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"When mixing heat with demolition
derby, you get a real dry, real fast track," commented a local track
official.
The cars Sunday night took some serious
hits — more than is usually expected or tolerated by the drivers.
The first heat highlighted car 69
taking names and throwing fenders all the way. Car 79 took a square
hit, blew the radiator and held on for some power slams by 47. Car
29 took it on the chin; thick, dirty steam filled the driver’s
compartment. Car 23 locked jaws with 47. With all that horsepower
and not enough tread, they broke free, tires smoking.
Not much to say about heat two other
than, "Where did car 15 get the kryptonite?" Unshakable, the crowd’s
favorite rewarded with dirt in the stands. Car 2 saw enough, took
15 head-on and broke his legs. But you don’t need legs for fighting.
Car 17 needed to finish the job. Car 15 didn’t make it, but the
crowd buried that soldier with applause.
You wanted action on the last day of
the county fair, you got it. Despite backlighting from the evening
sun and paper fans cooling to no relief, the stands were filled.
Burning rubber, roaring pipes, engine fires and cars side-jumping
cars brought the crowd to their feet. Children took the flying dirt
clods with excitement; the parents just took them. Fair queen Amy
Rohrer hosted the kiddie races between heats, doing her best to stay
queen class in all that mud.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
The final feature heat opened the can
those boys had been saving all night. Eight cars held on. Those
catching a quick breath were plowed over the side trench. No mercies
from third-place 24, Josh Chuk of Lincoln. We lost count on how many
sticks he claimed. Second-place 87, Brian Mileham of Lincoln, played
it smart, striking 24 like a rattlesnake, then a scorpion, over and
over again. Derek Heath of Lincoln, 214, dodged some major blows,
spun back around and jabbed. His strategy played off, as he took
first place.
Derek Heath has been racing for five
years, with Sunday his first win. Heath and his dad built the car
and noted victory thanks to A-1 Towing for their support.
When asked
about next year’s race — "Oh, yeah. You bet."
[Mike Boeke]
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Ozzie Smith was the only player inducted to the Hall of Fame on
Sunday as well. I didn’t get to catch his acceptance speech, but
friends said it was hilarious and a wonderful moment… and some of
those guys are Cubs fans!
Lance Armstrong won his fourth Tour de France. He just must be the
biggest stud in that sport.
Didn’t see much of the
men’s golf tourneys this weekend, but the women’s play was
outstanding. I believe Park won in a sudden death playoff. Kelli
Kuhene fizzled the last two days, and Annika almost came back to win
again. I really recommend that you go out and see these ladies play
when they come to Springfield. It’s worth the price of admission!
[Jeff
Mayfield]
[July 22 Mutterings: "Summer
ramblings..."] |
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