2nd Annual Bump n Rub Derby

Oakley's Pioneer Days is this week, complete with rodeos, dutch oven contest, 10K and kids races, entertainment, food, parade, and fireworks. It's a big weekend for reunions and visitors. Tons of fun! (You're all welcome to come next year!)   

Last year they added a new tradition - the Bump n Rub derby.  It's an almost-anything-goes race. Kind of a combination of Nascar and bumper cars. In the mud. It is FUN to watch.  The drivers find a sponsor and a beater car, and do everything they can to make two laps around the "track."  They race two at a time until they lose twice and the winner is left standing. It's hilarious. Three hours of pure entertainment.

My brother Ben entered this year, driving for Hardy Farms, Inc. You can see the impressive paint job on the brighter blue car.  He won his first race but I didn't get any pictures.  Here's a play by play of his second race. Above, the start.

The track went around the rodeo grounds. Here Ben is in the lead, going between the tires that mark the course.  (Occasionally a fire truck went through to make the course more muddy.)

Toward the end of the first lap, he got tied up in the loop-de-loop by the huge mud bog and lost his lead.

Catching him on the straightaway!

Here's where he made an impressive jump at the top of the ramp, buuuut I took the picture a split second too soon. (It's okay I'll get it next time.)

He didn't win but had a good finish. Stylish car, don't you think?

Race 2:  Started out a bit behind.

There he is, first lap, starting into the jump!  (Far right, above the firetruck.)

And lap 2, I finally got the timing right.  Those little cars could FLY!

Here he goes around loop-de-loop the final time.  Again a good race but not quite there.

The pictures don't do the experience justice.  There were cars sliding and bumping, occasionally lifting each other, stalling.  One car kept having the hood pop up so the passenger had to climb through the windshield to push the hood back down, WHILE they were racing.  It was a riot to watch and Ben said it was ten times more fun to drive. 

I recorded the championship race. It wasn't as physical as some of the others but the last 15 seconds of the video is great.  The champion is Rick Hawker!  (And I think he was excited.)



 Maybe you'll join us next year?  We expect great things from Hardy Farms, Inc!