Nemo outhouse races ride again
Living here in the Black Hills, I really do learn something new every day. Today I heard my first whisperings of the “famous outhouse races down at Nemo.”
You absolutely read that right – outhouse races!
The tiny town of Nemo, located between Rapid City and Deadwood, is hardly more than a speck on the map. But what it lacks in population, it makes up for in good, clean fun!
Participants have to build a portable outhouse and be able to push, pull or drag it around a snow-packed track, by hand. Past entries in the contest were mounted on anything from old bicycle wheels to downhill skis.
One of the main requirements is that a member of your team has to ride inside the “structure” during the whole race. And just to be clear, this isn’t an all out “every-outhouse-for-itself” sort of scramble at the same time. No, no – there are rules. Actually, each team has to navigate their outhouse around the course – one at a time. Fastest time wins.
Although, personally, I think it might be funnier to see eight or nine of the things cruising around together, fighting for position. There are some great photos of the 2008 event posted on the South Dakota, here we come… blog.
At any rate, the outhouse races are part of a day-long event that serves as a fundraiser for the local volunteer fire department. The races are happening on Saturday, February 27th, and the full schedule for the day looks like this:
- 8-10 AM: Outhouse check-in
- 9-N00n: Toilet paper toss & outhouse horseshoes
- 10:30 AM: Deadline for outhouse check-in and inspection
- 11:00 AM: Shovel races for kids (bring your own shovel)
- 11AM – 1PM: Chili tasting
- 11:30 – Noon: Voting for people’s choice awards
- High Noon: Gun fight at the Nemo Corral
- 12:35 PM: Mandatory captain’s meeting
- 1:00 PM: Outhouse races begin
For more info about the outhouse races or for help finding Nemo, call the crew at the Nemo Guest Ranch at 605-578-2708.
It’s a little late to get my own team together this year, but next year – watch out! I’ll have the meanest (and probably the only) outhouse on cross-country skis that you’ve ever seen.
