Mini might: Wash. Co. Fair holds Powerwheel Demolition Derby
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Brayden Hildebrand, 5, of Washington lines up with his competitors for the start of the Kids Power Wheels Derby at the Washington County Fair.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Julia Elway of Washington gets her vehicle checked out after it stopped working in the middle of the derby.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
The checkered flag signals the end of the Kids Power Wheels Derby at the Washington County Fair.
The sound of revving engines sporadically cut through the humid air that hung over the grandstand as drivers prepped their cars for the Washington County Fair’s annual demolition derby Tuesday night. Five-year-old Julia Elway squirmed in the seat of her pastel Power Wheels car that was parked along the stadium’s dirt track and pressed her foot to the gas pedal.
She wasn’t having much luck – her mom had disconnected her battery for the time-being to prevent her car from fizzling out part-way through the fair’s first-ever Power Wheels Derby for kids driving the miniature battery-powered vehicles.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Parker Caldwell, 5, of Cross Creek pushes the button to tilt the bed of his uncle’s tow truck that brought his truck for the Kids Power Wheels Derby.
With the help of relatives and friends, about 20 children, ages 4 to 10, decked out their Power Wheels to participate in the derby. As its start loomed, the daring drivers sat at the ready in cars with balloons attached to their front and rear bumpers.
Debbie Naser, who helped register kids for the event, said the rules were simple.
“If your balloon gets broken, you’re out,” said Naser, whose husband sits on the fair board.
A document on the fair’s website spelled out the requirements for the competing cars: their hoods and doors had to be secured so they wouldn’t pop open during the derby and their stock batteries could only be replaced with one from a 12-volt lawn mower.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Julia Elway, left, and Jackson Ardeno crash into each other. Drivers were out once balloons affixed to the front and back of their vehicles popped.
The participating Power Wheels also had to be upgraded to include a seatbelt and their drivers were required to wear a helmet.
After proudly showing off her pink bike helmet, Julia sat behind the wheel of her car, buckling and unbuckling her seatbelt.
“Seatbelts are important in life,” she said wisely.
Before the drivers were set loose in the arena – a section of track outlined by bright orange traffic cones – fair board Vice President David Cowden assured parents that safety was the number-one priority and promised to halt the derby if a child was in danger.
Then, the youngest participants were flagged to start. The kids did not hold back, putt-putting over the dirt and knocking into other cars. Within minutes, all of the balloons had been popped, but the drivers continued on, undeterred.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Tobie Bogden, 6, of Washington and her brother Teegan, 9, stand for the national anthem with their dad Jordan before the start of the derby.
The gathered crowd laughed and cheered as referees wove between the Power Wheels, dragging stalled-out cars to the side of the arena to be fixed. Julia puttered out twice when her battery clip became detached, but she headed right back into the thick of things each time after her mother set her straight.
When the 15-minute time limit came to an end, the referees flagged the younger drivers to a stop. Then, it was the older kids’ turn.
In the second heat, 6-year-old Jaxon Kirby was cheered on by his grandfather, Joe Kirby, who had helped him prep and paint his Power Wheels.
“Grandpap gotta do everything,” Joe Kirby said with a chuckle.
Visiting the fair is a family affair for Kirby, who lives in Canonsburg. This year, he came with his seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
As the second run of the derby came to a close, a rainbow broke out through the gloomy clouds overhead. The referees passed out medals to the drivers, some of whom tried pulling the ribbons over their heads before removing their helmets.
Julia sat in her car, her medal around her neck. When asked if she would drive in the derby next year, she threw up her hands and danced a little.
“Yeah!” she cheered.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Asa James of Hickory competes in the first-ever kids derby. Many of the Power Wheels were painted and decorated by the kids and their entourages.