30 Years Ago

Thursday, September 15, 1988

Lei takes championship at demolition derby

Charlie Lei of Ashland drove his Pontiac to a first-place finish in the Powder River Auto Club’s Frank Watters Memorial Derby here Saturday evening.

The event was held in memory of Watters, who helped organize the club and derbies. Proceeds from the event went to benefit his sons. About $2,100 was raised through generosity of the club, drivers and the public. The drivers elected to take less in prize money, rather than the customary $500, $300, and $200 for the top three places. The drivers instead took home winnings of $300, $200, and $100. And, Sheila Trumps donated her second-place winnings in the Calcutta, $600, to the cause.

Watters died last spring in a tragic single-vehicle accident and the derby will be held each year in his memory.

Lei, advanced to the finals by winning his heat. Others also advancing by winning their heats were Grant Olson, second place overall winner and Jim Hance, third place winner. Lester Earley, one of the best drivers in the derby also easily won his heat but missed his chance in the championships when his auto failed to start.

Connie Robinson then drove Lei’s already battered car to a first-place finish in the Powder Puff, out crashing six other drivers in some of the best action of the derby. One lady favored to place, known as “Hot Rod,” was eliminated from the action after speeding the full length of the arena in reverse, only to become high-centered on the piled earth that served as a boundary.

The best-looking car trophy also went to Lei’s Pontiac, which served him so well.

Earley came back to win the jackpot heat and Dan Stark, a previous derby winner, took top honors in the grudge match, which featured about seven well used autos.

Stark also won the barrel race, finishing the course in a fast time of 30.70 seconds. Jim Hance followed in second place with a time of 32 seconds and with son James, driving Clinton Watter’s car, placed third behind a time of 34 flat.

Winners of East Fork’s trophy roping named

Winners of the East Fork Roping Club’s trophy competition, held here September 5, have been named.

Randy Flint and Dick Rumph won the open roping with an average time on two runs of 25.14 seconds. Terri Raye and Tim McInerney followed in second place with an average time of 25.55. Frank Rosencranz and Jim Alexander had the fastest single run of the event, 10.40 seconds.

Top money in the scrambled roping wen to Mike Williams and Rich Flint, who finished with a two-run average time of 30.77 seconds. Carrol Schaffer and Jim Alexander placed second behind a 31.32 average time. That duo also had the fastest single run time, 12.97 seconds.

Mike Williams won the calf roping competition with a two-run time of 53.49. Dan “Dead-Eye” Gali had the fast single run time of 15.44 seconds.

McKenzie McInereny took top honors in the kid’s barrel racing competition with a time of 27.60 seconds. Gavin Flint placed second with a time of 34.29; Ashley Williams finished third with a 37.09 time and Rhett Flint took over fourth with a time of 39.94 seconds.

Raymond Williams captured first place in the open breakaway event with the time of 10.81 seconds on two head. Randy Flint followed with a two-run average of 15.51. Flint also had the single fastest run, finishing in 2.55 seconds.

Bob Robinson and Tim McInerney teamed up and took first place in the jackpot roping with a two run time of 24.96 seconds. Robinson and Dick Rumph followed in second place with a 28.83 average time and also had the fastest single run time of 9.85 seconds.

In the mixed breakaway competition, open to the “older” generation, Bob Robinson placed first with an 11.79 second time on two runs. Carrol Schaffer finished with the fast single run time, 5.62 seconds.

Included in the day’s competition were events for youngsters, stick horse barrel racing.

First place in the four and under age group went to Kayla McInerney and a 14.05 time. Ziggy Flint followed in second place with a time of 18.17 and Brent McInerney took over third with a time of 25.44 seconds.

For the five to seven-year-old group, Gavin Flint had an 11.73 second time for first place. Ashley Williams followed with a 12.10 time and McKenzi McInerney took over third with a 13.87.

Shauna Kane named Scholastic All-American

The National Secondary Education Council has announced that Broadus high school senior Shauna Kane has been named a Scholastic All-American.

The NSEC has established the Scholastic All-American Scholar Award Program in order to offer deserved recognition to superior students who excel in the Academic disciplines. The Scholastic All-American Scholars must earn a 3.3 or better grade point average.

Only scholars selected by a secondary school instructor, counselor, or other qualified sponsors are accepted. These scholars are also eligible for other awards given by the NSEC. These are awards few students can hope to attain.

Miss Kane was nominated for the national award by Connie Barnhart, art instructor at Broadus high. Shauna will now appear in the Scholastic All-American Scholar Directory, published nationally.

Shauna is the daughter of Bill and Nancy Kane of Broadus. Her grandparents are Mrs. Marian Kane, also of Broadus and Charles and Barbara Baum of Winston.