the Director of First Impressions at the Bank.

Columbia Falls folks are encouraged to come out and sign the Dorazios’ rig On Tuesday, June 10 at 5 p.m. at Marantette Park.