Two weeks before the Tillamook County Fair, trailers pull up the race track. From the back, crews unload their prized Ford Model Ts. It’s time for a test drive. A rare time to practice for one of the most unique traditions of the Fair: Pig-N-Ford.

In the middle of the track, drivers and their support crews gather. A tune up here, a test drive there. There’s a sense of competition, but also a sense of camaraderie.

“It’s like a family,” member John Haertel said. “What keeps me driving is just knowing that I was lucky enough to get into the sport because not a lot of people can do it.”

Haertel began racing in 2005.

Within the Pig-N-Ford Association, each car belongs to a franchise (only 10 are allowed) and each franchise can bring as many drivers to the association as the club allows. 

“What people don't understand is the time and commitment that each franchise owner has to do to prepare their car to get it ready for race day,” Haertel said. “This car here has a 1927 motor. Trying to get parts for these…you’re going to people's houses and going through their grandpa's barn.”

When it comes to the race, Haertel explains that it’s much more than driving fast.

“You have to know how to crank the car. What a lot of the spectators don't understand is the race can be won and lost in 30 seconds,” he said.

And then there’s the pig.

“We make sure that our drivers are safe and that the pigs are maintained and handled properly,” Haertel said. “If you’re not handling the pig with respect, you get disqualified. It doesn’t even matter what you do on the track. If we see that you’re not doing something well with the pig, you’re automatically disqualified.”

The three-lap races at the Tillamook County Fair take place all four days, with Saturday being the championship race. It's the one for the coveted trophy and bragging rights.

“It’s the only event in the world,” Haertel said. “That's why they call it the World Championships because you can't see it anywhere else. It's a little odd. It draws attention. We have a fan base that really enjoys it.”

Regardless of the outcome of each race, Haertel looks forward to the future and the tradition of passing down the car to the next generation.

“I think what drives me most is one day my son, that's been a part of it his whole life, I get to pass it down to him. He’ll get to learn and experience what we actually do.”