At 1 p.m., Feb. 6., the battle for top dog speeds among two municipalities will take place at the Camden Snow Bowl, as two toboggans — one filled with four Rockport Select Board members, the other filled with three Camden Select Board members, plus one quasi-board member — will compete down the chute (or, quasi chute, this year).

The two boards represent town leaders, and last fall, when Camden entertained a certain challenge from the Rockport Select Board to take place Feb. 27 at the arch that marks the town line on Union Street, it could not help but issue its own challenge: A speedy run down the chute at the 26th Annual Toboggan Nationals for the distinction of fastest time.

“We’ll whoop the Rockport Select Board,” the Camden Select Board members agreed, during a brief conversation at their regularly scheduled meeting, Feb. 3. “Hope they take it graciously when they lose.”

Over in Rockport, meanwhile, the Select Board in that town was using its Feb. 3 meeting — convened especially to discuss toboggan race strategy — to practice toboggan positioning, and to receive sage advice from longtime toboggan expert, and Rockport resident, Tom Cox.

While there appeared to be much jesting, as they settled into place on their sled on the Richardson Room meeting floor, there was serious debate on outfits, and what to wear.

“Stamina,” was the operative word in Camden. “Warmth” was the parallel in Rockport.

Camden Select Board member Leonard Lookner summed up that town’s take on Saturday’s competition: “We’re like Bill Belichick. We don’t say anything.”

Rockport celebrates its 125th birthday this year, Feb. 25 being the official date when the Maine Legislature approved, in 1891, their separation into two towns.

The last weekend in February will be filled with Rockport events, and again, in the summer, from July 29 to Aug. 6, as Rockport celebrates its Quasquicentennial. (See box).

At one time, Camden and Rockport were one town.

The municipal divorce evolved in the late 1800s from a disagreement over the cost of building a new bridge over Goose River, in Rockport. Then, the two villages argued over whether to have an electric railroad or steam railroad to Rockland.

It all got very complicated and debate grew so heated that historian and Camden Herald publisher Reuel Robinson wrote in his 1907 book, History of Camden and Rockport Maine: “sectional feelings ran high and sectional virulence became so acute that for a time it was hardly safe for a Rockport man to favor the proposition to ‘divide’ or a Camden man to oppose it.”

Today, there is little left of hard feelings in the two towns; in fact, there are more than a few who believe the two towns should merge back into one (but not everybody, so it is unlikely in this day and age).

Rockport and Camden share costs and joint committees work on municipal ventures. The two current select boards are noted for furthering the collaborative trend and encourage creative ways to make both towns work better for their citizens.

Still, there is a some rivalry, and room for friendly competition. Kind of like back when students of Camden High School and Rockport High School pelted each other with snow balls.

So the fun begins Feb. 6, at the Camden Snow Bowl, where one trophy will be awarded to but one of the towns. We shall see.

1 p.m., at the mountain.