Desert, Dust, & Horsepower

 

What a wonderful weekend of wild off-road racing! If I’m being completely honest it was a very intense week full of preparations, planning, and execution of community events. One of these events was the 6^th Annual Parker Downtown Experience. Over the past six years this event has quickly grown to be one of the largest, most highly attended functions in the Parker area. Live music, vendors, food, fun, off-road vehicles on display and the Pit Crew Challenge are more than enough reasons for race fans and visitors to check it out. This year was no exception with total attendance estimated at around five thousand.

This year’s Parker 425 did not disappoint. The race began at 7:15am on California Avenue directly in front of the Chamber building. These were no ordinary vehicles either… many of them spitting out upwards of a thousand horsepower, sitting atop thirty-five inch off-road tires with paint schemes sporting fluorescent colors and intricate geometric designs. These weren’t trucks, they were monsters and these monsters drove 425 miles through some of the harshest, most unforgiving terrain you’ll ever see. After 3 laps, several leader changes and countless major mechanical issues that you and I may never have to deal with (broken axel caused by ten foot dropoff), the #98 TSCO trick truck driven by Gary Weyhrich grabbed the win with the finishing time of 7:08:23

What’s going on

Feb. 14: The Stars of Beatlemania at Bluewater Resort & Casino. A Valentine’s concert for everyone that will take you back to the British rock n roll invasion.

Feb 14^th:  24^th Annual Parker Rotary Desert Dash
5 mile bike| 5K run| 5K fitness walk
Rain or Shine

Feb. 20-22: Bluewater Resort & Casino hosting Arizona Drag Boat Association
Lucas Co-Points|Thursday registration|Friday T&T|Saturday qualifying| Sunday eliminations.

Feb. 28: Bluewater Resort & Casino Amphitheatre presents Rodney Carrington
Live in concert| general admission $30|VIP $55
Doors open at 2pm

Now through April 12^th Tutankhamun: Wonderful Things from the Pharaoh’s Tomb
$15 Adults|$10 Children Ages 5-17|$10 Seniors 55+|Free – 4 and under
Exhibit open to all ages

There’s much more to come as we head towards spring with increasing temperatures and longer days. Don’t look now, but boat season is coming up real quick! We hope your 2015 is off to a great start and thanks for visiting Parker, Arizona.

Josh Savino
Tourism Coordinator
Parker Area Tourism