Pig-N-Ford Races Celebrate 100 Years

Pig-N-Ford Races Celebrate 100 Years County fairs are the heartbeat of small communities throughout America, showcasing projects, performances and excited people of all ages. The trophy for the “Most Unusual Fair Event Ever” undoubtedly goes to the Tillamook County Fair in Oregon, where 2025 marked the 100th year of the Tillamook Pig-N-Ford races. A grandstand full of screaming kids and laughing people watched well-muscled young men grab a live pig from a pen, crank-start their Model T Ford, then jump into the car and hold the pig while speeding around the dirt track. The pig isn’t exactly enjoying the ride, and he’s put back in his pen after one lap. Drivers need to complete three laps with three different pigs to claim the top prize. Drivers hold the 25 to 35-lb. pigs firmly but not tightly. Track announcer Mike Bentley says that if you take care of the pig, the pig takes care of you. Pig-N-Ford races originated in the early 1920s. Stories were told, and no doubt embellished, about two local men capturing an escaped farm pig and carting it back to its pen in a Model T. Someone suggested staging a similar escapade at the country fair. So it began, and it continues 100 years later, passed down through generations of local families. Two qualifying races are held during the first four days of the fair, and the winners advance to the finals on Saturday evening. Admission is free with a fair entry ticket, and the grandstand is always full. Bentley says that when six drivers line up on the side of the track, they’re a ball of nerves, unsure when the starter’s shot will be fired. When it goes off, they race across the track to their respective pens, grab a pig, cradle it under one arm, and race back to crank-start their Model T. Every one of them is in it to win it. Contestants drive stripped-down Model T cars with original engines producing about 23 hp. On the dirt track, speeds can reach 50 mph. After each lap, the cars skid to a stop next to the “pig pit.” Drivers quickly drop off their passenger pig and grab another. The leader at the end of the third lap wins the event. The Fair owns 10 race cars that have been passed down through racing families for years. McKenzi Wassmer started racing after graduating from high school, noting that he grew up with the event, cheering his dad until he was old enough to drive himself. Ben Salo is another generational driver, winning the race five times over 20 years, including the anniversary event in 2025. He drives the car he and his dad built when he was a youngster. His father passed his driving and wrangling savvy to his son, who, along with other drivers, competes with a strong desire to win. Drivers practice for the event, but the cars and the pigs can be temperamental. A driver can slip while exchanging pigs, and his car might need the spark adjusted to reach top speed. The cars spew dirt as they speed up to 50 mph around the track. Drivers hold on for dear life, with dirt flying in their faces as they hold a pig under one arm and steer with the other hand. Visitors cheer, laugh and grin ear to ear during the races, with one summing it up best, saying it’s absolutely nuts, the only place in the world to see such an event. Tillamook County has just 25,000 residents, but over four days, more than 70,000 people attend the fair. Parry Hurliman, who’s been involved with the race for 40 years, says that in the early days there were no regulations on pig size. His dad raised the pigs, and one year they might be 25 to 35 pounders, the next year 60 to 70 pounders. Drivers could barely handle the larger ones, so weight limits were imposed. Now, race officials monitor the drivers and the pigs, ensuring safety throughout the race. Drivers can be disqualified, but rarely are. Salo says, “We’re here to race and win, not just put on a show.” His dad and grandpa built their car, which has brought all of them to the winner’s circle over the years. Bentley says the most unique thing about the race is that viewers love every minute, and winners don’t earn a single cent. Instead, they gain pride from having their name inscribed on the winner’s trophy and from having it in their possession for a full year. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tillamook County Fairgrounds, 4603 E. 3rd Street, Tillamook, Ore. 97141 (ph 503-842-2272; tillamookfairoffice@gmail.com; www.tillamookfair.com).

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