Combines, autos battle in wild game of bumper cars in Lind

You know it’s a mean game of bumper cars when you have to be 18 years old and wear a helmet to get behind the wheel.

But that comes with the territory when the bumper cars are 10,000- pound combines at the monstrous slam dance that is the Demolition Derby Extravaganza, which takes place this weekend in Lind, Wash., southwest of Ritzville.

Josh Knodel was a freshman in high school in 1998 when he started rebuilding his first combine with his best friend, Matt Miller, who was in eighth grade at the time.

For five summers Knodel and Miller salvaged their combine they called Jaws – decorated with plywood fins and painted-on teeth – each year turning it over to their dads to drive in the competition until they reached the age limit. Knodel drove Jaws in 2003 for the first time. Miller one-upped him last year by driving and winning first place in his derby debut. Both of their dads had won in past years.

Expect Jaws to be out for blood on Saturday when Knodel takes his turn in the driver’s seat. Jaws is the only shark in the competition, but Knodel anticipates being both predator and prey.

“It’s going to be even tougher than before because the winner of the previous derby is always a target,” Knodel said. “I told Matt I’d like to win with this combine before we replace it.”

Jaws is one of 26 combines from 16 towns competing in the Derby Extravaganza tonight at 6:30 at the Lind Lion’s Club Arena. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-12 and free for kids younger than 6. A car demolition derby on Saturday at 5 p.m. replaces the annual rodeo that was a fixture in Lind for 61 years. Admission is $7, $4 for children ages 6-12 and free for kids younger than 6.

Event weekend passes are $15 for adults, $8 for children ages 6-12 and free for kids younger than 6. RV passes also are available at $20 per adult in a motor home for both days, $12 per adult in a motor home for one day, $10 per child in a motor home for both days and $6 per child in a motor home for one day.

Other festivities on Saturday include the Kiddie Parade and Grand Parade, beginning at 10:45 a.m. at the Lind City Park, followed by a barbecue in the park at noon. The barbecue costs $5 for adults and $3 for kids.

With the combine derby as the main attraction, last year’s Extravaganza pulled in about 4,000 spectators for the mash ‘em, crash ‘em, bash ‘em weekend.

“It’s almost a fight to the finish. It basically comes down to the last combine still moving wins,” said Carol Kelly, a volunteer for the Lind Lion’s Club.

The combines are named and decorated like parade floats, though the ornaments don’t last long.

The first place prize for the combine demolition derby is $1,000, second place is $800 and third is $600. Prizes for the car demolition are $1,000 for first place, $300 for second and $200 for third. There are also prizes for multiple heats leading up to the main events.

The event was introduced to Lind in 1988 by Bill Loomis, owner of Loomis Truck and Tractor.

State Sen. Mark Schoesler was invited to compete during that inaugural year. He’s crashed his combine in Lind every summer since, winning or splitting first place half-a-dozen times.

“If it wasn’t fun, we wouldn’t keep doing it,” said Schoesler, who will compete again this weekend. “I think everyone wants to play bumper cars.”

For more information, visit www.lindwa.com.