Races bring roar of engines to fair
Near-miss collisions keep spectators’ attentionBy DAWN THOMPSON, Messenger staff writer
Article Photos
Roaring engines, flying chunks of mud and shouts from the crowd filled the clear, sunny afternoon during the Webster County 4-H Fair Figure 8 Races Sunday at the fairgrounds just south of Fort Dodge.
Spectators filled the bleachers, some even spilling over into lawn chairs set up along the fence line. Among them were Danny and Tressa Jurries, of Linn Grove. Danny Jurries said they were introduced to figure 8 style of racing just last year. His son came to Fort Dodge to study as a mechanic at Iowa Central Community College and met a local girl whose father races.
Still relatively new to the quick heats and fast track, the Jurries said they had to focus to stay up on who was in the lead.
"It's pretty nice," said Danny Jurries. "It keeps your attention, that's for sure."
Chad Fredine, of Lehigh, had to point out the leader a time or two for young Brady Fredine. This was the pair's second time attending Figure 8 Races.
"They are definitely more exciting than other races," said Chad Fredine.
Rather than speeding around an oval-shaped track, drivers in Figure 8 Races race around a track shaped like the number eight and risk colliding with one another in the apex of the eight.
Different classes of vehicles compete in heats with the winners going on to feature races. The front wheel drive class involves cars that used to be driven on the streets outfitted to run on the track while the stock division involves cars specifically made for racing.
Women drivers compete in the Powder Puff class, which on Sunday was followed by the Bombers class. When vehicles in the Bomber class crash or break down they remain where they're at until the end of the race, leaving the other drivers to go around them.
For Bailey Nickelson, 10, revving engines, colliding cars and dust clouds rising from the track are what she knows. Her father, Gary Nickelson, of Otho, has been racing longer than she's been alive. An experienced track-goer, Bailey Nickelson regularly stands on the sidelines with her other family members and cheers on her father. Whether the rooting and hollering does any good, she said she doesn't know. But, it might.
"He has a lot of trophies, Nickelson said, "that's all I can say."
Contact Dawn Thompson at (515) 573-2141 or dthompson@messengernews.net
