Grass Drags & Watercross 10/5/18 thru 10/7/18

[MTNBYKR 188]

Anyone going to the Grass Drags & Watercross in Fremont next weekend?  I think I might actually go for the first time in many years.  Honestly, it has become a bit too big for me  (I don't really care for big crowds).  I used to go every year when it was "smaller" (camped there a few years), but this year I'm thinking of going again...  I need some parts for the new sled and one of the old ones, and I kinda want to see what it's like these days. 

https://nhsa.com/nh-grass-drags-and-watercross/

So who here is going?

 

Edited September 30, 2018 by MTNBYKR

[PolarisCobra 131]

I believe I will be there Saturday, with my brother-in-law. May have a bigger group, my wife said she might be interested this year. She had knee replacement surgery last year, and will likely have the other one done in a few months. Sometimes she can walk better than others, so we will see later int the week. 

Early weather predictions are good, hopefully we will get a nice day to get out, walk around, and see come cool stuff. 

[classicdmax 58]

Always wanted to go, heard it’s a good time. I’ll be heading up to groveton Friday for the weekend, not sure I’ll be able to motivate the others to drive an 1-1/2hr back south to check it out though

[Saluda 110]

First year we're not going in a lot of years. Have been disappointed lately.

[Nor'easter 21]

I am going on Friday this year, hoping for less of a crowd.

PS100 shootout qualifying is around 4:00 pm 

[MTNBYKR 188]

I can't decide which day I want to go.  Sunday would work better for me overall, but I need to try and find a gas tank for one of my old sleds so Saturday morning would be the best time to hit the swap meet.  Decisions decisions...

 

[rossi46 90]

14 hours ago, classicdmax said:

Always wanted to go, heard it’s a good time. I’ll be heading up to groveton Friday for the weekend, not sure I’ll be able to motivate the others to drive an 1-1/2hr back south to check it out though

You should try to make it sometime. 

If you do convince others to join you this weekend, it's more like 2.5 hours from Groveton.

[classicdmax 58]

45 minutes ago, rossi46 said:

You should try to make it sometime. 

If you do convince others to join you this weekend, it's more like 2.5 hours from Groveton.

I suppose that is true since it takes me 1-1/2hr to get to hooksett toll both. Perhaps if we can leave RI early enough Friday we can stop on our way through

[MTNBYKR 188]

Well I tried to go today but wish I hadn’t. Made it almost there, but with 2 miles left we hit bumper to bumper traffic. After a half hour of barely moving we still had 1.5 miles to go, so at that rate it was going to take 2 hours just to go the 2 miles. Decided I wasn’t willing to wait that long and turned around. Can’t even imagine what the crowd must have been like there with traffic like that.

That was a waste of 3 hours of my time and $20 of gas. Don’t think I’ll be doing that again. 

Edited October 6, 2018 by MTNBYKR

[CATRESERVE 248]

I am hanging around camp resting from a busy month of work and trying to get my wood in for the winter as well as enjoying the nice colors up here.  I too hate the crowds...I can hear about it from everyone and look at the posted pictures.

Hope everyone that attends has a good time...just not for me.

[classicdmax 58]

Holiday weekend, and leaf peepers!!! Took us just shy 5 hours to get to groveton last night from RI....and we left at 6. My buddy came up this morning and took him 6+. There was no way I was going to hop back in my truck and suffer through that again, in both directions I’m sure. Instead we went to island pond to see a friends new camp and bought a bunch of tannerite to shoot

[Nor'easter 21]

I was not that impressed this year, I was going to go on Friday, but plans got changed.

Got a late start yesterday, got off exit 6 on 101 around 9:30 ...

made it almost to Martin road and traffic was almost not moving, had to park in the last field and walk a mile to the back gate, only one ticket booth open.

Took around 45 minutes just for that. No Eklunds Motorsports this year and they changed the layout of the event, did see some PS1000 qualifying, and some of the Rave X show, I don't recall seeing any water skip races ?? 

Looked at the new sleds and bought some items I needed from a few vendors,  by 2:30 you almost could not move around, it was that crowded,  we left, and there was a line of people still trying to get in and still traffic on Martin road. 

I will not be going on Saturday again, and I will not be going with a group again. 

I forgot to mention the mud, my buddy camps every year, they had to get towed in and probably will get towed out. 

 

[jhwentworth 307]

These traffic jam stories seem similar to what I've heard about the Deerfield Fair traffic this year. The Deerfield Fair drew 150,000 people over 4 days, and they all had to arrive over Route 43. I guess it's what happens when you hold very large events on back-country roads.

[stinx 4]

I went today, got there at 09:00Am was able to drive inland got parking very close to the gate. We had no problem walking around etc, stayed until 12:30. Had no problem leaving traffic coming in and out was very light. I guess everyone went on Saturday.

 

[smallengineguy 88]

I went yesterday, got there at around 930, it got busy really fast. GREAT show on the water, RaveX as usual was a crowd hit, although for the third year in a row, their PA system sucked, cutting out, etc. Really glad I went and that it was so busy this year. Snowmobiling certainly isn't dead in NH!

[dirt dummy 105]

I went fri, sat and Sunday drove right in drove right out! 6am to 7pm lol

[PolarisCobra 131]

I arrived Saturday around 9:45. Parked farther back than usual based on the arrival time, there were a lot of people there. Took our walk around, bought some raffle tickets and lunch. Didn't need any gear this year, but we did browse the tents. My brother-in-law is thinking about buying a new sled, so we spent some time looking them over. Nice to be able to walk across and look at all of them for sure. Left a little before 2:00. We were supersized at the number of people trying to get in, there was a long backup of traffic trying to park. 

 

Key is to get there early for sure. This has to be about the biggest event in NH nowadays, I don't know how many get to the NASCAR race these days, but it must be close. 

[rossi46 90]

13 hours ago, smallengineguy said:

I went yesterday, got there at around 930, it got busy really fast. GREAT show on the water, RaveX as usual was a crowd hit, although for the third year in a row, their PA system sucked, cutting out, etc. Really glad I went and that it was so busy this year. Snowmobiling certainly isn't dead in NH!

Great post.

Saturday was crazy-busy indeed.  The traffic snarl and mud bogging through the farmers field was a test of patience, but we had a great time...so did our non-sledding friends!

[jhwentworth 307]

"

Key is to get there early for sure. This has to be about the biggest event in NH nowadays, I don't know how many get to the NASCAR race these days, but it must be close."

The NHSA web site says that about 40,000 people attend the Grass Drags over the three days. The Loudon track doesn't release attendance figures anymore, but in 2012 they reported 95,000 for the July race and 98,000 for the September race. Best guess for this year's July race would be 80,000, and that would be a 1-day figure. 

 

[PolarisCobra 131]

I guess you are right, I forgot how many people go to the races in Loudon. But when you consider the roads going in and out of Loudon, and the size of the facility, it is remarkable how smoothly the grass drags run, given that it is at a farm, on a country road, and managed my volunteers. 

 

[Old Thumper 150]

UL said Deerfield Fair was 150k over 4 days.  Traffic was a nightmare there too.

I skipped both events.

[jhwentworth 307]

From the Union Leader today.

Another event, another traffic nightmare

■Grass Drags:

Traffic woes in Fremont and Epping last weekend echoed those experienced the week before at the Deerfield Fair.

By JASON SCHREIBER

Union Leader Correspondent

FREMONT — Organizers of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Grass Drags and Watercross are working on plans to improve traffic flow for next year’s event after experiencing major backups on local roads and on Route 125 in Epping last weekend.

The three-day event hosted by the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association typically brings about 40,000 spectators to Brookvale Pines Farm on Martin Road, but parking problems last Saturday created traffic headaches that left some drivers stuck for hours and nearby residents stuck at home.

“There were several things that came into play,” said Roger Wright of Claremont, a member of the association and the site coordinator. While attendance was higher than usual on Saturday, Wright said one of the biggest problems was the mud in the fields that reduced the usable parking area.

“The grounds were just saturated with water and that restricted some of the paths we navigate to get to our parking areas,” said Wright, adding that the water table at the farm was the highest that he’s seen because of the rainy weather during the summer and early fall.

Wright also said fewer people carpooled, meaning there were more vehicles.

“It created a perfect storm that wasn’t beneficial to us,” he said.

The association is now working with police and others to establish satellite parking with shuttle service to the event to alleviate

parking problems next year.

The traffic tie-ups came a week after visitors to the Deerfield Fair experienced the worst congestion they’ve ever seen, with some people sitting in traffic for several hours trying to get into and out of the fairgrounds.

“The annual (grass drag) event becomes more popular each year, and it was inevitable that parking would become an issue,” said Fremont Police Sgt. Jason Larochelle. “Much like the Deerfield Fair, there are only so many small roads that lead in and out of the area, and the cars coming in can only get parked so quickly, which then causes a backup.”

The snowmobile association and grass drag committee looked for alternatives for parking and shuttling guests last weekend after realizing the traffic problems, but Larochelle said the logistics could not be worked out in time to alleviate Saturday’s issues. “Those arrangements

have already begun to be put in place for next year’s event, and we anticipate a much different traffic and parking plan for 2019.” Larochelle said. “Historically, the (association) and its staff have worked extremely hard to address any issues that arise, and to keep its Fremont neighbors as happy as possible.”

Epping police Sgt. Steve Soares said Epping saw significant impacts last Saturday when traffic on Route 125 came to a halt from the North Road intersection in Brentwood two miles north through the busy commercial area of Epping to Route 27.

“Every intersection was plugged up,” he said.

Adding to the traffic woes was the state Department of Transportation’s decision to change the traffic light pattern to keep vehicles moving on Route 125. Soares said that change meant vehicles on Main Street and Fresh River Road at the Epping Crossing shopping center had to wait longer to pull out onto Route 125.

With the traffic nearly at a standstill on Route 125, Soares said some drivers trying to leave Walmart were stuck at a red light for about 20 minutes.

The grass drag event wasn’t the only one that brought people to the area. Seacoast United Soccer Club on Shirkin Road in Epping — located just a mile down the road — also held its annual tournament. New England Dragway on Route 27 had a big event as well.

Soares said police received complaints from Seacoast United because some people were unable to get through the traffic to make it to their games.

“We’ve got to make sure we plan for the future to make sure this can be avoided,” he said.

rockinghamnews@unionleader.com

[smallengineguy 88]

I guess success comes with problems! GOOD problems to have! Ready to go next year already!