Electric vehicles went round and round the track. People were seen floating along on Segway Human Transporters. Amazement was sounded over the idea of fueling a vehicle with natural gas. Neighborhood  Electric Vehicles silently cruised the streets. And the street was full of other alternative fuel vehicles and booths with information on everything from biodiesel to wind-powered vehicles.

Graeme Sackrison (2nd from right), founder of the Alternative Fuels Fair and member of the Lacey City Council, poses with other organizers of the 2004 event (left to right): Chris Hawkins with Climate Solutions, and Kathleen P. Burns and Mary Coppin, Recreation Supervisors for the City of Lacey.

It was the scene of the 2004 Alternative Fuels Fair and Electric Vehicle Races sponsored by the City of Lacey Parks and Recreation Department that took place on May 8, 2004. 

Despite the rain, the event drew a large crowd of local residents. 

Participants in the event included the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition, the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency, the City of Seattle, Intercity Transit, Allen Fast Fuels, SeQuential Biofuels, and MC Electric Vehicles.

There also numerous students from schools in Olympia, Lacey and Shelton participating in the Lacey Grand Prix. The students raced small electric vehicles. To win, teams had to design an electric car that could complete the most laps. The race is now part of a race circuit and is sponsored by Electrathon America. 

"Interest grows each year in the fair and in alternative fuels," said Kathleen Burns, recreation supervisor for Lacey's Parks and Recreation Department.

	Intercity Transit showed off one of their 67 buses operating on a blend of 40% biodiesel with 60% ultra-low sulfur diesel. The transit agency has been using biodiesel since 2002 and has become one of the largest consumers of biodiesel in the region. Washington State Department of Ecology presented its Environmental Excellence Award to Intercity Transit in December of 2003 in recognition of the agency's leadership in using biodiesel as a means to reduce vehicle emissions, protection air quality and public health.
	Jim Johnson of MC Electric Vehicles cruises in an IT, a neighborhood electric vehicle manufactured by Dynasty Motors. MC Electric Vehicles (MCEV) operates in Washington and Oregon with locations in Seattle, Spokane and Portland. They provide sales, service and repair of electric vehicles and cars, selling vehicles made by Columbia Cars in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, Tiger Trucks made in Dallas, Texas and Dynasty Motors in Vancouver, Canada.
	Tom Allen and his son were on hand to help educate attendees about the benefits of biodiesel and advertise their new biodiesel fuel station on Lilly Road SE in Olympia. The biodiesel fuel station is one of the first public access facilities in the state.  Those interested in accessing the station should contact Tom Allen at 360-943-1133 to set up an account. More information on available fuel stations.
	Matt Rathke with the City of Seattle spent the day teaching people to operate the Segway. Despite the rain, people lined up to take their turn on the 2-wheeled battery powered scooter. The City of Seattle has been using a number of Segways to improve efficiency in a number of applications, such as utility meter-reading and coin collection from City parking meters.