Oklahoma Wagons Ho! Brings Old West To Skiatook

Life on the frontier was alive again this past weekend in Skiatook.  Covered wagons, an open prairie and a group full of racers just waiting for the gun to go off.

"There's not a dull moment," said Canton Resident Adam Williams. "I don't see why anybody wouldn't like it."

Williams lives for wagon racing. It's a sport he's been around for years.

"Riding a wagon, it's a feeling like no other," Williams said. "It's kind of like walking on water, I don't know very many people who can do it; those who have got a pretty good story to tell."

A wagon is what you might call the original race car and an open range is it's very first track.

"It's this or NASCAR," said Charlie I can't really afford one of those

Charlie Albertson is racing with furry helpers Peter and Paul for Cowboy Capital Fellowship.

"Once I let them go, it was quite the adrenaline rush," he said.

His team was up against reigning champion George Elliott.

Of course, they're not racing for land, but a nice shiny belt buckle and bragging rights.

"I come down here last October and won this belt buckle and so I come back this year and try to win another belt buckle," Elliott said.

"The belt buckle, of course, is first place and it's just like winning the Daytona 500," Williams said.

At 70 years old, Elliott remains the fastest in the land.

"If you get any faster than that, I just don't want to be in the wagon," Elliot said.

The competition didn't end with covered wagons.

A near mule-news camera crash was nearly par for the course.

"Look out Channel 6, somebody get a back up camera," yells a bystander.

A mule-race wrapped up the show, and our cameras made it back safely to tell the story.

Oklahoma Wagons Ho! The western competition is reigned in its third day of fun and competition outside Skiatook.

Events included chuck wagon and other races, live music, a trail ride and a pancake breakfast. There were barrel races, mule races and wild cow milking.

Sunday morning began with an outdoor church service. Spectators got a full Old West experience over the weekend with campsites and Cowboy storytelling.