Man's machines vs. mud

Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Mack Perfetta of Mechanic Falls ventures out into knee-deep mud during the Oxford Mud Run on Sunday afternoon. The Poland Regional High School senior was helping mud bog owner Scott Sessions keep the pit free of sticks and debris. At left, Scott Burnham of Parsonsfield backs his GMC pickup out of the 180-foot run after driving as far as he could go in the mud. Sessions hosts about five events a year on his property along Route 26. The next one on Sept. 27 will feature even deeper mud, said Sessions.

Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
"He can barely walk, but we can get him in a mud truck," said Bill Penfold of Oxford, left, while buckling up his 81-year-old father's helmet. Ray Penfold of Yarmouth decided during his mud run visit Sunday that he would like to drive.

Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Joe Pare of Winthrop lets the mud fly as he drives a friend's Ford pickup 145 feet, 10 inches in knee-deep mud during the Oxford Mud Run on Sunday. The goal for drivers is to clear the 180-foot bog. But if the mud wins, competitors see how far they can go in 60 seconds. The next local mud competition is Sept. 5 in Livermore and features "hillbilly competitions."