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Muck always flies high at the Mud Drags

105 Mile revs up for high-powered racing weekend

Nothing gets a truck enthusiast's heart pumping like powerful roaring engines running high-test fuel and belching smoke while spraying rooster-tails of mud from huge spinning tires.

The 11th Annual Scotty's Mud Drags once again opens up its pits full of slick Cariboo gumbo for participants to compete for big cash prizes while they entertain a grandstand full of spectators out for a loud weekend of mud sports.

With eight classes of competitions, plus a Powder Puff run for partners/spouses and a Mechanics race for the under-the-hood techs, there is sure to be plenty of action at this North West Mud Racing Association circuit event.

Organizer Liesbeth Lang expects the usual 50 or so trucks to compete, but says she won't know for sure until just before the event as the entrants scramble for last minute parts.

"It gets pretty exciting. We have people who literally are driving the trucks they plan to drive to work the next day, so sometimes that's not the best idea."

A total of $6,000 in prize money typically brings mud racers from across British Columbia, Alberta and parts of the United States, she explains.

The pro-racers and street-class trucks will sparkle with shiny chrome and bold, colourful paint jobs until they hit the mud bogs – where pretty much everything is splattered brown.

"It's noisy, it's loud, and they are blowing up stuff. You can't beat it."

Along with the customary flashy paint graphics, Lang notes real flames aren't unusual as some overheated engines churn through the courses.

"We had one race once where there was [a guy] with a really nice street truck, and he'd done all his races. Then during the Powder Puff he let his girlfriend race, and as she was coming out of the pit she took the corner too sharp and she rolled his truck.

"All of us wives and girlfriends went 'ooohhh that's going to be a quiet ride home'."

For another twist in the muck, half-time will see the Running Wrecks where 50/50-style wagers are placed on old beaters donated from 100 Mile New & Used, drained of oil running in neutral with a brick on their gas pedals, to guess when each one will give up the ghost.

"You get the Ford guys betting 20 minutes on the Ford and 10 seconds on the Dodge – it's good fun ... we decorate the trucks all up, so it's a big circus show."

Posters will be handed out for children to have autographed by their favourite "big wheel" race drivers.

Admission is $15 for adults while children aged 12-and-under get in for free. Food concessions and bottled water will be available.

Lang notes it is sure to be "very noisy" and hot weather is likely, so people should bring ear protectors and sun hats, especially for the children.

The mud drags take place at Scotty's Power Digging located on Lilypad Lake Road, seven kilometres west of Highway 97. Follow Tatton Lake Road and the signs to be posted on race day.

For more information, call Liesbeth at 250-791-6383.