by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
DOUGLAS — The Cobden Fair begins Friday evening and the 4-H Derby Car Club is ready for the featured Saturday night event – demolition derby.
Brady Wytenburg, one of the 10 club members, said the club began in June and finished the derby car a week before the fair. A 2005 PT Cruiser was donated by Campbell Crogie.
“We had to make it to regulation,” Brady said, explaining, “We had to strip the inside of any plastic and electronics. There can’t be any electronics to cause a spark which could cause a fire.”
The gas tank also had to be removed and a container for gas put inside the back of the car, he said. They also had to repair the wheel-wells and redo some of the wiring.
The members then had to paint the car, which is green and white – the 4H colours.
“With all the help, it was easy to do,” Brady said. “If it’s just one person, it would take a long time.”
Throughout the three months of working on the car, Brady said the members learned quite a bit, including what’s in a car, what not to do while stripping a car and how to collaboratively work with others.
Brady decided to participate in this club for various reasons, including he likes to do mechanics, likes to spend time with friends and it was an opportunity to work on something other than tractors.
“I live on a farm so usually work on tractors,” he said. “Working on this car was different.”
Club leader Agatha Crogie said there are two leaders in the group – and the other leader will be driving the car in the derby – Drake Riopelle.
She noted the derby car club is a new club for the province and Renfrew County is the second club to host this club, but the first one to enter a car in a demolition derby.
Laughing, she said, “These kids can tear apart the inside of a car in one-and-a-half hours.
“These kids have learned a lot and shared a lot of laughs while working on the car.”
The club was able to become a reality because of the sponsors, whose names are on the car.
The car and combine demolition derbies are set to go at 7 p.m. Saturday evening.
The fair’s gates and exhibition hall opens at 10 a.m. Friday and ends with the final event on Sunday at 7 p.m., which is a ham and mashed potato dinner.
Friday’s schedule includes the 4H Mini Horse Show; rabbit agility show; John Doddridge and Town Pines, a roast pork dinner, horse draw competition, the Renfrew County Holstein Show and the opening ceremonies.
Saturday, the gates open at 8 a.m., with the 4H sheep showing beginning 30 minutes later. There’s a horseshoe tournament; 4H dairy show; pet show; dog agility show, roast beef dinner, car and combine demolition derbies and Eddie & The Sting Rays performing.
Sunday’s events include a pancake breakfast, heavy horse show and miniature horse show, ecumenical church service, 4H beef show, mud drag competition, open beef show and ham and mashed potato dinner.
The ticket price at the gate is $15 a person Friday and Saturday and $12.50 a person on Sunday. The admission includes entertainment, access to all vendors and exhibits and midway rides. For more information, go online at www.cobdenfair.com or call the office, 613-646-2426.
