Demolition derby rolls into Lind this weekend

The Town of Lind is set to host thousands of visitors this weekend for the 27th Annual Lind Derby Extravaganza Weekend.

The annual event kicks off entertainment on Friday night with car and pickup races, before hosting a slew of events on Saturday at the Lind Lions Club Arena.

The weekend of derby action begins with the annual car races on June 13, with time trials at 6 p.m. and racing at 6:30 p.m.

Due to the increasing amount of pickups entered into the event during the past couple of years, the pickup races join the car-racing event on Friday evening.

Before the Saturday events begin, the Ralston Grange and Ralston Junior Grangers are hosting a breakfast at the cook shack at the Lind arena from 7-9 a.m. The groups are serving a breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, German sausage, coffee and juice, at a cost of $5 a plate.

The Grange members return to the derby grounds on Sunday to serve breakfast between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. The meal consists of biscuits and sausage gravy.

Saturday’s morning activities are kicked off when the youngsters from the local communities take to the streets in the annual Kiddie Parade. With the theme of “If I Was An Animal,” children participants will dote a costume portraying their favorite animal as they make the parade route on June 14. Participants should arrive at 10 a.m. with their entry form.

All participants receive an award for participating and should meet at the east end of the Centennial Park. Judging begins promptly at 10:15. The parade begins at 10:45 a.m. just before the Grand Parade.

For more information about the event, contact Kindra Haase at 509-650-7299. Completed forms should be brought to the parade for registration.

Immediately following the display of local youngsters, combines and floats alike take to the streets in the Grand Parade at 11 a.m. All of the combine drivers maneuver the equipment through the streets with supporters, family and friends on the combines with them.

Riding on one of the combines this year are the grand marshals for this year’s event, Phill and Carol Kent. The Lind Chamber of Commerce selected the Kents as grand marshals because of their dedication, participation and commitment to the community.

Visitors are invited to Lind Town Park at the conclusion of the parade to enjoy a traditional barbecue meal, cooked up by Cathy Jo’s Catering.

At $8 a plate, Cathy Jo is serving up a meal of barbecue pork sandwiches, baked beans and coleslaw. For $12 a plate, attendees receive ribs, baked beans and coleslaw. Youth group members are selling dessert and beverages alongside the annual barbecue. A combined plate of food is available for $15.

Saturday afternoon marks the beginning of the derby action visitors travel far and wide to see. Currently, registered combines are representing the towns of Davenport, Seattle, Ritzville, Spokane, Pasco, Prosser, Tri-Cities, Endicott, Othello, Spangle and Lind.

Pickup truck races begin the heart pounding action at 2 p.m. as drivers race to finish the course before their competitors and without causing a wreck.

Combines begin rolling into the arena at 3 p.m. in the first heat of metal crunching action, and grain truck and pickup races return to provide intermission entertainment. The final heat of combines will return to the arena before dark in order to crown a victor for the annual competition.

Sunday morning, the Lind Community Church is hosting a special service at the Lind derby grounds. The service begins at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public.

After the Saturday night excitement of crunching combines has ended, visitors are invited to watch an equally entertaining event the next day as the local youth take to Smart’s Hill to compete in the thrilling Coaster Car Race.

The Coaster Car Races begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, at the top of Smart’s Hill on E Street, near the Lind Elementary School. The street is closed for the event so bystanders are encouraged to park elsewhere and walk to the race.

The Lind Calvary Assembly of God sponsors the event and competitors come from as far away as Kirkland, Wash.

For more information about the event and for a list of contacts, visit http://www.lindwa.com.