This article is about a Snowmobile Event in mid-October 2019.

The rain didn’t deter crowds for this weekend’s Grass Drags and Watercross event in Fremont. Hosted by the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association (NHSA), the event is a primary fundraising source for this volunteer-driven non-profit that works to propagate the sport of snowmobiling. Over 100 snowmobile clubs participate in the NHSA and work to maintain snowmobile trails throughout the entire state.

The three-day event at Peterson’s Brookvale Farm draws crowds over 40,000 annually. As advertised, the Fremont tradition offers multiple racing heats for snowmobiles both on water and on the grass. The nationally acclaimed Rave-X freestyle team performed Saturday and Sunday, drawing a large number of spectators for a thrilling show. Over 110 vendors offered everything from riding education, historical displays, the newest sleds and UTVs, to awesome deals on snowmobile gear. A massive swap meet was crowded each day with used items, deals on parts, and cool gifts for riders. If you’ve never witnessed a 60-mph lawnmower, look no further - the New England Lawn Mower Racing Association hosts side-by-side racing over the weekend.

The New Hampshire Snowmobile Museum Association tent was situated at the main entrance, giving due respect to the sport’s roots in logging, trapping, and surviving in the north country. Local vendors included (but not limited to) Bickford Sports Center in Epsom, Biteharder Performance Products from Laconia, HK Powersports of Hooksett, and the Somersworth Cycle Center. Riders entered the contests from all over New England and Canada.

Can-Am’s tent was packed, displaying the 2019 Maverick X3 Turbo R. Can-Am officials mentioned its industry-leading 172 horsepower Rotax ACE engine, both turbocharged and intercooled. Yamaha’s tent offered a great orange and blue color combination SR Viper L-TX SE trail sled, retailing at just under $14,000. James R. Rosencrantz and Sons, Inc., of Kensington and Derry had a huge John Deere tractor display, filled with kids that enjoyed the selection of model tractors and toys. A variety of food vendors made it easy to stay the day, or the whole weekend - offering fair-style favorites.

This year, event staff did an excellent job offering family-friendly campsites in the field adjacent to the main event area. Campground visitors were not permitted, and quiet hours were enforced from 10 pm to 7 am which was greatly improved over recent years. Part of the NHSA’s mission is to promote snowmobiling as “safe family recreation,” and this event does a great job of supporting that statement.

A portion of members from the Barrington Sno-Goers volunteer at the event. This local club is actively seeking members, with reasonable dues of just $35 a year. Membership in your local club automatically grants membership into the NHSA and a $30 discount on your snowmobile registration. You can join any time online or in-person at St. Hilaire Motorsports in Barrington, Rochester Sports Center in Barrington, or Rochester Motorsports when you register your sled for the year.

The NHSA is at the forefront of guiding sensible powersports and trail legislation, maintaining private and public trails, and much more. The NHSA Trails Committee is developing digital trail maps that would be available to all club members on Android and iPhone devices. Unaffiliated companies have been distributing both paper and digital maps of the state for some time, but “the Clubs, NHSA and Trails Bureau have zero input” to date, reports the NHSA. “Critical services, such as fuel and emergency services will be displayed,” said NHSA, and “additional points of interest, like parking, clubhouses, warming huts and vistas will also be available.” This technology is slated to be available by this winter. For now, another excellent event is in the books, and the network of volunteers will turn their efforts to direct trail maintenance, signage, and prep – as we race into winter.

Loren Valliere-Tucker is a freelance writer from southern New Hampshire. To share a story or collaborate on a writing project, Loren can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..