For the third straight year, the World Professional Chuckwagon Association is coming to Bonnyville and Tina Michaud, vice president of the Bonnyville chuckwagon committee, thinks the past two years experience will make 2010 the best year yet for the event.
“The first year organizing the event we went into it a little blind,” Michaud said. “We were massive fans and I think the committee has worked out a lot of the kinks we experienced the first couple of years.”
Michaud might be exaggerating any type of kinks that Bonnyville's event had. In 2008, the committee received an award for top race committee of the year in their debut year. Michaud admitted the whole process from planning to getting sponsors, has become a lot smoother as the years go by.
According to Michaud, the appetite for the community of Bonnyville for chuckwagon racing is second to none.
“The support of this community amazes me every year,” she said. “Everyone who missed out on sponsoring the last two years is calling us and wanting to know how they can get involved. We just seem to be getting more and more support from the business community each year.”
An exciting new twist to this year's festivities is the inclusion of an FMX motocross show before every day of the races. The daredevils on bikes plan on wowing the crowd with jumps, flips and ramps and the committee hopes their presence will attract some new fans.
“They contacted last year's chairman and wanted to be involved,” Michaud said. “I think it should bring in a lot of new fans who like motocross.”
“It's a nice twist to draw in the younger crowd,” added event organizer Russ Griffith.
The event will run from July 22 – 25 at the rodeo grounds and each day will have its own special events and deals.
Thursday is kids night, which means that everyone 15 and under can attend the races free of charge. Friday is 4-H day and everyone attending is encouraged to wear green. Those who wear green will be given a 50/50 ticket and AGLAND has donated a kids green motorized gator. Saturday is “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” day, in support of breast cancer research. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and will receive a 50/50 ticket if they do so. Home Hardware will be giving away one girls bike and one boys bike to the lucky winners. Sunday, the final day, will see WestJet sponsor a draw where the winner will win a trip for two to anywhere WestJet flies.
Another interesting opportunity for locals is the Pride of the Lakeland wagon. Citizens can chip in $100 for the chance to be a part of a sponsored chuckwagon team; this year's wagon will be driven by Rick Fraser.
“The Pride of the Lakeland gives regular people a chance to feel like they're more part of the race,” Michaud said. She also added that all those who do so are also invited to a barbecue party in the sponsors' tent and will have the chance to meet Fraser.
An added benefit to this year's edition of the races is the fact that fans will be able to enjoy the action regardless of what the weather is like.
A brand new covered grandstand was installed earlier this year and fans will be able to remain dry even during inclement weather.
For more information on the event, visit www.wpca.com.
