Your might see just about anything
at The World of Outlaws Grand Parade
Elma Outlaw Days in late August
By Craig Murphy
Vidette Reporter
This article first appeared in 2002
In 2002, this festival coincided with the Pennzoil World of Outlaws
sprint car racing series visiting Grays Harbor Raceway Park as
part of its Wild Wild Northwest Tour.
Activities take place throughout Friday and Saturday both in
the recently renovated downtown area and at the track, which
is located just east.
The Outlaws began coming to the Elma track on a regular basis
in 1996. Until a few years ago, Elma also held its annual Blackberry
Festival during the summer, so in a way the Outlaw Days could
be seen as a replacement for the Blackberry Festival.
Activities begin on Thursday, August 15 with the hy-per-lube
Northern Sprint Tour, featuring drivers such as defending series
champion Roger Crockett. Steve Kinser, cousin Mark Kinser, Danny
Lasoski, defending Elma winner Stevie Smith and the rest of the
Outlaws take over the track for their two nights of racing Friday
and Saturday. All racing action is set to start around 7 p.m.,
with gates opening at 5 p.m.
An Outlaw Luncheon is being held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on both
Friday and Saturday at the Brady Fire Hall. A few Outlaw cars
were on display at the luncheon last year.
Fans in town for the racing can take the Grays Harbor Transit
bus downtown for other events. Buses are scheduled to run all
afternoon Friday and Saturday, as well as all evening on Saturday.
Regular visitors will notice a totally new look to downtown Elma.
An extensive Main Street project was recently completed, including
new asphalt and sidewalks throughout the downtown area.
"Many people have been impressed," Elma Chamber of
Commerce president Jason Olsen said. "People who haven't
been on Main Street in a long time are excited to see the changes
in their town."
Downtown activities include a sidewalk sale on Friday and Saturday,
and citywide garage sales both days as well. Quarter midget races
will be at the track Friday from noon-4 p.m.
During the day Saturday, activities are highlighted by a children's
parade at 1:30 p.m. on Main Street, followed by the grand parade
at 2 p.m. Both of those events are two hours later than last
year to make it easier for teams to travel through. Food and
vendor booths will be running all day both days, the third annual
"Run from the law" 5K and 10K runs begin at 9 a.m.,
and the first activity of the day is a pancake breakfast at the
Elma Grange from 7-10 a.m.
Olsen is excited about a change with the parade. "What I'm
most excited about is the grand parade," he said. "We're
going to have all the race teams in the parade with their cars
and semi rigs."
Entertainment after the parade includes go-cart races at the
Fairgrounds, as well as music, dancers and games downtown.
Other activities during the weekend include an art show at the
old Value Ford building downtown both days, entertainment from
"Cowboy Virgil" on the main stage Friday from 3-6 p.m.,
live music at Fred's Den both nights, a BBQ rib dinner at the
Elma Eagles Saturday afternoon, and a chainsaw carving exhibition
at Harbor Saw and Supply on Saturday. "I think that will
be real unique," Olsen said of the chainsaw carving exhibition.
Olsen noted Carol Cristelli, Chamber treasurer, deserves credit
for helping the festival grow. "Carol Cristelli has done
a wonderful job putting this together for Elma," Olsen said.
"She's really getting the event molded well, and is really
doing a great job."
In addition, Olsen gives kudos to others. "It seems everyone
is really starting to pull this thing together," he said.
"It's real nice to see."
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