The Hay Days Grass Drags and Swap Meet event is annually snowmobiling’s most-attended annual event, and this year we’re expecting more of the same. There will be new chassis platforms unveiled, unbeatable grass drag racing, free style shows and arguably the sport’s biggest swap meet.
Held in a massive field near North Branch, Minnesota, Hay Days attracts snowmobilers from across the North American Snowbelt to see the sights, eat state-fair-like food, catch some racing, do some shopping and generally get ready for the winter that is ahead.
Here are a few things you’ll want to check out, followed by a master schedule that includes time-specific events both days. Show dates are September 10-11. We’ll see you there!
Endless Swap Meet
The monstrous swap meet is where you’ll find most of the people first thing on Saturday morning, when the grounds are swamped with people looking for excellent deals, rare or exotic parts, vintage machines, a broad assortment of replacement parts and a lot more.
And, by a lot more, we mean everything but the kitchen sink – ATVs, UTVs, leaf blowers, blow-up dolls, beer lights, silverware, boat anchors, motorcycle seats, cases of old Tic Tac mints… actually, come to think of it, we bet you could find a kitchen sink out there.
FYI, one focus of the host Sno Barons in recent years has been trying to “hold” the swappers through most of Sunday, with the threat of not being able to secure a premium spot in future years if a vendor bags-out of the swap at the end of the day Saturday or first thing Sunday.
Grass Drag
The swap meet may be the main draw for many visitors, but the grass drags more than hold their own as a must-see. Operated again this year by Velocity Race Management, you can bet that most of North America’s top racers will be there, competing on perhaps the most meticulously built and cared-for clay track.
There will be racing in 27 classes, according to VRM’s posted schedule – from Trail Stock and Stock classes that allow very few changes to the exotic Outlaw class featuring highly modified, custom-built machines that can cost upwards of $150,000. An 850 Super Stock class and Pro Xtreme are two other big draws.
Racing is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with qualifying rounds for most of the day. Finals dominate Sunday, with the “pro” program featuring the Shootout Classes (Outlaw, Pro Xtreme and the Trail Stock 850) at 9 a.m. (round 1), 11 a.m. (round 2), 1 p.m. (round 3) and the finals starting at 3 p.m.
Factory News
Perhaps the most anticipated event at this year’s Hay Days is the previously announced plans by Arctic Cat to unveil a new, yet-to-be-named chassis platform for model year 2024. It will be unveiled to the public at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Ski-Doo also has plans for announcements and unveiling at its “Racing Presser” that will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Beyond that, both Ski-Doo and Polaris have very specific schedules at their respective booths for snowmobilers to hear from some of the sponsored riders or attend specific seminars. See the schedule at the bottom of the post for highlights. Yamaha doesn’t have anything official scheduled but is planning some attractions at its booth.
Freestyle Show & UTV Races
Sleds, ATVs and dirt bikes will be flying through the air once again this year, featuring young men doing entertaining things. UTVs will also be trading paint on a tight and rugged track, as the two popular side-shows take over the Expo I area once again.
There will be two separate programs featuring both attractions each day: The first at 11 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m. Viewing is best from the hill on the north side of the fenced-off track, but there are places to take in the action on all sides of the venue.
Nearly Endless Vendor Area
If a brand makes some sort of performance part, clothing item, trailer component or other widget for a snowmobile or ATV/UTV, and wants to catch the attention of the market, they pretty much have to be at Hay Days.
Vendors come from all across the North American Snowbelt to show their wares. Beyond the individual booths of product makers, oversized dealership booths offer varying levels of discounts on a variety of items.
If you’re wandering around looking for some friendly place to visit, you can find the Snow Goer booth near the grass drag track’s finish line, right next to a large beer garden. Convenient…
Mug Boggin’
One of the more recent additions – though it’s got to be coming up on a decade! – at the Hay Days event is the mog bog on the southeast corner of the grounds. Kind of like with the grass drags, the mug bog features various classes with machines of various levels of modification. It’s good-ol’ dirt-slinging fun!
Racing in the Bog starts at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and 12:45 on Sunday.
The Schedule
Without further ado, here’s what we’ve come up with so far as a schedule of events. If you are aware of something else going on, please let us know in the comments section below and we’ll add it to the list.
SATURDAY
- 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Grounds are open
- 9 a.m. – Ski-Doo Ambassador Meet & Greet
- 9 a.m. to 4 – ATV/UTV demo rides
- 9 a.m. – Grass drag rider autograph session
- 9 a.m. – RC Demo Track
- 10 a.m. – Grass drags begin
- 10 a.m. – USSA Announcement
- 10 a.m. – Ski-Doo 20 Years of REV
- 10:30 a.m. – Ski-Doo Racing Presser
- 11 a.m. – Freestyle show and ATV races
- 11 a.m. – Polaris: Sled Talk with Entz and Adams
- Noon – Polaris Pro Team Signing
- Noon – Opening Ceremonies, national anthem, fly over, etc.
- Noon – RC Demo Track
- 12:30 p.m. – Kitty Cat/120/200 races
- 1 p.m. – Ski-Doo ladies sled talk
- 1:30 p.m. – Polaris Sled Talk with Burandt
- 1:30 p.m. – Fireside chat with Lynx Ambassadors
- 2 p.m. – Freestyle show and ATV races
- 2 p.m. – Arctic Cat sled/chassis unveiling
- 2:30 p.m. – Mud bog racing starts
- 2:30 p.m. – Polaris Factory Team signing
- 3 p.m. – RC Demo Track
- 3:30 p.m. – Polaris chat with Levi LaVallee
- 4:30 p.m. – Sled Talk with Polaris Accessory Team
SUNDAY
- 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Grounds are open
- 9 a.m. – Grass Drags begin/Shootout classes package, round 1
- 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – ATV/UTV demo rides
- 9 a.m. – Ski-Doo Ambassador Meet & Greet
- 9 a.m. – RC Demo Track
- 9:30 – Ski-Doo “20 years of REV”
- 11 a.m. – Grass Drags Shootout classes, round 2
- 11 a.m. – Ski-Doo Trail Riding Q&A
- 11 a.m. – Polaris Sled Talk with Burandt
- 11 a.m. – Grass Drag finals begin
- Noon – Polaris: Sled Talk with Entz and Adams
- Noon – RC Demo Track
- 12:30 p.m. – Fireside chat with Lynx Ambassadors
- 12:45 p.m. – Mud Bog Racing Starts
- 1 p.m. – Grass Drags Shootout classes, round 3
- 1:30 p.m. – Polaris chat with Levi LaVallee
- 2:30 p.m. – Sled Talk with Polaris Accessory Team
- 3 p.m. – Grass Drags Shootout classes, finals.
- 3 p.m. – RC Demo Track
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