News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
A3
Derby drivers deliver thrills
Whiskey Gulch
Gang holds first
pickup derby
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
I
t came down to Jason
Ward of Burns and Ty-
ler Nodine of John Day,
clashing to the bitter end at Sat-
urday’s 27th annual Whiskey
Gulch Gang Demolition Derby.
Nodine’s ’74 Chrysler went
down in fl ames, literally, after
Ward, in his ’76 Cadillac, de-
livered a fi nal blow.
A crew jumped quickly into
action to extinguish the fi re,
and Ward was declared derby
winner.
A total of 10 vehicles took
part in the fi rst and second
heats, with eight returning for
the Main Event, including an
’88 Mercury Topaz, driven
by Sam Glerup of Baker City,
which took second place in the
fi rst heat.
Announcer Mark Bagett
dubbed the relatively smaller
car “the little Topaz with a great
big heart.”
The event was organized by
Whiskey Gulch Gang members
Hugh Farrell and Dave Traylor,
with a lot of behind-the-scenes
help.
Several people said the
derby had the largest crowd
they’ve seen in quite a while,
with the grandstands overfl ow-
ing.
New this year was a pickup
truck heat, held during inter-
mission before the Main Event.
Five pickup drivers entered
that event, and Steve Patterson
of Prairie City picked up the
win.
The Main Event payout in-
creased from $1,500 last year
to $2,000.
Ward came away with not
only the top prize for winning
the derby, but also $250 for
Most Aggressive Driver and
$250 for winning the second
heat. He also won $250 in
cash from True Value in a ran-
dom drawing at the start of the
event.
Ward said he’s competed in
demolition derbies for most of
his life. This is his fi fth straight
year of bringing home an award
from the John Day derby, he
said, including second place
last year.
When asked what his key
to winning was, Ward said it’s
simple.
“Have fun,” he said.
“That’s the main deal, and if
luck’s on your side.”
He added, “My front wheel
was busted up, and I lost my
starter wire — you can’t tell
me that’s not luck.”
Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter
Craig Yekel of Burns, No. 20, is chased down by No. 12 Sam Glerup of Baker City at the derby.
Derby cars emerge from the smoke during the Main
Event.
Winners of the Main Event at the Whiskey Gulch
Gang’s 27th annual Demolition Derby are, from left:
Tyler Nodine of John Day, second; Jason Ward of
Burns, first; and Kurt Hills of Baker City, third.
Tim Nodine of Canyon City in No. 00 is chased down
by Steve Patterson of Prairie City in the truck derby.
Steve Patterson of
Prairie City is awarded
for winning the pickup
truck heat of Saturday’s
demolition derby.
Blue Mountain Eagle &
Bisnett Insurance
Tyler Nodine of John Day waits just moments for a
crew to extinguish a fire from the final blow of his
derby car. Nodine finished second at Saturday’s
Whiskey Gulch Gang Demolition Derby at the Grant
County Fairgrounds in John Day.
Demolition Derby results:
Main Event
Jason Ward of Burns, fi rst ($2,000 and
trophy)
Tyler Nodine of John Day, second
($1,000, trophy)
Kurt Hills of Baker City, third ($500,
trophy)
First Heat
Wayne Saul of Mt. Vernon, fi rst ($250,
trophy)
Steve Patterson of Prairie City, second
Anthony Ellis of Burns, third
Second Heat
Jason Ward of Burns, fi rst ($250,
trophy)
Craig Yekel of Burns, second
Sam Glerup of Baker City, third
Pickup Truck Heat
Steve Patterson of Prairie City, fi rst
($250, trophy)
Tim Nodine of Canyon City, second
Mike Patterson of Meridian, Idaho, third
Most Aggressive Driver: Jason Ward
of Burns ($250, trophy)
Hard Luck: Dustin Ramge (free entry
for 2017 derby)
Beauty Contest: Tim Nodine
Door prize winners
Wayne Saul, $100 Ace Hardware gift
certifi cate
Craig Yekel, Ace Hardware air com-
pressor
Mike Patterson, Ace Hardware ATV
winch
Jason Ward, $250 cash True Value
Co-ed Couples Teams
H ORSESHOE
T OURNAMENT
Double Elimination Bracket Play
A UGUST 11
Every other Monday in John Day at
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170 Ford Rd. • 541-575-1311
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Must be 21 or over to play due to the location of the
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Sign up now by stopping by the Blue Mountain Eagle
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promptly at 5:30 p.m.
$25 ENTRY FEE PER TEAM
All entry money awarded to the top three places of
the tournament, with an added
$100 CASH PRIZE by the Eagle & Bisnett
Insurance. For more information or to sign up,
contact Marissa Williams at the Eagle, 541-575-0710.
