MORGANS CORNER — The Masons of the First Masonic District remind the world that Freemasonry is not about only quiet contemplation and self fulfillment. It can also be a raucous, dirt flinging, smoky display of power watched by families with coolers in oversized trucks, and young couples in tight jeans and camo, piercings, and tatts.

Perquimans 106 promotes the event, but they enlist the rest of the lodges in the district to help make it happen. The profits they bring in, more than $11,000 last year, go to charities around the community. 2012 figures are not in yet, but In 2011, they gave $2,500 to the Food Bank of the Albemarle; $1,500 each to Perquimans County School Foundation and Elizabeth City Pasquotank Public School Foundation; $1,000 each to the School Foundations of Chowan, Gates, Camden, and Currituck counties; $1,000 to the Salvation Army; and $500 to Benjamin House.

The 2012 edition happened June 1–2. Friday night, threatening weather kept the crowds down to about 500, but the pull went on dry and otherwise unaffected. Saturday night though was a “make up for it crowd” when more than 2,300 folks came filling the grandstands and chairs in the back of pickups.

According to First District Deputy Grand Master Phil Johnson, “Perquimans Lodge 106 uses this event as the only fund raiser they have all year. They already meet or exceed the goal contributions ($25 per member) to our Masonic Charities each year, so all the proceeds go to support local charities in our local communities.”

Eight lodges brought more than 30 workers to make things move smoothly. You could spot the working Masons by their day-glo green t-shirts sporting a large square and compasses. There were cars to be parked, and a gate to be manned, and traffic to be directed through the filled parking areas. Track maintenance was done mostly by lodge members on lodge supplied tractors. The Elizabeth City Shrine Club brought more than 25 members to do the cooking. They had a large tent that supplied a wide ranging menu for attendees, competitors, other workers, and sponsors.

Johnson adds, “It is a great way to provide not only an exciting and safe event for the family; it also brings business to an economically depressed area of the state. To stimulate the economy and provide ‘relief to other human beings’ at the same time is what we as Masons are charged to do each time we leave our stated communications. It’s a great way for the community to see how this great fraternity can come together in unity, have fellowship, share in a common cause, and support the community at large.”

Several businesses offer sponsorships to help defray the cost of winners’ purses and costs of putting on such a big production. Sponsors this year included Presenting Sponsors Duck Thru Stores and Davie Lodge 39; Class Sponsors Biggs Cadillac, Colony Tire, DRS Technologies, the Elizabeth City Visitor and Tourism Bureau, Hall Automotive, and Harrell’s Medical Transport; and Sponsors Nucor Steel and Mark’s Truck Repair.

Full set is here.