By Mark Havnes

| The Salt Lake Tribune

It is "smash" time at Diamond Limousine Service as celebrities and other visitors descend on Park City for the annual Sundance Film Festival. And that's just what driver Kent Sprik loves about the annual event.

"It’s time to rock ’n’ roll," said Sprik, who has slipped behind the wheel for his 13th year whisking the famous around the festival.

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Sprik describes his clients as just "regular people," despite the pervasive crowds of fans and paparazzi who hound them because of their movie star status. His big-name clients — who are working at the festival promoting their films — are simply looking for someone to get them from point A to point B as quickly and inconspicuously as possible.

"The rule in the [limousine industry] is that what is said in the car, stays in the car," he said. "You overhear a lot of priority business information, so they trust you."

Sprik, who drives part time for the Murray-based Diamond Limousine when not working his regular job as manager of a northern Utah dry-cleaning business, said he got into the driving business during efforts to bring the 2002 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City.

Kyle Keate, the manager at Diamond, has nothing but praise for Sprik and can understand why he is in such demand. "He is a professional’s professional."

For Diamond Limousine, the Sundance season is "smash time."

"It's like not-even-answering-the-phone busy," Keate said.

Keate has three limousines in his fleet, plus about 30 luxury SUVs. The SUVs are the preferred vehicle. Why? Because they don't attract as much attention and can zip around town easier.

This year, Sprik is working on-call to provide service whenever it is needed. It's an assignment that came after a wealthy businessman, who planned to hire Sprik for 10 days during the festival, had to cancel. Sprik said the man probably took a sizable financial hit after reserving a five-story condominium in the Park City area and a private chef.

"He just wrote check and moved on," said Sprik, who prefers having a single client for the festival. "To a lot of these [festival-goers], money is not an object."

Most of the clients he works for fly into one of two private airports near Salt Lake International Airport, traveling in jets of all sizes. Sprik typically meets them on the tarmac, pulling up to their planes after they land. Sprik said his clients are typically impressed with Salt Lake City and its proximity to the mountains.

"They can’t believe the wide roads and that it takes only 45 minutes to get to Park City," he said. "Everyone leaves with a positive feeling about Utah and wants to come back."

Sometimes fans and paparazzi can get out of hand, Sprik said. They swarm around the vehicle — or sometimes try to push inside — to get photos of his clients. Sprik said it's important to get as close as possible to his client's pick-up point, get the star in the car and quickly lock the doors.

"Sometimes you have to take a stand," said Sprik, adding that some VIPs travel with private body guards.

In all his years of shuttling the rich and famous at Sundance, Sprik said he has never had an accident.

"The number one rule," he said, "is always drive defensively."

Diamond Limousine posts a "Wall of Fame" in its Murray office with pictures and thank-you notes from celebrity clients. Although reticent to reveal names, Sprik does mention actor Anthony Hopkins, who was a client several years ago. Sprik describes him as an "incredible person."

On one occasion, before driving away from a location, Hopkins decided to sign autographs. The more the crowd grew, the more Hopkins insisted on accommodating them. Sprik said he finally had to insist Hopkins get in the vehicle and drive away. Sprik's concern: That celebrities can be targeted if their vehicle and license plate numbers are identified.