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The Whiteside County Fair grandstand holds 3500 seats with 1250 reserved. All but a handful were taken on Saturday, August 17, 2019, to watch the Demolition Derby. A record entry of 109 cars topped last year’s entry of 103, during the 149th annual fair.
It was a mixed blessing for fans and Robbo’s EXTREME Derby Promotions, well-managed for a third year by Rob Mahnesmith of Chillicothe, IL.
Even before the drama began he stated to his announcer, “We may be pushing to get done by 11:00.” The popular event was to begin at 6:30 p.m. but started at 7:23.
Why?
- There were late registrations and arrivals; some entrants missed the Drivers’ Meeting before the race.
- Often cars were late arriving on the track, delaying the action; a couple times the heat was started without them.
- Numerous drivers disregarded red flag warnings to stop moving–due to emergencies–or black flag warnings to snap off their stick and cease action. A disgruntled driver got out of his car to explain/argue why he did not stop. He lost that argument with promoter Mahnesmith.
- Rak Productions Sound professional Steve Bacon showed the noise level was at 90 decibels with so many cars confined in one area. One health site stated, “In general, sounds above 85 are harmful, depending on how long and how often you are exposed to them, and whether you wear hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs.”
- One driver broke his foot. One left his car under medical help, due to back pain. One displayed a bloody, mashed thumb.
- Overlarge classes had to be split into two heats and then decided by a third heat.
- The Demo Derby outlasted fans. Tedium set in, because the usual “action” between vehicles was severely curtailed.
- The final Open Wire heat took over an hour to complete, at about 11:15, after four hours.
Fair Board member Mike Wiersema invited Lydia Parker, Clinton, IA, to sing The Star-Spangled Banner. She sings in a cover band called “Lydia and the Dirty Apes” and has performed in Morrison, Fulton, and Galena, IL; the Quad Cities; Clinton. Parker recently competed as a vocalist in Atlanta, GA, auditioning for The Voice. In September she will audition in Chicago, IL, for American Idol.
POWER WHEELS DERBY
At 7:15 the children’s Power Wheels Derby began with 16 kids in 13 cars. Ages 3 to “eight or nine” are eligible. Generally, they drive around for several minutes, some tapping into another vehicle, some sitting still, until one of the track men stops the action. Little vehicles are pulled or driven to the north end of the track and lined up side by side, facing south. At mid-track, a flagman waves the green flag, and children race to him. One speedy child became the Whiteside Power Wheels Champion: Brantley Judd.
DEMO DERBY
The Demolition Derby on Saturday, August 17, 2019, was a huge draw for the 149th Annual Whiteside County Fair.
MINI VANS
Morrison Fire Department put out three fires in this spit-fire class. They extinguished the flames and hosed down the track where fuel had spilled. A skid loader removed the combustible dirt. Fire Chief Joe Bielema watched his team from atop an engine.
Mini Vans: 1. Brad Call; 2. Tim Wright; 3. Cody Scott
Julia Walters Extreme Driver: Brad Call
Brad Call took home two powerful trophies and a damaged thumb.
OPEN WELD
After two elimination heats, there was plenty of room for 11 survivors, in the Open Weld class “feature.”
Open Weld: 1. Ron Dykeman; 2. Jess Dykeman; 3. Mitch Meinsma
Julia Walters Extreme Driver: Mitch Meinsma
Ron Dykeman took a first, as he illustrated.
Mitch Meinsma donated his Julia Walters Extreme Driver trophy to Steven Kuehl. Left-ro-right are Brett Lacroix, Kuehl, and Meinsma.
COMPACT WELD
Compact Weld: 1. Drew Daniels; 2. Austin Cover; 3. Tanner Hall
Julia Walters Extreme Driver: Austin Cover
Rob Mahnesmith presented Drew Daniels first place hardware in the Compact Weld class. Below, he gave two trophies to Austin Cover.
COMPACT WIRE
Compact Wire: 1. Tommy Fortune, Jr; 2. Brian Muntein; 3. Dakotah Carber
Julia Walters Extreme Driver: Brian Muntein
The Compact Wire first place trophy went to Tommy Fortune, Jr. Below Fortune, right, posed with Julia Walters Extreme Driver Brian Muntein and an unidentified woman.
OPEN WIRE CLASS
Two earlier heats lead to the “feature,” between 22 survivors of the two. This is where the sound level reached 90 decibels. With so many cars squashed on the track, it took over an hour to determine the three finalists.
Open Wire Class: 1. Brad Bielema; 2. Keith Wiersema; 3. Clint Shephard
Julia Walters Extreme Driver: Troy Walters
Left-to-right are Jason Vandereide, Colton Bielema, 12, and his father Brad Bielema.
The 2019 Demo Derby was held in memory of Julia Anne Walters. Below is her father, Troy Walters; he received the Julia Walters Extreme Driver Award. At left is Ashlyn May who rode with Walters. To his left are Christina Wetzell’s daughter, Amelia Wetzell, and Troy’s daughter, Lexi, respectively. Julia’s obituary notice follows.
Julia Anne Walters, 19, of Morrison, IL, died Friday, February 8, 2019, in Bremer County, IA, as a result of an automobile accident. Her funeral service was 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 16, at Ebenezer Reformed Church in Morrison.
Julia was born September 26, 1999, in Sterling, IL, to Troy and Christina (Attig) Walters. She was educated in the Morrison grade schools and was a 2018 graduate of Morrison High School. Julia was employed by the Crooked Roof in Lanark, IL. Her passion was Demolition Derbies, participating in demo derbies wherever she could. Julia enjoyed anything that had to do with nature.
Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Christina and Byron Wetzell of Morrison; her father and stepmother, Troy and Erica Walters of Morrison; three sisters, Lexi Walters, Sarah Wetzell, and Amelia Wetzell all of Morrison; one brother, Drew Walters of Morrison; special family member, Alessio Romagnoli of Italy; maternal grandparents, David and Carol Attig of Lyndon, IL; paternal grandfather, Paul (Linda Cox) Walters of Morrison; stepgrandparents, Bill and Darlene Hansen, Jeff and Linda Wetzell; five aunts, Alicia (Beau) Wetzell, Traci (Mark) Heusinkveld, Tori (Justin) Eads, Wendy Davis, Tracy (Todd) Corson; two uncles, Josh (Amanda) Attig and Michael (Rachel) Johnson; many cousins.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother, Sharon L. Walters.