THUNDER BAY — The Thunder City Rumble is back and better than ever, with a new Canada Day date and fireworks too.
The popular car show, held in support of Our Kids Count, raised more than $30,000 last year for the organization and is always a drawing card in a community known for its love of everything automotive.
Daniel Trevisanutto, with Half-Way Motors, said last year’s inaugural show at the Thunder City Speedway — the ninth overall show — says the Thunder City Rumble goes hand-in-hand with the racing series being done at the track.
“And this year we’re excited to bring the event back even bigger and better,” he said. “We’re going to be starting the car show around 11 o’clock, as well as a vintage tractor show. The car show is going to be presented by Auto Home Paints and Canadian Tire, with the tractor show being presented by Kubota Thunder Bay.
“On top of that we’re going to have live music starting around 4 o’clock, a beer garden hosted by Sleeping Giant, as well as fireworks going out at 10 o’clock.”
It’s one of several events being held this year in support of Our Kids Count, an organization that provides a variety of services to families in Thunder Bay, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, counselling, a community kitchen and licensed child care, to name a few.
Jackie Knough, executive director at Our Kids Count, said events like the Thunder City Rumble and Ribfest, scheduled for Aug. 25-27, are paramount to their ability to operate year-round.
“We’re just so excited to be a part of the car show that’s happening out at Thunder City Speedway this year. Last year was a huge success and this year we’re hoping to even be bigger and better, something for the whole family to do out there,” Knough said.
“Our Kids Count is a grassroots, not-for-profit charity organization and we completely rely on donors and sponsors and community events and having a partnership with Half-Way Motors has been absolutely amazing. We only receive a certain amount of core funding within our agency, so we do rely on other donations and grants out in the community to be able to provide all the free services to families out in the community.”
Registration for vehicle owners is available through the Our Kids Count or at www.thundercityrumble.ca.
“It’ll be a paid registration, with early-bird pricing for the vehicles. For the general public, this is a free-to-attend event,” Trevisanutto said.
