North by northeast to New York’s Camping World/Good Sam Rally
Ask any Good Sam member what the biggest RV event of the year is, and they’ll tell you it’s the Camping World/Good Sam Rally. Since staging our first event (then known as the Great North American RV Rally) back in 2000, we’ve presented 15 Rallies from coast to coast—from Perry, Georgia, to Pomona, California. But in all those years, we’ve never hosted a Rally in the Northeast. Until now.
From June 13 through 16, thousands of RV enthusiasts and Good Sam members from across the continent will congregate on the outskirts of Syracuse at the Empire Expo Center, home to the Great New York State Fair and one of the largest exhibit complexes in North America. They’ll shop for recreational vehicles, browse the latest RV gear, attend a full slate of RV seminars and be dazzled by the impressive lineup of entertainers.
The big news is that Reba is returning to the Rally for an encore performance after knocking Rallygoers’ socks off last year at Florida’s Daytona International Speedway. The dynamic country singer, TV star and Broadway actress charmed the Daytona crowd with her top-10 hits, lively repartee and sense of humor in what many have called the most entertaining Rally performance ever. With rave reviews like that, it’s no wonder the iconic Queen of Country is back for her second Rally.
It wasn’t easy finding an act to rival Reba, but the Rally staff succeeded, booking legendary entertainer Wayne Newton. From his signature number, “Danke Schoen,” to such chart-toppers as “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” and “Daddy, Don’t
You Walk So Fast,” Newton has thrilled audiences ever since he was a young boy. He took Las Vegas by storm while still in high school and hasn’t stopped since, earning the admiration of fans and the enduring nickname Mr. Las Vegas.
The Rally’s also the place to meet the charismatic chairman and CEO of the Good Sam Club and Camping World, Marcus Lemonis, featured on TV’s Celebrity Apprentice, Secret Millionaire and the new reality series The Big Fix. Lemonis will address plans for the Good Sam Club and host a VIP meet-and-greet for Good Sam Life members. What’s more, many Good Sam state and provincial officers will be on hand to promote chapter membership and foster the Good Samaritan spirit.
Syracuse is rolling out the welcome mat for other Rally favorites, including Robin Dickson, president of Dogs for the Deaf, who’s shepherding the Rally Dog Show, and Fred Moore, Flags4Vets founder and Good Sam’s 2012 RVer of the Year, who’s calling the shots at the Salute to Veterans. Colorful TV chef, cookbook author and culinary adventurer Bob Blumer will be back behind the stove with his innovative recipes, and Trailer Life and MotorHome publisher Bob Livingston continues to unlock the mysteries of RV ownership.
Big things are likewise in store for those shopping for new rigs, as the Empire Expo Center metamorphoses into one of the world’s largest recreational vehicle shows with hundreds of new and used motorhomes, travel trailers and fifthwheels plus representatives from all of the major RV manufacturers.
Throughout the exhibit halls, displays of new RV equipment and travel gear will stretch from aisle to aisle, with merchandise ranging from clothing to cooking items and RV headlights to tailpipes. Camping World’s onsite store will stock a vast selection of RV parts, supplies and accessories, and factory representatives from the major RV suppliers will be available to offer expert advice and service.
From the jam-packed schedule of events, Rally-goers can pick from among dozens of daily activities, including seminars on everything from full-time RVing to RVing to Alaska, as well as a safe-driving course, a fashion show, pet adoptions, guided tours and a musical jam session. As usual, guests can look forward to valuable giveaways every day of the event.
For families with kids, the Rally organizes all sorts of daytime activities for children and teens, so parents and grandparents are free to attend seminars and stroll through the exhibits. Better yet, the youth program is free for kids age six through 17.
If you’ve ever visited New York, you know that the journey to Syracuse can be just as exciting as the destination. From breathtaking Niagara Falls to the beautiful Finger Lakes, and from the panoramic Catskills to the peaceful Adirondacks, New York has no shortage of natural splendor and not-to-be-missed spectacles. And then there’s the Big Apple of New York City with its legendary skyline and metropolitan amusements.
Considering the bucket list of New York attractions, the comfortable mid-June temperatures and Syracuse’s convenient location where interstates 81 and 90 meet, there’s never been a better time or place to join the fun at a Camping World/Good Sam Rally.
Good Sam members can sign up for the Syracuse Rally by calling 800-701-1399 or visiting therally.com. Registrations start at $199, which includes four days of RV camping and all the festivities. Members who take advantage of Good Sam’s lineup of products and services may be entitled to discounted fees, so make sure to ask when you register.
Raise The Checkered Flag In Gerogia
The race is on for October’s Rally at Atlanta Motor Speedway
The Camping World/Good Sam Rally revs up the action this fall at one of the fastest tracks on the NASCAR circuit, Georgia’s Atlanta Motor Speedway. Good Sam members are invited to the second of two 2013 Rallies, this time in the infield of Atlanta’s famed 1.54-mile quad-oval track, October 17 through 20.
