Mary Hamilton, Parker Area Tourism

Well friends, I just received an email from R-Entertainment and the Arizona Centennial Commission. After much consideration, the commission has thought it best that the Arizona Centennial Copper Chopper attend our Downtown Experience Event on February 2.

Please join me in thanking the Arizona Centennial Commission and R-Entertainment for their gracious reconsideration of the appearance of the Copper Chopper.

The Arizona Centennial Copper Chopper is the Official State Mascot of the Statehood Celebration. The first time I saw it, I fell in love with it. The gentleman designing the masterpiece is Paul Yaffe. Every single thing about this machine is exquisit and expecially unique.  Please visit this timeline and story board on the building of the magnificent Arizona Centennial Copper Chopper!

This piece of art is going to be raffled off at the Best Fest in Phoenix on February 14. You will have the opportunity to purchase a raffle ticket for $5.00 at our Downtown Experience.

Our own Shelly Rhode is a finalist in the drawing. Wouldn’t it be great to have two from Parker in the finals? Even better to have someone from Parker win it?

The Parker Area Chamber of Commerce will co-host this year’s tube float with BlueWater Resort and Casino and Parker Rotary on June 9, 2012. This years’ theme will celebrate the Statehood of Arizona. There have been many centennial celebrations state-wide over the past year and will continue throughout 2012. Arizona will be 100 years old on February 14, 2012.

The Tube Float came under great scrutiny last year when record numbers of floaters converged on our small body of water. Most did not register for the years-old fundraiser and there were many incidents of underage drinking and personal property damage along the Parker Strip. Also, trash was clogging up Headgate Dam. After many meetings with the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, local businesses, community residents, local government, law enforcement, CRIT EPO and first-responders the decision was made to continue with the traditional float.

The tube Float brings in thousands of visitors each year and continued to grow. This event is great for the local economy with record retail sales over “the Big Three” summer holidays: Memorial Weekend, Fourth of July and Labor Day.

At the 2011 Parker 425, two spectator sections in Bouse were closed due to new mandates following the California MDR race casualties. We have some great news that took some effort and a lot of help from the community: These sections will be re-opened for the 2012 Parker 425 race!

First, we had to locate some barriers called K-Rails. K-Rails are concrete with rebar enforcement inside. They are the barriers one would see during road construction, like on our bridge right now. They come in different lengths, most commonly 10′-12′ and weigh approximately 4,500 pounds each. There were 400 linear feet of these to be moved from Salome to the Bouse ”Y” spectator area. Deputy Steve Draper located the barriers in Salome. The owner of the K-Rails, Mr. Bill Sweetland, donated them but we had to move them ourselves.

On Monday, October 17, five truckloads brought 48 pieces to the Bouse “Y.” Barry Drews unloaded and placed K-Rails with his forklift. The Town of Parker sent Daniel Haitt to help with the unloading and placement of the barriers. Steve Draper was on hand with Mike Henderson of the Bureau of Land Management to oversee the project. A Toe Truck, La Paz County and Parker Towing provided the trucks, fuel and employees to transport the heavy loads.

On Wednesday, October 19, the Town of Parker picked up a “reach lift” from Bingham Equipment. Steve Draper operated the machine to place the rest of the K-Rails. 48 concrete barriers (K-rails) were placed providing 570 feet of safety barrier for the “Bouse Y” spectators.

The Bureau of Land Managment had a “camping work crew” in the Bouse spectator area all week. The BLM crews had a tough-go with the hard-pack soil but were able to re-align 2,500 feet of wooden posts (105) and cable to provide a 100 foot safety zone along the 2^nd Bouse spectator area 4 miles east from the Bouse Y. Plans next are to paint the K-rails in the next couple months a brown color to blend in with the surrounding natural colors.

In addition to re-opening the Bouse spectator areas, this project will prevent the course from being re-routed and no environmental study will be necessary.

We want to thank all of the people who donated their time, trucks, fuel, labor and employees: La Paz County, La Paz County Sheriff’s Department, the Town of Parker, Mr. Barry Drews, Deputy Steve Draper, Bureau of Land Management, Mike Henderson, A Toe Truck, Parker Towing, Bingham Equipment and Dave Shelton.

Casey Folks, President and Founder of Best in the Desert Racing Association said he wanted to thank everyone involved and include Parker Area Tourism, CRIT, BlueWater Resort & Casino in the group here, that really welcomes this sport and supports it completely. It’s folks like this that make these events possible. Everyone in Parker has been excellent.

The 2012 Parker 425 will take place on February 4th. Festivities begin Thursday, February 2, with the Time Trials and the “Downtown Experience”, a meet and greet street party at Joshua and Arizona Avenues in Downtown Parker. Friday, the BlueWater Resort & Casino will host “Contingency Row and Tech Inspection” and Saturday, the last street start, off-road race in the country.

Race on!

September,
2011 – Las Vegas, NV

The BlueWater Desert Challenge in Parker, AZ, October 13-16, hosted by the Blue Water Resort & Casino, is the fourth event in the five-race 2011 Best In The Desert “American Off-Road Racing Series”. Unlike all of the other Best In The Desert long distance races, that are either a long loop race, or a point to point course, as is the Parker “425” or the recent TSCO Vegas to Reno” courses, the Blue Water Desert Challenge is a 2-day multi-race format that features Best In The Desert’s Car, Truck and UTV classes running both days for combined results to determine the winners.

This is the second year running of the Blue Water Desert Challenge. Last year saw more than 180 cars, trucks and UTVs for the inaugural event and has already become an exceptionally popular event with both racers and fans. As soon as the dust settled at the Vegas to Reno race, racers started telling each other, “I’ll see you October in Parker.” The unique format still allows competitors to log in more that 150 miles of challenging desert racing over the course of two days. It also offers the racers to make adjustments and fine tune their vehicles for the second day of shoot-out style competition.

Two full days of non-stop racing on an exciting 26 mile long course that treats the racers to the likes of John Wayne’s Gorge, Marilyn’s Romp, The Matterhorn, The Sand Pile, Parker River Run, The New Thunder Alley and The Snake Pit. Casey Folks, director of Best in the Desert, said, “This course is a racer’s dream come true…an off-road racer’s Disneyland. It not only
features the famous “Parker Python”, but also a wide selection of tough terrain that’s sure to please and challenge every team – every racer.”

Unlike other Best InThe Desert races where the Trick Trucks and Class 1500 cars compete head-to-head for the coveted first starting position and $1000 “Team Ford” Pole award, they will have separate “time trials” for the two classes as they race in different heats. So for this race only, the sponsor of the Pole Award -Team Ford-Lincoln owner Steve Olliges stepped up to the plate and said, “Since the Trick Trucks and Unlimited 1500 vehicles have their own individual class time trials and their own races, I am pleased to pay out our $1,000 Pole Award to the TWO fastest classes – each class will have their own Pole Awards. Both winners of the time trials in their respective classes, which run on the Thursday before the race, will take home $1,000 each in cash, plus the beautiful “Team Ford” engraved Pole Award trophy to boast over with their friends and fellow competitors!” Each Pole Award winner will also receive a custom limited edition Jason Beam hat. Jason is the top designer in NASCAR helmets. He does all the top drivers, including current Sprint Car Cup champion and former off-road racing star Jimmie Johnson.

The Blue Water Desert Challenge is held in the Town of Parker, AZ with the start/finish line just one mile from the Host Hotel, the beautiful Blue Water Resort & Casino, right along the beautiful Colorado River.  It’s a great time to come to Parker; off-road race by day and play at the beautiful Blue Water Resort & Casino by night!

Best In The Desert official sponsors: Ford Motor Company – official truck, General Tire – official tire, Lucas Oil – official oil, VP Racing Fuels – official fuel, KC HiLiTES – official light, John Deere – official UTV, Husqvarna – official motorcycle, Fabtech – Official Suspension, Fall Advertising, Prerunner Maniac, McKenzies, PCI Race Radios, Azunia Tequila, and Sportsman Cycle Sales.

The American Off-Road Racing Series…Best In The Desert!

Further information available from: www.bitd.com

email: bitd@bitd.com, phone: (702) 457-5775

MEDIA CONTACT: www.fallads.com/bitd, email: mediabitd@fallads.com

It’s no longer speculation, it’s the real thing.   The Pirate’s Den RV Resort & Marina is about to open.  We would like to invite you to follow us at Facebook by going to our page known as the Pirates Den Resort.  Click on the “like” link and leave us your comments.

Imagine, the sun is setting and the sky is ablaze with color.  Your beachside cabana is filled with the laughter of good friends.  After dinner, you saunter down the boardwalk for a nightcap at the spirited beachside bistro.   All this and more at the newest and most premier resort on the Colorado River, the Pirate’s Den RV Resort & Marina.

The Pirate’s Den Resort is located on the beach front in the splendid 92 acre waterfront parcel of the La Paz County Park.  Among the amenities expected of a quality RV resort, the Pirate’s Den provides full hook-ups including high-speed wireless internet access, bar and restaurant along with our convenience store and marina.

With the unique character of a rustic pirate theme, the social centerpiece of the Pirate’s Den Resort is the “Thirsty Pirate” beach bar and “Black Pearl” restaurant.  The ambiance of the Caribbean style setting with patio dining is intimate, comfortable, unpretentious and fun.  Along with white-sugar sandy beaches, beach front cabanas and on site boat ramp, the Pirate’s Den Resort brings the magic of Caribbean islands to life at the Parker Strip.

Whatever your vacation pleasure, the Pirate’s Den Resort has it all.   Our onsite boat launch allows for fast and convenient boat launching with a three lane boat ramp.  Enjoy your daily walks along the River promenade and extended bike paths.  And, five minutes from your front door you’ll find casino gaming, golf, tennis, ATV trail blazing and hiking.  In addition to music festivals and swap meets, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the Pirate’s Den Resort.

Whether you’re seeking adventure, stretching out in the shade of your cabana or lazing in the sun on the sugary white sand, year round we invite you to join in the festivities.  Come join us and live the Pirate’s Code, a drink in your hand and your feet in the sand.  Beautiful sunsets with happy hour on the beach, does it get any better?  We don’t think so.  Come see for yourself and become part of the crew.

We look forward to meeting those of you who are local to the Parker area and introducing you to the Pirate’s Den RV Resort & Marina.

Yours truly,

LuLu Jacobsen
Pirate’s Den RV Resort & Marina