6/13/09 - The Combine Demo Derby!

The day has finally arrived. All the months of planning and scheming, have come to fruition.
I made my way from Spokane down to Lind via the scenic byways of Washington State. Here's today's route:
And a couple of pics from the road. I think the wheat fields are pretty.
In case you didn't know where you were...
I get to the battleground about an hour before the festivities. I pay my $12.00, get a wristband, buy some water and sausage on a stick and scout the place for the best vantage point. Pick one and settle down for the show.
Here are some before pictures while the "Best decorated" combine was picked.
This is a retired military truck (I think it looks like a restored deuce and a half) that had a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the passenger's side. They fired it after the national anthem. I think they used blanks...
The witty comes out... (Click on the pictures for a larger version)



The carnage begins. There are 4 heats of 4-5 machines, an intermission with some truck racing and the final heat where all combines go at each other until only 1 can move. Here's a list of some of the Combines:
Frank
RDO Speedwagon
General Lee Jr. Jr. (yea, there are 2 Jrs)
McBride and the Ride
Free Beer Tomorrow
Hillbilly Deluxe
Stacks and Cracks
Tater Salad
The Barge
Go Cougs
Prison Break
Jaws
The Bull
The Flusher
Keystolope
All Jacked Up
Here's a short movie I shot followed by some "smashing" photos of the heats.





One of the warriors lost an appendage.




Intermission included racing medium duty and pickup trucks.
Check out the wing on this truck. He wasn't going fast enough for it to help with down force, but it sure is shiny and pretty...


This truck spun the tires so much that dirt hit us in the stands. The guy sitting in front of me took a piece of shrapnel on the nose and bled a little. He toughed it out for the duration.
Accidents happen...
Pictures from the final melee.




And the winner is:
He was beaten, battered, bruised, repaired and was left the last one moving. Josh Knodel in "JAWS".

What a fun day. I had a blast.
The only thing that would have made it better is the introduction of a "combine queen" like the swamp buggy queen in Naples. No water to dunk her in tho... Maybe let her loose in the middle of the arena?

Random thoughts:

• Hillbillies are everywhere, not just confined to the southeast.
• Ahh, the smell of fertilizer.
• I was sitting on the metal bleachers so long, I'm now suffering form Numbassness.
  
• Left the rest of my thoughts in the arena. I got nothing else.

That's it for now... Stay tuned...