As summer winds down and morphs into fall, there is something else that ignites our soul besides pumpkins, campfires and hayrides – snowmobile season is coming! To us, fall is also synonymous with snowmobile grass drags. Sleds are modified with a special track, and take place in open fields.
I was bummed we could not attend the Kris Klaus Memorial Grass Drags – due to work schedules. But luckily, my annual Google search turned up Michigan Vintage Sledquarters, with a listing of several races around the state.
Years ago, we had gone to the grass drags in Onsted, but unfortunately they ceased to occur. In September and October of every year, my radar is tuned to the next available race that we can hopefully attend.
By now you probably know that I could camp every single weekend. Bill says I’m obsessed and I won’t argue that fact. I love to travel, explore, photograph and write. Nothing makes me happier. So when I found out about a snowmobile drag race in Davison, Michigan, I began searching for a nearby campground, to make a weekend out it.
I chose Metamora Hadley State Park, in Metamora. I’d been here before, probably about 20+ years ago, camping in a tent. I remembered I liked the park, because it was woodsy. I prefer those parks over open, no shade, no trees RV subdivisions. I will fully admit I am a Glamper, with our new trailer. But it still feels like camping when you glamp in the woods.
I booked site 191, which was a corner site and we could basically pull through, which I was happy about. Until we got there. I’d love to know why anyone thought this site was rated for a 40’ trailer, because it was clearly not, IMHO. The roads are one way, which is understandable. But following that direction causes you to park with the fire ring on the wrong side, if you’re pulling through. It also for some reason had an extra fire ring and power pole with no site number on it, so I don’t know what that was for, other than being in the way.
Bill decided to maneuver the trailer the other way so our door was facing the fire pit, which now caused the power pole to be on the wrong side. Plus the tree branches were so low we practically had to park just feet away from the road (and of course run the power cord under the trailer to the pole!) It was a tight squeeze, and for the first time we had to use the sliding 5th wheel hitch so the camper didn’t hit the truck cab when he jackknifed it into position. Good God (opening a beer).
We did however, taking a walk through the park, find an awesome looking site right on the lake, which we’ll try for next time. The park itself is very nice and even has a camp store, which isn’t common at state parks. The lake looks awesome for kayaking. We made it work.
So. Rain in the forecast for Saturday, the day of the grass drags. Saturday morning, the skies opened up and I thought we were going to float away. I called the contact number for the race to be pleasantly surprised with news that it was not raining in Davison and they had racers signing up. Yaaaay!!
Then it began raining harder, so we waited it out a while. I made a paper boat and floated it in the lake that was forming behind our camper. Fun times!
We waited for the rain to let up and made our way to Davison, about 20 miles away. The race was being held in a field behind the Knights of Columbus. They had a delayed start due to the weather, but we were still able to watch about an hour and half of racing. It turned out to be a really nice day!
Our route took us back through the town of Hadley along country roads lined with cornfields.
We stayed dry Saturday night and I attempted Campfire Cinnamon rolls which didn’t quite turn out. LOL More to come on that one.
Of course Sunday was gorgeous, as we packed up to go home. I figure that is one of the Murphy’s Laws of Camping. But I was happy it all worked out, and we got to the see racing that we came for.
Until next time!