What do Snowmobile Enthusiasts do when they can't find snow? Why Grass Drag, of course. After 20 plus years of living in New Hampshire, I had never heard of grass dragging, but this past weekend, I got my first taste of it and I loved it!
The Grass Drags, held at Peterson's Brookvale Farm in Fremont, New Hampshire, is the second largest Grass Drag and Watercross Competition in the country and is sponsored by the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association. Snowmobiles and ATVs race across grass and water in a competition that almost brings as many race fans to New Hampshire as NASCAR racing.
Phil Peterson, owner of Brookvale Farm, recently passed away, but his 200-acre farm on Martin Road has been host to this event since 1980. You may have seen the news of his passing on WMUR. The procession of tractors that gathered for his funeral march, was a symbol of his livelihood and an even more powerful symbol of the love of his neighbors. He never liked to say "Good-bye", so he would say "Good-night" instead. On Saturday, when I attended the event, a sign was posted in front of his home that said, "Welcome... and Good-night".
The first event I witnessed was the freestyle demonstration. Snowmobile and ATVs were flying through the air. I was mesmerized. Look at the photo below. Tell me you are not thinking Type A personalities.
The second event for me was the Water Cross. Snowmobilers race on the water of Brookvale Pond and yes, they do sink. The trick seems to be to maintain your speed while keeping the front runners off of the water. A pontoon boat with medical personnel was ready at all times to pull the unfortunate riders out of the pond. Events included a straight shot across the pond and then the Oval race, where riders had to make laps around the pond, five in total, I believe. They seemed to get extra enjoyment from soaking the crowd who sat too the close to the edge of the pond.
And to top it all off, the weather was in the seventies, and the fall foliage was just about at its peak. Needless to say, I'm hooked on this event. I expect to be a regular attendee from now on, and I hope to see some of you there next year, as well.
Frances Sanderson, Franklin, NH REALTOR®, Certified EcoBroker®
603-455-2224 
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Hi Frances! I loved the pictures. I had no idea there were event like this in NH. Just goes to show you that it is a good thing to belong to Active Rain! Hope to meet you in person soon.