Before a huge crowd on August 16, 2014, six drivers took first place in their divisions at the 144th Annual Whiteside County Fair’s Saturday night Demolition Derby. The ever-popular event is run smoothly by EERJR Demo Promotions, Inc., with Gene Ryan, Sterling, IL, in charge of the competitors. All towns listed are Illinois unless noted.
The National Anthem signaled the start of the entertainment, with Morrison’s Rich Criss, shown at right, offering the stirring vocal rendition. The song was accompanied by Sterling High School Band Director Mike McCoy on trumpet. The latter has performed here several years and was a demo driver who “won one time.” Criss claimed his 25 years driving ambulances and fire trucks “was like a demo derby!”
Compact
1. Tanner Hall, Cordova; 2. Bobbie Bertolozzi, Rock Falls; 3. Curt Hall, LeClaire, IA. Tanner Hall, left, is shown with the third place winner, his father, Curt.
Wire Full Size
1. Brad Call, Sterling; 2. Eric Meier, Prophetstown. Call holds the prize money and t-shirt from Ryan, but there was no trophy offered in this class.
Trucks
1. Chris Cadie, Chana; 2. Robert Edwards, Polo. Below is Ryan with Cadie.
Midsize
1. Bobbie Bertolozzi, Rock Falls; 2. Jamie Bertolozzi, Rock Falls; 3. Brandon Bittner, Rock Falls; 4. Joey Fortune, Sterling. Bob Bertolozzi bested his wife, Jamie, to a hard-fought finish. The couple is shown below with Ryan.
Midsize Pro Mod
1. Cody Reaver, Sterling.
Full Size Pro Mod
1. Levi Harris, Morrison; 2. Steven Huehl, Morrison; 3. Jake Zemke, Rock Falls. Harris is shown after receiving his trophy, prize money, and t-shirt from Ryan.
The “Jake Marsden Wild Driver Award” was presented to Cody Reaver, right, by the late Marsden’s parents, Kyle and Missy Marsden of Galena. Ryan was a friend of Jake and started this award in his honor nine years ago.
While wreckage was cleared from the track between heats, Ryan pulled a prank on his track man, Kyle, who fell and damaged a shoulder tendon a week ago. Ryan arranged for the Morrison Community Hospital EMT’s to “evaluate” Marsden’s fitness to work. He was pronounced competent.
