Thanksgiving Weekend 2018

Can you believe the holidays are almost here? That means Thanksgiving is right around the corner! It is a week-long dune trip for some groups when friends and families gather at the dunes to prepare their annual feasts. This is also the weekend where you can catch the waterpumpers!

What is a waterpumper?

A waterpumper is a water-cooled, V8 powered buggy, typically front engine design and with massive or multiple paddle tires. Back in the 60's and 70's, the only buggies you would see at the dunes were cars that were powered by air-cooled engines, typically Volkswagens and Corvairs. When the Dune Masters formed in 1968, they were putting together V8 powered buggies originally built from cut-down car frames. Back then, water-cooled engines were new to the scene. They soon took on the name, "waterpumpers".

The Dunemasters and Sandpipers Group will be meeting there for their 50th year of Thanksgiving at Dumont Dunes! Most of their group will have families with 3 and 4 generations. 

photo courtesy of Dunemasters & Sandpipers

Catch the waterpumpers in action as they compete in their annual hill climbs and drag races. 

Schedule

Friday 10 AM at Comp Hill: Hill Climbs

Saturday 10 AM: Drag Races along the backstretch towards North Pole. 

The late Milt Clements completing at the Dune Masters’ 1970 Thanksgiving Hill Climbs at Dumont Dunes.

Photo courtesy of Bill LeFever