Last week’s Vegas Valley Four Wheeler’s (VV4W) 30th Annual Hump n Bump and their new Car Crawl event had so many exciting photos and action moments. But the best part was what happened behind the scenes.
It first started with the VV4W leadership wanting to develop a better relationship with Moapa Valley residents and businesses. As their president Tammy O’Bremski put it, “we really wanted to support local businesses, to let the community know we appreciate you opening your valley, your home—up to us”.
That was the catalyst behind the Car Crawl. It was planned as a free event, something the people who attend the annual Hump n Bump could do to show their thanks—put on a free show!
And so the MV Chamber of Commerce, the VV4W, Clark County Parks and Rec. Dept. and Partners In Conservation began an informal partnership that ultimately resulted in a great new event in the valley with hundreds of local residents turning out to watch and cheer various rock crawling enthusiasts climb up and over the cars.
The great article in last week’s paper was inaccurate in one statement. It wasn’t PIC that hosted the event; it was everyone–the VV4W, the Chamber, LJ McCormick and Bob McCormick with their ‘Crew’, Darrin Leach and Jeff Phillips and Lin’s Market, 4 young locals helping with last minute prep of the cars, with the list going on and on. Just like the recent Welcome Back picnic after the Veteran’s Parade—not just one person being in charge, but lots of folks pitching in, working together, and making the event happen.
President of the Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce, Craig Haderlie, stopped by and visited with folks at the Hump n Bump headquarters as did Darrin and Jeff; Lin’s Market put in extra time ironing out last minute issues. Roxanne LaBeau and GraphX donated 30 bags full of treats for the kids who participated in a scavenger hunt; Valley-Leavitt Insurance donated water to insert in all the local packets of information.
VV4W had requested a local packet so that Moapa Valley businesses could get information to the Hump n Bump crowd. So many businesses, recognizing a great opportunity, added their information to the packets.
Informal feedback indicates that the Hump n Bump participants, as well as Pomegranate Festival attendees, frequented local businesses at a much higher rate than previously—which in these tough economic times was a real boost.
This formula, of so many people doing what they can do is the essence of our rural lifestyle; it is at once, the undercurrent and the lifeline of Moapa Valley; it is what makes living here so perfectly wonderful. It is what makes our valley home.
Elise McAllister
