Sedona Verde Valley Tourism Council, Arizona (USA)

FEEL THE RUMBLE!
 
9TH ANNUAL THUNDER VALLEY RALLY EVENT AT CLIFF CASTLE CASINO

We’re going full throttle with the 9th Annual Thunder Valley Rally event at Cliff Castle, Sept. 19-20.  Everyone is welcome (not just the road warriors!) for two full days of fun, food, music, and prizes:  Join us for the Poker Run with over $10,000 in prize money, the Bike Show with over $8,000 in prizes, and the first annual Statewide Battle of the Bands, rocking your vote.

All this, with over $30,000 in raffle prizes given away, including a 2009 Victory Vision motorcycle! 

This year’s charity partner is Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters.



Event Schedule:

Saturday, Sept. 19

TVR Poker Run
Registration free (day of only)
Saturday morning 8am – 10am
Poker Run leaves at 10am


A total of $10,000 in prize money will be given away to participants with the highest & lowest five-card poker hands.  All Poker Run participants will also receive a $10 Cash coupon when they turn in a completed ride card.


Battle of the Bands
Get ready for some competitive performances in our first ever TVR Battle of the Bands at our Stargazer Pavilion.



Sunday, Sept. 20

TVR Bike Show
Registration $10 (cash only)
Sunday morning 8 am – 10 am


Show and voting is between 10am – 12noon, with award ceremony shortly after 3pm.  We’ll be awarding over $8,000 in prize money in 11 different classes.


The Battle of the Bands competition continues, with another great lineup.


Win it:  09 Victory Vision Motorcycle Giveaway. 
Grand prize drawing at 4:20pm

Winner must be present to win.  All participants in the Poker Run & Bike Show must be 21 years of age or older. Drawing Tickets on sale at the Castle Club $5 each, or 6 for $25.  



Detailed Schedule of Events:

Saturday, September 19, 2009
7am-9am: Poker Run Registration/1st Stop
9am-3pm: Poker Run
1pm-6pm: Battle of the Bands Entertainment
3pm: Poker Card Reveal
1pm-5pm: Bike Show Registration
6:15pm: Poker Run Awards

Sunday, September 20, 2009
8am-10am: Bike Show Registration
10am-1pm: Bike Show People’s Choice Voting
10am-3pm: Battle of the Bands Entertainment
3pm-3:45pm: Battle of the Bands Voting
4pm: Bike Show Awards
4:30pm: Motorcycle Raffle Drawing
5pm: Charitable Check Presentation/Battle of the Bands Awards



Battle of the Bands Schedule:

Saturday
1pm Distant Fury
2pm Reign Kings
3pm Tumbleweed Junction
4pm Chuck Hall Band
5pm Eastonashe

Sunday
10am CTS (consider the Source)
11am Desert Rats
12pm Pheed
1pm Cold Shott & The Hurricanes
2pm Rondavous 

For complete details and rules, contact The Castle Club at 928-567-7999.

Cliff Castle Casino partners with Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters at its 9th annual Thunder Valley Rally Poker Run and Bike Show.

Cliff Castle Casino welcomes Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters in partnership at its 9th annual Thunder Valley Rally Poker Run and Bike Show, to be held September 19 and 20, 2009.

“We are happy to be working with Yavapai Big Brothers, Big Sisters this year,” said Trudy Clark, General Manager of Cliff Castle Casino.  “It’s an honor to partner with an organization that has been serving the area’s children for 35 years and which has contributed so many positive outcomes in the Verde Valley.” 

The Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters program came into existence in 1971, thanks to a VISTA Volunteer grant.  The agency provides a positive support system to children who are at risk by matching qualified volunteers from the surrounding communities as Big Brothers or Big Sisters.  The volunteers then act as mentors to the children they are matched with.  Approximately 1,000 children are involved.

In addition, Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters has an established relationship with the Yavapai-Apache Nation.  Native Americans make up approximately 14 % of volunteer Big Brother Big Sister matches with local children.

“We appreciate Cliff Castle Casino giving us this opportunity, and have enjoyed working with them in other events, such as Bowl for Kids Sake,” said Janna Genovese, Executive Director Verde Valley/Sedona Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters.  “Everyone always has such a good attitude and a smile on their face.  We’re very excited to be a part of TVR (Thunder Valley Rally) this year.”

Thunder Valley Rally is a yearly event that includes a 130 mile motorcycle ride ($10,000 Poker Run), a bike show ($10,000), Live Entertainment (Battle of the Bands), and Raffle Prizes ($10,000+) during the scheduled two days.  Attendance in past years has reached 2,000, with 2009 attendance expected to exceed prior years.

Cliff Castle Casino employees and volunteers from The Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters program will work side by side, assisting with promotions, registrations, set up and tear down of the event, among other tasks. 

“This is a venture that benefits everyone—the nonprofit agency we select each year,  the children it serves, the Casino, and our tribal and local communities as a whole,” said Clark.



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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAMP VERDE, AZ (10-6-09)

Contact: Lita Sorensen
Cliff Castle Casino
928-567-7991

Camp Verde, AZ—CLIFF CASTLE CASINO’S THUNDER VALLEY RALLY RUMBLES TO THE FINISH LINE

Cliff Castle Casino’s ninth annual Thunder Valley Rally motorcycle event roared into action Saturday morning, with a variety of activities:  A poker run with cash prize money, a motorcycle show with cash prizes, a raffle drawing for over 80 prize packages including a ’09 Victory Vision motorcycle, and Thunder Valley Rally’s first annual Battle of the Bands.

The two-day charity benefit raised $20,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and attracted approximately 1,400 bikers from all over the state and beyond.  Bikers of all ages and heavy metal filled Cliff Castle Casino’s parking lot, while food, apparel, and bike vendors, among others, sold their wares. 

The 130-mile poker run, offering $3,000 cash prizes for both the highest and lowest participant hand began at 7am on Saturday, with most bikes heading out about 9am.  The run traveled north to Munds Park, on to Mormon Lake Lodge, Clint’s Well and back to Camp Verde for the final stop at Ernie’s Smoke Shop on Hwy. 260. 

Featuring musicians from around the region, the Battle of the Bands drew people of all ages into Cliff Castle Casino’s Stargazer Pavilion both Saturday and Sunday for a contest that entitled the winners to cash prizes and/or gigs as an opening act for a national entertainer.  Guests voted on their favorites, a la American Idol.

Thunder Valley Rally’s motorcycle show and contest got going Sunday, where a more laid back crowd perused the show, as well as vendor booths to purchase items of clothing, leather goods, get tattoos on site, or have their bikes pinstriped. 

“This year’s TVR event was a resounding success,” said Tony Averitt, Cliff Castle Casino Marketing Director.  “We couldn’t have asked for a better charity partner than Big Brothers Big Sisters, who brought in a record number of very organized volunteers.  Additionally, I think the event participants all had a good time, which is what we were aiming for.”

Cliff Castle Casino plans to partner with Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters again for next year’s Thunder Valley Rally, which will mark it as a decade long event. 

“Big Brothers Big Sisters is exceedingly pleased to be able to join again in organizing and running Thunder Valley Rally in its 10th year,” Bill Sweeney, Board Chairman of Sedona/Verde Valley Big Brothers Big Sisters said.  “And we are convinced it will be the best ever.” 

Centrally located in Camp Verde, Cliff Castle Casino has been voted the #1 casino in Arizona for an entire decade.  It is proudly owned and operated by the Yavapai-Apache Nation and offers live-action poker, blackjack and more than 660 gaming devices.

Visitors can enjoy fine dining at Storytellers Steakhouse and family dining at The Gallery, The Gathering Restaurant & Bar, and Johnny Rockets. Hotel accommodations are available at the adjacent Lodge at Cliff Castle. For hotel reservations call (928) 567-6611, or (800) 524-6343.

Located just east of I-17 at exit 289. For more information please call the Castle Club at 928-567-7999 or visit www.cliffcastlecasino.net.

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