About Mud Fest

 

We hold our Mountain Mud Festival event, formerly known as the Foster Mud Flats, each year.  It is a well known four wheel drive event in Sweet Home, Oregon.  From an outsider’s point of view the event could look like nothing more than a free for all in sticky, gooey mud.  Nevertheless, when digging deep into the heart of the Mud Festival, it is easy to see the admirable results that our muddy play day offers its participants, the sport, and the community.

            What began as an association play day 30 years ago has now evolved into a widespread demanded event that we are very proud of.  Our play day, with its many events, allows families and complete strangers to come together and enjoy the great outdoors and the sport of four wheeling. 

            It began as the Foster Mud Flat Races at the Foster Reservoir in Foster, Oregon near Sweet Home.  The event was held on the gooey lake bottom after it had been drained for the winter.  The Foster Mud Flat Races offered large bog holes, a drag strip, and miles of soupy mud.  It was impossible to leave the event without something being muddy, if not everything including yourself.  Nevertheless, times changed and in 2001 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refused to grant a permit to hold our event on Corp property.  Frustrated, but not willing to give up tradition, we looked elsewhere for property to hold our event.

            Our organization found private property on Berlin Road in Sweet Home to hold our highly demanded event.  Permits were granted at this alternate location and the 2001 event, now know as the Mountain Mud Festival, was held without missing a single year.  Although the terrain of the original Foster Mud Flats can not be recreated, the new location offers its own greatness maintaining the same event format as the late Foster Mud Flats.  The Mountain Mud Festival offers a drag strip, obstacle course, hill climb, bog holes, pits, and acres of muddy terrain to hold it down.  It also offers a concession area with food and event merchandise for all to enjoy.

            So many four wheel drive events make attendees specify being a participant or spectator.  The “Mud Fest” doesn’t do that.  That is one of the things that make it unique.  The Mountain Mud Festival event accommodates both spectators and participants.  The event, usually the first Saturday in March of each year, attracts roughly 2,500 attendees sporting around 1,000 vehicles.  The vehicles range from stock and mild to full out wild.  Blown big blocks, customized 4WD buggies, cut tires, nitrous, 20 inches of lift, 44 inch tires, and everything in between can be admired at the event.  Although no trophies, ribbons, or awards are awarded to those who complete the obstacle course with the fastest time or win the most races down the drag strip, bragging rights are declared just to be challenged at the next year’s event. 

To make our event run smoothly and effectively, we must impose guidelines and rules on our participants as with all events.  Tow trailers can be dropped off on the event site the day before the event.  Trailers are escorted in, unhooked and unloaded quickly, and escorted back down to exit the event site.  Trailers are parked in an orderly fashion.  The goal of this operation is to reduce congestion the day of the event.

There is no two wheel drive (2WD) parking available for event attendees of any kind.  Our event is a four wheel drive (4WD) event only.  Only 4WD vehicles and 4WD tow vehicles are allowed to enter the event.  No 2WD’s or semi’s/tractor trailers will be allowed to enter the event.  With wet and muddy terrain, 2WD vehicles and semis/tractor trailers find it difficult to climb the entrance hill and maneuver around the event site without causing problems, congestion, and unsafe situations.  However, all are encouraged to seek out others means and attend the event. 

Only persons with authentic event tickets are allowed to enter the event.  Tickets are scanned and replicated tickets are confiscated.  All attending the event must sign release forms.  To re-renter the event, persons must have a hand stamp and ticket stub.  Alcohol, drugs, firearms, ATV’s, motorcycles, and wood with nails (such as pallets) are not allowed at our event.  Disorderly conduct, vandalism, riding in the back of moving vehicles, and reckless driving are also not permitted. 

Event attendees are to stay within event boundaries, keep winch lines and chains clear of people when in use, wear seatbelts, keep children with an adult at all times, maintain contained fires, and show common respect to others.  Event vehicles must be washed off prior to leaving the event.  Specific truck wash areas are available at the event.  Pack it in, pack it out (liter, garbage, parts, vehicles, etc…) Individuals non compliant with the rules are reprimanded.  Due to the severity of the situation, individuals may be escorted out or ejected from the event.  It is important that rules and guidelines are followed to continue future events and keep the tradition alive.

As individuals volunteering our time, it takes a lot of effort on our part to make the event a success.  It takes a lot of prep work to get the land ready for the event in the months prior to the event.  The drag strip and obstacle course are cut and groomed, the bog holes and pits are dug, and the event equipment is set up.  After our one day event, the drag strip and obstacle course are leveled back out, the bog holes and pits are filled in, and the equipment is put away.  Many do not realize that the event property is developed before the event and returned to its natural state afterwards only to be developed once again as the next event time rolls around.

 Also, in the months following each event, we are in the planning stages of the upcoming event.  Event details change every year.  Current, up to date information will be available on this website and our organization’s information line as details unfold regarding the upcoming event.  Feel free to periodically check for updates.  Our contact information is located on our home page.  We hope to see you at our upcoming event.

 

-Santiam Four Wheel Drive Association