By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — The weather was perfect for the third day of the 183rd Cattaraugus County Fair on Monday — Sunny and temperatures in the upper 70s — after some heavy rain on Sunday night.
The fair’s second demolition derby of the week kicked off shortly after 7 p.m. with a large grandstand crowd and plenty of drivers and cars looking for trophies and some prize money.
The first heats had 13 cars competing for the last car running.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRozxJ7zzH4
A water truck sprayed down the derby arena that was lined with concrete and big tires to keep down dust and make things more interesting for the drivers, some of whom ended up running on the wheel rims of their cars.
The sounds of spinning tires and crunching metal echoed throughout the grandstand.
Many ran small spare tires on the back of their cars, saving real tires for their front-wheel drive cars. Some of the cars looked like they had participated in Saturday night’s first demolition derby.
The announcer led the crowd in counting down each start and re-start — “three, two, one.”
The heats stopped if a car was on fire or a driver with an immobile car was otherwise in danger. Fire emergency crews stood by.
When only one car was still running, the winner was declared and a trophy for the heat was presented.
Then, tractors appeared to haul cars out of the arena that no longer ran under their own power.
A crew from Derbydog Inc., which promotes demolition derbies in New York Pennsylvania and Ohio, ran both Saturday’s and Monday’s Cattaraugus County Fair shows.
Demolition derby winners for both shows will be posted when they are posted.
It was Youth and Seniors Day at the fair on Monday. Admission was $10 for youth age 15 and under and seniors age 62 and older.
Monday morning started with the English Horse Show in the 4-H horse arena at 9 a.m.
4-H/FFA Livestock Judging and Dairy Judging was held, along with the 4-H/FFA Meat Goat Show, followed by an Open Meat Goat Show, and 4-H and FFA and Open Goat Shows.
On Tuesday morning, the 4-H/FFA Western/Ranch Horse Show kicked off at 9 a.m., followed by the 4-H/FFA Dairy Breed Show in the dairy arena. The Rabbit Show started at noon.
Tuesday night’s grandstand concert features country singer Dylan Scott with opening act Highway Home beginning at 7:30.
Wednesday’s schedule starts off with the 4-H Dressage Horse Show at 9 a.m., along with the Open Sheep Show in the Livestock Arena.
Due to illness, country western singer Sammy Kershaw Wednesday night’s grandstand concert has been canceled.
In his place, the fair is welcoming Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery, with special guest John Foster opening the show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be valid if you plan to attend. For refunds call etix.com at (800) 514-3849, not the fair office..
4-H beef, dairy and livestock exhibitors are looking forward to Saturday’s 4-H Animal Sale starting at 10:30 a.m. in the dairy/beef judging ring, then moving to the livestock judging ring.
There are 34 beef cows and 10 dairy steers up for auction, as well as 10 goats, 27 lambs, 64 pigs, three pens of rabbits, 13 turkeys and 38 chickens will be auctioned.
There is also an annual pie auction that brings in hundreds of dollars in bids for the 4-H program.
Discover more from Olean Star
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
