March 22-25, 2012
It’s all happening in Phoenix, Arizona, when the first of the three 2012 Good Sam Rallies takes place at Phoenix International Raceway, March 22 through 25. Country music’s 4-time winner of Female Vocalist of the Year, Martina McBride will be performing for Rally guests on Saturday evening, and everybody’s favorite comedian, Bill Cosby, will be entertaining attendees on Friday.
In the 1960s, Bill Cosby’s stand-up act was a coast-to-coast sensation, spawning a string of hilarious, best-selling comedy albums, which went on to win eight Gold Records, five Platinum records and five Grammy Awards. His role on TV’s I Spy made him the first African-American to co-star in a dramatic series, breaking television’s racial barrier and winning three Emmy Awards. In the 1980s, he again rocked the television world with The Cosby Show, a gentle, whimsical and hugely successful series that single-handedly revived the family sitcom.
A Kansas native, Martina McBride started her recording career in 1992, with the album, The Time Has Come. This was followed by another album, The Way That I Am, containing such hits as “My Baby Loves Me” and “Independence Day”, which won Video of the Year and Song of the Year from the Country Music Association. Since then, she’s been recording a solid line of popular hits, including “A Broken Wing”, “Happy Girl” and “Wrong Again”.
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n 2003, McBride’s single, “This One’s for the Girls” became a hit not only in country music, but also on the contemporary charts. She followed it up with “In My Daughter’s Eyes”, and the following year, (after wins in 1999, 2002, and 2003), won the CMA’s Female Vocalist award for the fourth time, tying with Reba McEntire for the most wins in that category.
And it doesn’t stop with McBride and Cosby. After wowing the audience at the 2007 Redmond Rally, Add NewTicket to Ride, a Beatles’ tribute band, will be performing on Sunday evening – when the entire audience will be able to sing along to their favorite Beatles’ tunes.
In addition to four outstanding nights of entertainment, hundreds of informative seminars about the RV lifestyle, and a huge trade show featuring the latest rigs of all shapes and sizes, plus hundreds of booths selling everything needed to make RV travel more enjoyable, the Phoenix Rally will offer a number of other exciting and new programs.
Rally organizers are busy setting up optional tours of the fascinating Arizona area, including: Scottsdale and downtown Phoenix, the beautiful red rocks and amazing crafts found in Sedona; tours of the Heard Museum in Phoenix – one of the world’s finest destinations for American Indian arts and culture;Old Tucson, the Pima Air and Space Museum, Saguaro National Monument, the Titan Missile Museum, the annual Renaissance Fair in Apache Junction; hot air ballooning, reserved tickets to spring training baseball games, and lots more to come.
Camping World is again sponsoring the Rally’s most popular game…Match ‘N Win, where guests look for others with matching numbers in order to win prizes. And throughout the Rally, participants can earn extra Good Sam “Smiles”, tickets to use in major door prize drawings. Coast to Coast is sponsoring the first Rally Veterans’ Salute – all veterans are invited to wear whatever part of their uniform still fits, strap on their marching boots, and march down the track in the Rally’s Veterans Parade. The popular Rally Dog Show will again be fierce competition, as guests’ pups compete in unique and funny categories.
The now traditional Community Service Day will be Tuesday, March 20….a chance for Rally guests to give back to the communities we visit. Volunteers can work on a cleanup project with the Tres Rios Wetlands organization. Tres Rios Wetlands is where the Salt, Gila, and Agua Fria Rivers unite to provide a home for native species. There will also be a book discussion and book exchange on March 22. The book will be To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and the West Valley Astronomy Club will host a fantastic Star Trek adventure, viewing Arizona’s dense and clear skies on Early Bird night, March 21.
Good Sam will partner with Project Linus at all three 2012 Rallies. Project Linus is a nationwide non-profit organization that provides blankets for children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Blankets are collected locally and distributed to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere that a child might be in need of a big hug!
The Phoenix Rally is just the first of three Good Sam Rallies in 2012 – followed by Louisville, June 21 through 25 and Daytona, November 2 through 4. To sign up for any of the three, visit www.therally.com. Early bird discounts are currently in effect, and Good Sam members can save even more by signing up for multiple Rallies next year.
