Views of the Neighborhood – Belt Sander Races

April 15, 2018 · by · in Views of the Neighborhood · 78 Comments

There is a saying around town that we now know things are getting back to normal after Hurricane Harvey. Evidence of regular is as follows:

Belt Sander races

The popcorn machine and coffee pot are back in operation at the ACE Hardware store.

The lights at Alister and Avenue C are now working.

The Belt Sander Races are on again at the Gaff. The truck in the foreground is the Gaff delivery vehicle or a chicken coop. No one knows for sure.

Here is a photo of the race contestants.

Here is the track. Notice the extension cords running the length of the path. That’s so the belt sanders can keep going.

The spectators are fueling up for an afternoon of racing. There is music as well. The one thing that is missing is the roof.  Last year there was a roof.

The announcers stand.

A warning to parents about rowdy kids.

Pit crew

A bold statement but as far as I know totally true.

One last look at the contestants.

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78 comments

  1. Keith Channing · ·

    I remember seeing this last year – didn’t get it then, either. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      You have become too French to get it. Not to worry. Most people don’t get it either. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Keith Channing · ·

        Mind you, pigs racing over a course with obstacles of upturned broomheads as ‘jumps’ is another matter altogether.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. John W. Howell · ·

        I can see that for sure.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. John W. Howell · ·

      Try this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8qss7GIUAo

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Gwen Plano · ·

    Americana at its best. The announcers’ stand looks like an inspiration for a Norman Rockwell painting. Soooo, who won? Fingers crossed for the sander with the frog and sunglasses. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Couldn’t stay for the end. (Two hours worth)

      Like

  3. patriciaruthsusan · ·

    Great pictures, John. I love the sign on the side of the truck, “Nice Try Harvey”.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thank you, Suzanne. 😀

      Like

  4. GP Cox · ·

    This is a riot – and also a great family day!!! (as long as you keep track of your kids!!)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      You can get an order of crabs to go if you lose track of them. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Charles Yallowitz · ·

    So, is there a way to modify belt sanders for this? I’m guessing the grit is important.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Looked pretty heavy duty for sure (the grit that is)

      Like

  6. Jane Sturgeon · ·

    I am loving this…quirky and so much fun. Thanks for sharing John…this may be unique to Texas for all I know! Hugs Xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Me too, Jane. Never saw it anywhere else.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Jill Weatherholt · ·

    I love the message on the pick-up truck and the sign about the unattended children. LOL! Being a lover of popcorn, it’s always nice to see those old popcorn machines. I’m happy things are getting back to normal. One thing that didn’t change…the beautiful blue sky. Happy Sunday!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      yes the sky has not changed and always welcome. thanks, Jill.

      Like

  8. shoreacres · ·

    This is quintessential Port A. We may think we’re hot and all up here on Galveston Bay, but we don’t have belt sander races. The crab races down in San Leon are okay, but a little sissified. Crabs don’t make noise, and if one runs amok, it doesn’t cause the kind of damage one of these could.

    Is the incline at the beginning or the end of the course? I’m inclined to think it’s at the end. That’s a nice touch.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      It is at the end so therein a stopping point.
      :-D. Thanks, Linda.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Fictionophile · ·

    HaHa! Belt sander racing. That’s a new one for me. LOL

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      As you can see it is a real thing here. 😀

      Like

  10. John Fioravanti · ·

    Thanks for this great tour, John. Maybe a short video of the sanders in racing mode? I’d kill to see that! Bravo, Port A!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      That is a good idea, John. Next time.

      Like

    2. John W. Howell · ·

      Check the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8qss7GIUAo

      Like

      1. John Fioravanti · ·

        Wow! They really boogie down the lane in a hurry! Thank you good sir!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. John W. Howell · ·

        You are welcome, John.

        Like

  11. rijanjks · ·

    And that just goes to show that people can be entertained by anything! Good one, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Well almost anything. Most men folk take their belt sanders very seriously. You and I , not so much. 😀

      Like

      1. rijanjks · ·

        Quite true!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. John W. Howell · ·

        😀

        Like

  12. Almost Iowa · ·

    I keep checking our local paper for the Belt Sander Race results. So far, nothing. Is the problem on your end?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Yup. We don’t publish results. No one cares who wins. The fact that the race is run is another fine point lost on most of the spectators.

      Like

  13. Teagan R. Geneviene · ·

    Tee-hee! I had forgotten about this. I love the “Nice try Harvey” line on the old pickup. That was a terrific opening to this post, John. The Captain America sander looks mighty cool, but you know I have to root for the cat. 🐱 Have a sensational Sunday. Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thank you, Teagan. I’m with you on the cat. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Dan Antion · ·

    I recognize the brands (I’ve owned two) and I have participated in an unapproved variant of this sport in shop class, many years ago. I like the guy that added roller bumpers – never trust “auto-belt-tracking.”

    I am glad to see the normal (and Texas normal) things coming back to life in town. Great recovery. I hope you have an uneventful summer/fall to reap the rewards of all this hard work.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thanks, Dan. I think a lot of us are going to be wary when named storms start forming up.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dan Antion · ·

        Fingers crossed.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. John W. Howell · ·

        Toes too.

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Pit · ·

    Good morning, John,
    “coffee pot … back in operation”: now that’s good news for me! What can I say? Maybe, “Port A, here I come!” 😉 Well, not too soon yet, as we’ll be going on a road trip in the middle of May.
    As to the Belt Sander Races: that sounds so eccentric that I was thinking only the British could have something like that! 😉
    Have a great Sunday,
    Pit

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Mad dogs and Englishmen are residents of Port A.

      Like

      1. Pit · ·

        LOL

        Liked by 1 person

      2. John W. Howell · ·

        😀

        Like

  16. sorryless · ·

    Such an eclectic vibe. And I am glad the ACE hardware is back to serving up java and popcorn, that’s always a perk . . pun intended.
    As for the belt sander races, I had no idea this was a thing! But I am putting my money on the Black and Decker sponsored team . .

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Ha ha ha. Good bet.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. sorryless · ·

        Always bet black (and decker)

        Liked by 1 person

      2. John W. Howell · ·

        Right behind you. Check this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8qss7GIUAo

        Liked by 1 person

      3. sorryless · ·

        Holy Hardware Hemi! Those little buggers really move!!!

        Liked by 1 person

      4. John W. Howell · ·

        They do. They lay sand.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. sorryless · ·

        Bwahahaha!

        Liked by 1 person

      6. John W. Howell · ·

        😀

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Hugh's Views and News · ·

    Not much popcorn left in that popcorn machine, John. I’d love a popcorn machine the size of that one. Good to see things getting back to normal. I must have missed the belt sander race last year. That’s a unique event to me. Hope you had great fun.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      People watching is the best part. On the popcorn, I took the photo just before closing time so they were not making more. Thanks, Hugh

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Jan Hawke · ·

    That looks like huge fun – and who needs a roof with that fine Texas weather! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      You are so right, Jan. Thanks.

      Like

  19. Debbie · ·

    So glad to see things are getting back to normal, John. I’m guessing there must be prizes for the victors??

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Nope. Just the honor of still standing.

      Like

  20. MishaBurnett · ·

    I found a video from the 2017 races: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8qss7GIUAo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thank you so much, Misha. 😀

      Like

  21. Billy Ray Chitwood · ·

    Everybody has to be someplace! ♥

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      I think so.

      Like

  22. Billy Ray Chitwood · ·

    🙂 ♥

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      🙂

      Like

  23. coldhandboyack · ·

    So glad to see things getting back to normal.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Me too. Thanks, Craig.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Rhonda · ·

    Happy for you that things are returning to “normal.” Hopefully this year will be gentler. It’s fun to get a virtual tour of a place. I’m kind of doing that with my post this week. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Oh good. 🙂

      Like

  25. Teri Polen · ·

    Definitely a unique event, but I could see it going over well in KY.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      I would say so. Thanks, Teri

      Like

  26. Let's CUT the Crap! · ·

    Always something going on. This day sounds relaxing, yet exciting. 😀 🙂 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Certainly was relaxing. What is it about the smell of sandpaper on a beautiful day? Thanks, Tess.

      Like

  27. Jennie · ·

    I love this!

    Like

  28. Vashti Q · ·

    Ha, ha! I didn’t know belt sander races were a thing. Looks like fun as long as you keep your children close. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      They are a thing for sure.

      Like

      1. Vashti Q · ·

        😀 xx

        Like

  29. Baydreamer · ·

    Great photos, John, and I love the warning to parents about unattended children. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thank you , Lauren

      Liked by 1 person

  30. macjam47 · ·

    Yet another fun event in Port Aransas! Thanks, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell · ·

      Thank you, Michelle.

      Liked by 1 person