PENDLETON ROUND-UP GEARS UP FOR PENDLETON BIKE WEEK AND THUNDER IN THE BLUES FLAT TRACK RACE
PENDLETON, ORE. (July 13, 2017) – Pendleton Round-Up, the most iconic rodeo in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), is preparing for a different kind of horsepower during the third-annual Pendleton Bike Week, playing host to the Thunder in the Blues flat track motorcycle race on the arena grounds. The event holds historical significance for the Pendleton Round-Up, as this will be the first motorcycle race held on the ¼ mile dirt track since 1940. Lucas Motorcycle Oil and Rogers Toyota of Hermiston will sponsor the event.
“The Thunder in the Blues flat track race will be a great way to kick off Pendleton Bike Week for the local community,” said Bill Levy, president, Pendleton Round-Up. “It has been exciting to watch Pendleton Bike Week grow in popularity in just three short years. Given the positive economic impact on local businesses and exposure the bike week receives each year, the Pendleton Round-Up is pleased to support and promote this annual event.”
Entering its third year, Pendleton Bike Week has grown exponentially since its inaugural 2015 ride. Organizers estimate as many as 20,000 riders could descend on the town of Pendleton between July 19 – 23, 2017. Similar to Pendleton Round-Up week, people across the northwest will travel to Pendleton; positively impacting the community through direct spending at local businesses and events. The growing popularity of the event has also spurred media attention, promoting the town of Pendleton far beyond local and regional communities.
The Thunder in the Blues race will be held in the Pendleton Round-Up arena on Friday, July 21 from 3:00pm –10:00pm. Tickets for the evening are $20 for ages 13 and up; $5 for kids, 12 and under.
About Pendleton Round-Up
The Pendleton Round-Up has long been heralded as the world’s most iconic rodeo, and is held in Pendleton, Oregon, the second full week in September each year. Established in 1910 and inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2008, the rodeo began as a frontier exhibition of picturesque pastimes, Indian and military pageantry, cowboy racing and bronco busting. Rich in history and heritage, today the Pendleton Round-Up preserves the cowboy and western spirit and honors the integral Native American history of the Pacific Northwest. A Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) sanctioned event, and voted PRCA ‘Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year’ in 2003, 2010, 2015 and 2016, the annual event draws thousands of patrons each year and hosts rodeo competitions including bareback riding, tie-down roping, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, team roping, bull riding and steer roping. In addition to PRCA sanctioned events, edge-of-your-seat exhibitions include the Indian Relay Racing, the “Green Mile,” longest women’s professional barrel racing pattern, wild cow milking and unique Native American dancing.
For more information, a schedule of 2017 events and to purchase tickets and gear visit pendletonroundup.com or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.