Pam Dudding Contributing writer
The saying, “kids will be kids” seems to fall a little closer to the tree when it comes to being a derby kid.
As the toddlers got in their little Power Wheel cars and trucks during a recent Craig Derby event, parents appeared to have just as much fun, if not more.
The last couple years in Craig County, the derby has included a Power Wheels event for toddlers sponsored by Angie Guthrie-Ponton, Guthrie Insurance Agency. She and her husband enjoy encouraging kids to have fun, even in the mud of a derby ring.
Earlier this month, several toddlers came out to the derby, including, 21 – Trever Fisher (Troublemaker), 09 – Charlie Owen, 35 – Aubri Trivette, MCTV Makenzie Meadows and MCTV 2 – Addison James, Charley Brown, Willow Brown, Layla Brown, 01 – Gravedigger Clabe Jr., 16 – Destroyer – Lily Richardson and 50 – Autumn Mabes. A few others joined in at the last minute which is why we don’t have their names.
Clabe, in his green Grave Digger, got stuck in the mud but not for long as he kept rocking back and forth, obviously being taught on what to do as he quickly got out, ready to ram again.
Autumn, in her blue 50, kept going around in the mud enjoying herself as she and her co-pilot were laughing away, enjoying the ride. Occasionally, she would join in on a hit only to pull out and take another fun lap in the mud hole.
Clabe hit Autumn in the side. Aubri was doing the backup, hitting as she went.
When this occurred, the parents were close by to help unhook them Many participants got hooked up, bunched up or were unable to get loose.
The toddlers knew what they were there to do, run into each other, and give some good hits.
Some would hit, grin and then look around to see who they could hit next, not seeming to want to hit the same vehicle twice. (Unlike the big car derby drivers.)
Emcee Sammy Huffman, while broadcasting the event, gave the kids encouragement. He later announced that one seemed to have “lost its transmission.”
Charlie pushed the black Grave Digger backward, but he came back and started pushing him backward.
Aubri then rammed MCTV, and Charlie crunched the cardboard rear of MCTV. It must’ve been fun watching the cardboard crunch up, as he backed up and did it again.
Big hits were made as Sammy announced that was a “neck stretcher”.
Autumn received instructions to do more derby instead of riding. She decided to join in, with a big ram into the rear of the black Grave Digger, seeming to surprise him. Then she turned around and rammed the green Grave Digger, grinning all the while.
Lily hit, looked at the driver and backed out to check out the next person.
Blue Gravedigger and black car enjoyed a head-to-head until Autumn came around and hit them both.
The Gravediggers decide to have their own head-to-head battle, each laughing.
The MCTV cars did their fair share of hitting, but the other drivers seemed to get a kick out of watching the rear of their cars made of cardboard crunch up and then come back out when they hit it.
The horn blew and each drove out of the ring, receiving their trophies from Guthrie Insurance Agency.
There were only smiles as the little power wheel derby drivers held their trophies tight, wearing a smile that could melt anyone’s heart.
Appreciation was given to Angie Guthrie for sponsoring the event, the parents and friends for fixing the kid’s vehicles to participate, the parents and friends for helping with the derby and to the spectators for giving the little drivers all the support.
And Power Wheels derby will continue, on August 14 at the next Craig County Fairgrounds Demolition Derby. All kids are welcome to join in on the fun.
