This year the Sno-Barons celebrate 42 years as a club. To make it successfully that long, a club needs a common purpose. For the Sno Barons, that purpose is unquestionably the HAYDAYS GRASS DRAGS. This event has grown year by year and is now recognized, as the largest event of its kind in North America. It has been referred to in many publications as the Grand Daddy of them All. The Sno Barons needless to say, are extremely proud of this achievement. But how did it all start?

All clubs are conceived by people who have a common interest. According to Jim and Charlotte Gorsegner our most senior members, who have been in the club since nearly the beginning, there were seven guys who had that common interest. They were: Dale Ilgin (1st President), John Gorman, Dave Pegor, Louie and Jolene Wilhelm, Bill Porter, Lloyd Stanchfield and Frank Swensrude. These guys rode together often. One evening in July of 1966 they all met at the Crooked Lake Tavern. They thought it would be a good idea to start a snowmobile club. In September of that year a membership drive started. In no time, the membership had swelled to 150 people and had a waiting list.

As you can imagine, the list of suggested names for the newly founded group was endless. The first approved name was Crooked Lake Sno-Barons. The name later was changed to Anoka Sno-Barons. The next evolution was to Anoka County Sno-Barons. Today the club is known as simply The Sno-Barons Snowmobile Club. The roots are still primarily in Anoka County as always, but the membership is from all over the Minneapolis metro area.

Now about the Grass Drags!! How did it all start? The first race was in November of 1967. It was held at the Golden T which today is known as Majestic Oaks Golf Club. Through the years the race has been held at many different locations as the result of land development during the 1970's As an example, the race has been at Nelson Farms in Blaine, Minnesota. Than came a site near Rapid Sport Center on Hwy 65. It was then known as Wyatt Brothers Sports also in Blaine. Another move was forced by development. This time to Columbus, Minnesota. This is the current site of HAYDAYS.

2002 is the 42th year of the now famous Sno-Barons Hay Days Grass Drags. In the early years, the race was held in October and Early November. It only drew local racers. October and November are very unpredictable for snow here in Minnesota and so alfalfa hay was used to build the race surface. The name HAYDAY comes from that origin and although grass is the fast track medium for today's high performance sleds.

A Milestone was reached in 1976 when SWDRA (Southern Wisconsin Drag Racing Assoc.) added the Hay Days drags to their racing circuit. Race day was moved up at that time to the weekend following Labor Day. There now was no question.....snow would definitely not be a factor and a part of this race. From than on, grass would be the surface of choice and sleds would test and challenge each other for top honors.

Today as always, the race still attracts the locals, but it also now attracts the fastest and most sophisticated iron in the world. The track has come from one that was full of bumps, to a groomed strip with cyclone fence and an underground sprinkler system which keeps the track in beautiful condition. SWDRA says it is one of the finest they see on their circuit.

In 1980 the swap meet was added to the event. It did not take long for this to grow into the largest swap found anywhere. It has been said, If it has ever been made for a snowmobile you will probably find it and the Hay Days Swap. The racers come from all over the nation and Canada and so do the swappers. They come pulling trailer loads of snowmobiling treasures. The vendors have become an active part of this area and represent all interests of snowmobiling.

Concessions of course are a must at any large gathering and Hay Days has the best. Today there are many concessions operated by a variety of club and local civic groups. There are three beer gardens with closed circuit big screen TV's so you won't miss any of the action on the track while you relax.

Of course in the early years, concessions were done exclusively by the Sno Barons. Jim and Char Gorsegner remember all to well how much work it was as they and other members prepared 150 lbs of sloppy Joe's, brats, polish and hot dogs. A word also is appropriate to recognize the children of members who worked enthusiastically in both concessions and grounds clean up.

The Sno-Barons Hay Days Grass Drags has grown from attendance of only a few hundred, to nearly 40,000 people. To many snowmobilers and snowmobile dealers, it has been the event that officially starts the snowmobile season. And so it became the Official Start of Winter. Many of the manufacturers have chosen Hay Days as the place to introduce new models. Some have been done in grand style with new sleds even flown down onto the track by helicopter. It was a real crowd pleaser!

The Hay Days Grass Drags generates the money used by the club for a wide variety of things. As an example, a few years ago we began the Sno Barons Grant Program. Financial assistance is granted to other snowmobile organizations/clubs for such things as bridge construction and warming houses on their trails. Each year a scholarship is awarded to a student of Anoka Ramsey Junior College where the Sno Barons are proud to be in the presidents Club. The Sno Barons also make generous contributions to many charitable interests such as Make a Wish Foundation, Sheriff's Boys Ranch, The Food Shelf and many others.

The Sno Barons also put a great deal of money back into the sport. We support and sponsor other racing events throughout the area. We feel the responsibility to return money derived from snowmobilers, back to snowmobilers.

We hope to see you at Hay Days this year!

By: Jim Bryant

Sno Barons Snomobile Club