Celebration of the 25th annual Ronan Pioneer days wouldn’t be complete without the Saturday night Demo Derby held at the Mission Valley Speedway. This year $2,200 dollar purse lured drivers and cars from as far away as Libby, Thompson Falls, Plains, and Missoula. Toni Adams jr. #2 of Pablo, Mt. took home the cash.
Adams is a Mission Valley Speedway regular and this year decided to try his hand again at the Demo Derby, confident he had a real good shot at the $1,000 first prize. Adams #2 battled it out with Glen Buckman #85, turning the back of his car into a vertical battering ram while protecting the radiator out in front, his confidence and strategy paid off taking home a first place trophy and the prize money.
Other featured events on Saturday nights racing card were a 75 lap Bomber main event which was splint into two parts, a 37 lap and a 38 lap run for the checkered flag. #13 Ryan Troutwine of Missoula jumped out to an early lead and held on until midway through the first segment when he was overtaken by hard charging #66 Justin Drake, #48 Ron Watt the Bomber points leader was able to edge out Troutwine for second spot while Troutwine with engine troubles held on to finish third in the first segment of the main. The second segment was all Drake, at midway point Troutwine was able to drop his car into second gear and make one last run at Watt for second, Troutwine took the second spot from Watt and held on, he lost a cylinder with five laps to go but was able to hang on for second, Watt taking third .
Also featured were the Dual controlled Krusers, these guys and gals are of one mind; at least we were hoping so as the concrete walls got closer and closer. Shawn Dumont, our Mission Valley Speedway President handled the Flagging Saturday night, and he really heated things up when he started the Krusers out in reverse, they ran backwards for two laps then Shawn turned them around and ran forwards, he stopped the cars again at mid-point and had the brake man jump out and switch seats with the throttle man. The crowd went nuts as the Krusers battled it out! # 142 Jim Nielson and John Long took the win with #114 Robert Hall & Rick Sanders in second spot.
Trophy Sponsors for the evening were Char and Neil Talsma owners of Timberlane Auto Ronan. Escorting those trophies around the track in a stylish 1959 Cadillac convertible were three beautiful young ladies, 13 year old Lauren and 16 year old Kristin Diettert of Spokane, WA and 14 year old Shelby Zentner of Missoula Mt. The 1959 Cadillac convertible is owned by Marvin Troutwine. Marvin drove the beautiful Caddy from Missoula for the festivities.
Fans also got their chance to get in on the wining, especially the kids, with a Frisbee toss by the bomber drivers; kids had a chance to win $30 dollars. If their Frisbee was signed by the winning driver they were handed $30 dollars in cash and had their picture taken with the driver and car. Pizza Hut donated coupons for three large pizzas and those coupons were delivered along with a piping hot personal pizza to three hungry fans. One lucky fan received $145 dollars in our 50/50 cash jackpot, also given out were door prizes donated by Yogi’s 1 Hour Photo of Polson, Wheels of Fun go cart center Polson, and True Value Hardware Ronan.
Upcoming events at Mission Valley Speedway include next weekend August 9th Pepsi/Pizza Hut sponsored Super Stocks, MGD Light sponsored Hobby’s, Budweiser sponsored Compacts, and Noon’s sponsored Formula Indy’s. Don’t forget, Kids rides at intermission, so kids get ready, pick your favorite driver, and get a ride in his car! Our trophy sponsor will be Lake County Detention Association and we have $1,000 dollars in door prizes to give out including two Pendleton blankets, barbeques, coolers, lawn chairs, Hot Wheels cars and NASCAR cars, so don’t miss out! Time trials at 6:00 PM, Racing at 7:00 PM. See you at the races!
To learn more about Mission Valley Speedway visit our website at www.missionvalleyspeedway.com, hosted by and sponsored by www.pitstop.com ,or call our 24-hour information hotline at (406)675-RACE.
Results Saturday, August 2nd, 2003
Bombers
Fast time of the night: #66 Justin Drake 18:64
Trophy Dash A: 1) #38 Robert Watt Jr. 2) #74 Doug Moeller 3) #66Justin Drake 4) #48 Ron Watt Sr.
Trophy Dash B: 1) #18 Ben Dumont 2) #0 Willy Ovitt 3) #69 James Kamerer 4) #44 Pete Zeiler
Main: 1) #66 Justin Drake 2) #13 Ryan Troutwine 3) #48 Ron Watt Sr. 4) #74 Doug Moeller 5) #44Pete Zeiler 6) #9 Billy Girard 7) #18 Ben Dumont 8) #38 Robert Watt Jr. 9) #0 Willy Ovitt 10) #69 James Kammerer 11) #43 Ben Dumont
Krusers
Fast Time of the night: #147 Jim Groom & Ron Meeker 21.76
Main: 1) #142 Jim Neilson & John Long 2) #114 Robert Hall & Rick Sanders 3) #147 Jim Groom & Ron Meeker 4) #113 David Hall & AJ Sanders 5) #169 Carolyn Keeney & Jessica Keeney
Demo Derby
Main: 1) #2 Toni Adams Jr. 2) #85 Glen Buckman 3) #33 Doug Mays
