NORWAY — Monday’s rainstorm has organizers of this weekend’s annual Oxford Hills Snowfest on edge as they wait to see what conditions will be for the snowmobile races on Lake Pennesseewassee.

“We don’t know until after the rain,” Norway Trackers Snowmobile Club President Diane Gammon said Monday morning.

The two-day event is the club’s major fundraiser of the year, but the lake must have sufficient ice and snow on it to hold the races.

“We’re concerned about rain and the loss of some of the snow,” said Gammon, who is hoping it will snow again before the weekend.

“It won’t take a lot,” she said of the few inches of snow they would like to see fall before the weekend to make for optimum course conditions. “We’re all just kind of hanging on.”

This isn’t the first time that weather conditions have played havoc with the event.

In 2007, organizers of the annual snowmobile races canceled the event for the first time in 10 years due to record-high warm temperatures but then got a foot of snow just before it was rescheduled the next month.

In addition to the snowmobile drag and radar racing, the club hosts the annual Chowderfest at the same time. Because that event doesn’t depend on weather conditions (unless it prohibits driving) it is unlikely that would be canceled, she said. “A lot of people drive to that. We should be OK,” said Gammon.

The event also offers hot food throughout the weekend and that could cause problems for organizers if the races were canceled. About 400 hamburgers and 40 pounds of hot dogs have already been ordered, Gammon said.

Sign-up for the races begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, with a drivers’ meeting at 10:15 and races starting shortly after. Saturday will feature drag racing. Snowmobiles will run in classes and drivers must be 18 years or older.

Participants need to have safety gear to participate, including a helmet and a kill switch to shut off the machine if there is a problem, Gammon said.

Radar runs will be held Sunday, Jan. 31. Sunday will also include the annual Chowderfest from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the clubhouse at the Little Red School House by the lake and will feature corn, salmon, fish and clam chowders, plus beef stew and chili, breads and deserts and beverages. It’s all you can eat for $7 for adults and $3 for children under 12.

The antique snowmobile show will also be held Sunday. Snowmobiles must be 25 years or older. The parade of the antique machines will start at noon.

Proceeds are used to maintain the club’s 50 miles of trail in Norway that connect to area trails.

[email protected]