"i thought: this is not racing, it's a suicide mission."

and when you're racing porcupines, it might be!
in celebration of nation's independence, dad, booger and i made a little trip to council, idaho to witness the 41st annual world championship porcupine races. yeah, that's a real thing. and they don't just race pines (that's what we seasoned veteran's call them) they parade them around town. pretty much awesome. then, they follow the races up with a logging skills competition, arm wrestling contest and classic small town awesomeness. find this hard to believe? well, don't you worry your pretty little head, i wouldn't dare have such an epic experience without documenting the whole thing. with 2 cameras even. you're welcome.

 first you gotta get the little buggers into a trash can

which is more difficult than it sounds

i think he looks pretty comfortable down there...

once he's in there, you line 'em up on the starting line (where else?)

it's okay if you want to double check and make sure he's still in there

ready...set...GO!!!

use your trash can and broom to coax him in the right direction and try not to get caught in the corner

cross the finish line first and you win!!!

get your picture taken with the winner*...

then raid the course and pick up quills shed by the 'pines, you know, as souvenirs

*may or may not have been the winner, they all look the same