Over 300 snow-machines are going to roar into Hawarden later this month and anyone with a sled or who just likes to check them out is invited to head over too.
The Feb. 22 snow-machine rally that starts at Hawarden Hall is part of the 14th Annual Garry Jess Memorial, which is put on each year by the Hawarden Winter Warriors. The Warriors are a local snowmobile club that gets together a few times each year to raise funds for community projects and local families in need.
“All the funds and proceeds from (the Garry Jess Memorial) we either will put back into the local hall right in Hawarden or donate it to a family or to somebody who needs some money that we know of as a club,” said Dean Blenkinsop, acting president of the Hawarden Winter Warriors. “We’ve already given quite a bit to the Strongfield Hall to help them pay the bills and stuff. It all stays local.”
Blenkinsop said the Garry Jess Memorial usually attracts around 300 snowmobiles each year including 65 to 70 vintage models for a snowmobile show and shine and snowmobile run. He said another group of six to eight snowplanes also come out to provide free rides for anyone who wants to go.
“The older sleds come and we have a short run for them, like a 20-mile run out to a hot dog stand and we get together there and have a hot dog and pop,” he said. “Then for the new sleds that come and want to go for a little longer ride we have another trail made up for them and it goes approximately 60 miles. We work it out so the new sleds can stop where the old ones are on a local farm outside of town, like 6 miles outside of town, and everybody meets there. Then the new ones continue on and the older sleds come back into town and meet at the hall again.”
There will also be “lots of prizes” given out during the festivities for everything from oldest rider and oldest sled to the most unique and the most popular. Blenkinsop said an all-day lunch would also be served at the hall along with refreshments all afternoon and evening.
“We try and keep it as least expensive as possible for the people to come out and ride,” he said. “If they want to come out and just look at the snowplanes and snowmobiles, that’s totally free of charge. We like all people to come out and just look at all the stuff. There are some very unique things that show up with some of these older sleds. It starts at 11 a.m. and we end usually at 11 p.m. and it’s an all around fun time.”