Listed below are winners in five classes at the 147th Annual Whiteside County Fair, held on Saturday, August 19, 2017. There were over 100 entries. All winners are Illinois residents unless noted. Mike McCoy offered a stirring rendition of the National Anthem on trumpet. Twenty years ago, he won first at the Fair Demo Derby in the Full-Sized Station Wagon class.
17-28 / SATURDAY DEMO DERBY
Ryan Wiersema took first place in the full size weld division at the 147th Annual Whiteside County Fair’s Saturday Demolition Derby.
POWER WHEELS–13 Entries
There is no minimum age limit for this Power Wheels class. The lineup began with 13 tiny, helmeted entries. Each drove a battery-powered kids’ car for five minutes, bumping into each other if they chose. One car held twin sisters who compete at several shows. There was a red flag “rollover.” A child bumped a vehicle head on; the impact tipped his car 90° backwards–or straight up in the air. It was an easy fix with help from an adult on the track. A dozen of the children then were positioned by their parent, in a row across the north end of the track. On the signal, they raced to the man several yards ahead of them.
Five-year-old Caden Hernandez, of Sterling, finished first and took home a trophy. His Batmobile is decorated with the Batman logo and several sound-effect stickers. Hernandez wore an appropriate demo race shirt, too. Check out the surname of the driver at the end of this article.
MINI VANS–8 Entries
Mini Van: 1. Jake Call, Sterling; 2. Jason Huggins, Fenton; 3. Matt Hicks; 4. Kale Hamill; 5. Levi Mason
WELD MINIS/COMPACTS–17 Entries
Compact Weld: 1. Brad Call, Sterling; 2. John Wright, Lyndon; 3. Allen Hamon; 4. Jake Call; 5. Brody Melto
WELD CARS OPEN–11 Entries
Full Size Weld: 1. Ryan Wiersema, Morrison; 2. Cody Reaver, Sterling; 3. Brock Boss, Rock Falls; 4. Ron Dykman; 5. Travis Tomman
MINI WIRE COMPACT–33 Entries from two heats yielded 10 entries in the final.
Compact Wire: 1. Jamie Bertolozzi, Rock Falls; 2. Tanner Hall, Albany; 3. Kyle Haan, Morrison; 4. Tad Billmeyer; 5. Bobby Bertolozzi
OPEN WIRE–27 Entries (First Place purse of $1600)
Open Wire: 1. Brad Bielema, Morrison; 2. Ryan Wiersema, Morrison; 3. Clint Shepard, Morrison; 4. Levi Harris; 5. Champ Hernandez
