Anybody know if they are having grass drags this year?
Grass drags?
- Thread starter skip
- Start date
no, they are not going to be having the grass drags in Enumclaw this year.
long story as to the reason why.
long story as to the reason why.
They are not going on this year
If you're up for a little road trip here's an option. 
http://www.bignastyhillclimb.com/grass-drags.aspx
http://www.bignastyhillclimb.com/grass-drags.aspx
Anybody have the inside scoop on why it's not happining?
there's a combination of factors, so forgive some back history but it is probably needed to fill the gaps.
Two years ago Fastrax as the main sponsor put on the event, with the help from the snojammers. we appreciated everything curt had to offer and we wanted to continue the event with fastrax.
Fast forward to last year, before the event...
In an effort to make the event bigger, and spread the cost, it was decided that fastrax and duvall share sponsorship - have sled races and moto - for a bigger group. Once the details of the event started to unfold, there was a schedule conflict between duvall and fastrax. We wanted fastrax to be there, but there was a conflict with their hydroplane races and they needed to be at that event - which was the same weekend as the drags (considering fastrax builds the 1L motors and sponsor boats - we understood why they needed that date available for the hydro weekend). Well, Duvall was unwilling to move the date of the drags. So Fastrax backed out and the snojammers had to rent the trees from fastrax. Upsetting because we wanted Fastrax at the drags. Even more upsetting because this was something fastrax had started and we (snojammers) wanted them to continue.
So, last year, day of the event, Duvall was a primary sponsor, and was supposed to staff the event and run the trees, get the sleds lined up, and keep track of the bracket. The snojammers responsibilities were to set up/take down the course (hay bales, fence, lights). Well, Duvall didn't do anything besides park his RV and set up for the moto. So the snojammers on the fly had to set up the lights, and run the event -which was unfortunate. if we would have known we were to staff the event we would have had people there to run it like it should have.
Keep in mind, Duvall was unwilling to pay out to the snowmobilers. So he used "our" entry fee to fund and pay out for the moto guys who raced after we did. We tear up our equipment just as much as they did, and we were upset that no money would have been distributed - even $50 to the class winers, or whatever.
Additionally, after the event, Duvall owed the club money for our efforts, and other things. It took us over 6 months to collect from him.
Finally, as soon as the races were over with, Duvall packed up his RV, moved it to the moto, and made the snowmobiliers wait to collect their plaque. There was no award ceremony or even acknowledgement of the participants. which we didn't appreciate.
So this year, the snojammers wanted to do it, with help from Fastrax...in a partnership more or less. Well, between Fastrax's hydroplane schedule, and the weekends available it didn't work. the snojammers insurance wouldn't solely cover the event, which is why we needed a bigger company to help foot the bill to begin with. Then it came to finding a venue. we wanted to use the Enumclaw fairgrounds but the cost to put it on, and pay upfront wasn't conducive to our bottom line.
we were really depressed not being able to get this event off the ground this year. considering its right in our back-yard so to speak we wanted nothing more to improve it from year to year, and felt like it was on that path. we know there is always room for improvement. From a racers perspective (I raced in the event) and from volunteers (I was a volunteer who helped with the setup) we had enough insight to improve it for the "next" year.
That being said, there are some more details, but this essentially gives you the gist of the story and why we were unable to get it going for this fall.
Keep in mind, theres no hard feelings at all between our club and fastrax. they've done a lot for the community and sledders as a whole. so were not blaming or putting all the responsibility on them. its just as whole, we had a lot of obstacles to overcome for the event this fall.
Two years ago Fastrax as the main sponsor put on the event, with the help from the snojammers. we appreciated everything curt had to offer and we wanted to continue the event with fastrax.
Fast forward to last year, before the event...
In an effort to make the event bigger, and spread the cost, it was decided that fastrax and duvall share sponsorship - have sled races and moto - for a bigger group. Once the details of the event started to unfold, there was a schedule conflict between duvall and fastrax. We wanted fastrax to be there, but there was a conflict with their hydroplane races and they needed to be at that event - which was the same weekend as the drags (considering fastrax builds the 1L motors and sponsor boats - we understood why they needed that date available for the hydro weekend). Well, Duvall was unwilling to move the date of the drags. So Fastrax backed out and the snojammers had to rent the trees from fastrax. Upsetting because we wanted Fastrax at the drags. Even more upsetting because this was something fastrax had started and we (snojammers) wanted them to continue.
So, last year, day of the event, Duvall was a primary sponsor, and was supposed to staff the event and run the trees, get the sleds lined up, and keep track of the bracket. The snojammers responsibilities were to set up/take down the course (hay bales, fence, lights). Well, Duvall didn't do anything besides park his RV and set up for the moto. So the snojammers on the fly had to set up the lights, and run the event -which was unfortunate. if we would have known we were to staff the event we would have had people there to run it like it should have.
Keep in mind, Duvall was unwilling to pay out to the snowmobilers. So he used "our" entry fee to fund and pay out for the moto guys who raced after we did. We tear up our equipment just as much as they did, and we were upset that no money would have been distributed - even $50 to the class winers, or whatever.
Additionally, after the event, Duvall owed the club money for our efforts, and other things. It took us over 6 months to collect from him.
Finally, as soon as the races were over with, Duvall packed up his RV, moved it to the moto, and made the snowmobiliers wait to collect their plaque. There was no award ceremony or even acknowledgement of the participants. which we didn't appreciate.
So this year, the snojammers wanted to do it, with help from Fastrax...in a partnership more or less. Well, between Fastrax's hydroplane schedule, and the weekends available it didn't work. the snojammers insurance wouldn't solely cover the event, which is why we needed a bigger company to help foot the bill to begin with. Then it came to finding a venue. we wanted to use the Enumclaw fairgrounds but the cost to put it on, and pay upfront wasn't conducive to our bottom line.
we were really depressed not being able to get this event off the ground this year. considering its right in our back-yard so to speak we wanted nothing more to improve it from year to year, and felt like it was on that path. we know there is always room for improvement. From a racers perspective (I raced in the event) and from volunteers (I was a volunteer who helped with the setup) we had enough insight to improve it for the "next" year.
That being said, there are some more details, but this essentially gives you the gist of the story and why we were unable to get it going for this fall.
Keep in mind, theres no hard feelings at all between our club and fastrax. they've done a lot for the community and sledders as a whole. so were not blaming or putting all the responsibility on them. its just as whole, we had a lot of obstacles to overcome for the event this fall.
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the summer flew by for us at fastrax. Our summer was full with hydroplane racing We would love to help out to get grass drags going for next year. Hopefully we can get talking soon about it and try to set something up. I have a place that I would like to have it at, but we need to contact them and see if its possible. We will do what we can to help with the grass drags. Next summer will be pretty full also but we will see what we can help out with.
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