Mower races help to fuel interest in Hadlock Days

PORT HADLOCK — An old folk tale about Hadlock Days claims the celebration was once so small, half the paraders would walk around the other half, then swap places.

While there may be a kernel of truth there concerning the festival’s fledgling days 22 years ago, Hadlock Days looks more lively than in many years.

Entire families planned their day around the weekend festivities which ran throughout Saturday and continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in two locations — at the familiar site off of Ness’ Corner Road that houses the new and improved lawn mower racing track and at the Kively Center at 121 Oak Bay Road.

More lawn mower races will be held today, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the 560-foot track that retired contractor Lloyd Crouse built and recently renovated.

The beer garden adjacent to the track will open at 9 a.m. today, while booths will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Admission to the track area is $3 per person while all other events are free.

On Saturday, it seemed that nearly the entire town of Wamic, Ore., (population 36) brought their lawn mowers to the annual races. That’s not to mention a dozen racers and their families from Soap Lake and Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho.

Forty lawn mower drivers competed on the improved dirt track carved into good Hadlock dirt and clay west of downtown.

They traveled from Idaho, Oregon and even Wyoming to compete for national points in the American Racing Mower Association (ARMA) sanctioned event.

Racer Dale Stark of Soap Lake took his first run on the improved dirt track.

“This is a blast,” Stark said. “You meet so many people.”

Caked in mud and smiling ear to ear, Stark had just won his heat despite being pitted against lawn mowers that were more akin to stock cars than grass cutters.

Stark’s pitiful 20 horsepower V-twin held off the unlimited class racers because he was able to get traction along one side of the track where mud persisted.

“We were racing the big boys,” he said. “They couldn’t get traction and that’s the only reason I won.”

Many spectators of the parade as well as aficionados of the dirt track expressed a similar sentiment — that Hadlock Days felt like the kind of community celebrations of yesteryear.

The Holt family of Mats Mats Bay came en masse with the youngest cousins designing, decorating and all but driving their float in the parade.

The flock of children have been in each of the past three parades and they select a different theme for each year, though all themes so far have been water related.

They called themselves the Electric Eels this year but were formerly known as Crab Pinchers and the Kelp Rockers. They’ll be the Dazzling Dolphins next year.

“How many kids can say they were in a parade?” said matriarch Susan Holt, the designated spokesperson for the burgeoning clan. “This is big news for these kids and it’s safe.”

Dana Petrick, the festival’s prime mover, albeit with plenty of help, said she felt Hadlock Days was reviving, thanks in great part to Crouse’s passion for lawn mower racing, as well as the support of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Pedro’s Fiesta Jalisco restaurant, the Chevron at Chimacum and Scampi Seafood.

Sitting on a foldable camp chair in the Hadlock Days headquarters at Kively Center late Saturday, a weary Petrick was enthusiastic about the festival’s future.

“I think we will be able to bring this back,” she said.

“There’s a genuine community spirit here.”

Debbie Williams of Wenatchee agreed.

“This is small town fun,” she said. “It’s a great small community event.”

She and husband, Bob, pulled up roots in Wenatchee, in fact, and plan to live full time on Marrowstone Island.

Stephen and Pat Chase of Port Hadlock sat next to the Williamses on the corner of Irondale Road and Nesses Corner Road to watch Saturday’s parade.

“We love this,” Stephen Chase said. “This is small-town America.”

________

Philip L. Watness is a freelance writer and photographer living in Port Townsend. He can be reached at whatnews@olypen.com.

More in News

Two people were displaced after a house fire in the 4700 block of West Valley Road in Chimacum on Thursday. No injuries were reported. (East Jefferson Fire Rescue)
Two displaced after Chimacum house fire

One person evacuated safely along with two pets from a… Continue reading

A Port Angeles city worker places a tree topper on the city’s Christmas tree, located at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at the intersection of Laurel and First streets. A holiday street party is scheduled to take place in downtown Port Angeles from noon to 7 p.m. Nov. 30 with the tree lighting scheduled for about 5 p.m. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Top of the town

A Port Angeles city worker places a tree topper on the city’s… Continue reading

Hospital board passes budget

OMC projecting a $2.9 million deficit

Lighthouse keeper Mel Carter next to the original 1879 Fresnel lens in the lamp room at the Point Wilson Lighthouse. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Donations to aid pediatrics clinic, workforce

Recipients thank donors at hospital commissioners’ meeting

Whitefeather Way intersection closed at Highway 101

Construction crews have closed the intersection of Whitefeather Way and… Continue reading

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Commissioners to consider levies, budgets

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

Highway 112 partially reopens to single-lane traffic

Maintenance crews have reopened state Highway 112 between Sekiu… Continue reading

Laken Folsom, a Winter Ice Village employee, tries to remove leaves that blew in from this week’s wind storm before they freeze into the surface of the rink on Thursday. The Winter Ice Village, operated by the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce in the 100 block of West Front Street, opens today and runs through Jan. 5. Hours are from noon to 9 p.m. daily. New this year is camera showing the current ice village conditions at www.skatecam.org. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Ice village opens in Port Angeles

Laken Folsom, a Winter Ice Village employee, tries to remove leaves that… Continue reading

Fort PDA receiver protecting assets

Principal: New revenue streams needed

Ella Biss, 4, sits next to her adoptive mother, Alexis Biss, as they wait in Clallam County Family Court on Thursday for the commencement of the ceremony that will formalize the adoption of Ella and her 9-year-old brother John. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Adoption ceremony highlights need for Peninsula foster families

State department says there’s a lack of foster homes for older children, babies

Legislature to decide fate of miscalculation

Peninsula College may have to repay $339K