YAY FAIR!! ~ Day 8

I got my derby back!!

Today's Demolition Derby was SO MUCH BETTER than last year's Demolition Disaster. Most of the information I was able to dig up beforehand turned out to be true. And what wasn't totally true ended up being better than predicted. Whoo hoo! And while today's two derby shows weren't exactly like they have been in the past, they were good enough and entertaining enough that I am a very happy Fair Fan once again. And there was much rejoicing.

I admit that I arrived for the 2:00pm show today with a "prove it to me" attitude, my arms crossed and my gaze fixed skeptically on the admittedly expanded track. I saw the same paint sponsor splashed all over the cars and the promoter's name was prominent over the loudspeaker. "Here we go again," I thought with some harrumphing.

But then I spotted ten independent, experience-worn derby cars on the side of the track. One was even a guy I recognized from prior years (go Y2K!). That was very encouraging.

The track was bigger than promised, probably at least half again as big as it seemed last year. And the VIP cars -- the ones owned by the promoter and decorated by the paint sponsor -- lined the other side of the track. Last year there were four and they had comprised the entire afternoon derby. Today there were thirteen and they were for only one of three rounds of crashing and smashing. Things were looking much more promising.

By the end of the afternoon show, I was jazzed. Typically the afternoon show is fun but it is more like an exhibition since the real money is to be made in the evening show. Today, though, the VIP round was full and complete. Those cars weren't coming back no matter how viable they were after the smoke cleared. There were shredded tires, busted radiators, smoke, and strewn car parts. In all honesty, it was the best 2:00pm Demolition Derby I have ever seen at the Fair. You can imagine how excited I suddenly was about the evening show.

We arrived in the Grandstands about 45 minutes early for the evening derby. We had plenty of company. By the time the show started, the Grandstands were pretty much at capacity.

The show lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes. There were three rounds: the eight remaining independent cars; another VIP round with 14 new cars to smash up; and a grand finale RV round consisting of four old campers. All three rounds were fun, action-packed, and very cheer worthy. They had expanded the track yet again from the afternoon show, reportedly two feet wider and twelve feet longer. It was noticeable and appreciated.

Throughout the show, my nose itched happily from the smoke and the smell of burning rubber. There were some dirt clouds. The action had to stop a couple of times due to engine fires. Bumpers and assorted other car pieces littered the track. It was a real demolition derby again. Hallelujah!

Although tonight's Demolition Derby was exponentially better than last year's, one thing still made me sad: it was still light outside when it ended. Granted, at 8:20pm the sun was setting and the Grandstand lights were on, but it was by no means dark outside. I absolutely loved having previous derbies end around 9:00pm, with the Grandstand lights being the only thing illuminating the rising smoke and plumes of dirt. It gave the derby a rock concert feeling and added to the excitement of the event. If I were Queen of the Fair, I would change the start time of the evening Demolition Derby from 7:00pm to 8:00pm purely for the lighting effects. Just give me a crown and I shall make it so.

That's mostly just a nitpick. Truly, I am very relieved that I can once again look forward all Fair to my most favorite redneck event ever invented. That is until I finally get to see a Figure 8 race.


It only took a week I am officially being recognized throughout the Fairgrounds. Not because of my blog but because I am ever-present. The security bag-checker knows me and my Fair swag cinch-sack, the Sweet Cheeks vendors say good-bye with a "See you tomorrow!", and cashiers in the Food Court are asking where I work in the Fair. Yes, I am bragging.


I should have known it was Weird Al We attended a vocal school's performance today because some friends' daughter was singing. She did great and blew me away with her stage presence. Aside from that, though, the highlight of the amateur singing hour was the performance of an hysterical song I had never heard. It was about a highly trained and accoladed actress who somehow finds herself building a career as a Jungle Cruise Tour Guide at Disneyland. A little research (thanks, Rob), and it turns out to be a song about an accomplished actor named Dan, Skipper Dan to be exact. It is a Weird Al song from 2009 -- long after he was on my radar -- and it is available on iTunes and, most recently, my iPod.


Fair Food Feast Parade!

Today's pedometer reading was 4.05 miles. It truly doesn't feel like I walked that far today. Awesome! No Tums, no Pepto, no zits. I did break out some pain medication but we're not thinking about that. La la la la la.

Onion rings from Big E's BBQ.  They were good but at $7, I won't be getting them again.  Burgerville's Walla Walla rings are MUCH better and cheaper.

Hush puppy from a seafood vendor.  As southern hush puppies go, they were a little dry.  As Fair food hush puppies go, they were really good.

Polish dog from the Gourmet Burger booth.  I planned on getting a corn dog but then changed my mind.  The polish dog was pretty good!

Today's Hawaiian Shaved Ice:  Green Apple and Tiger's Blood.  I really liked the Green Apple; it was like a mellow Jolly Rancher.  The Tiger's Blood was a boring strawberryish flavor.

I was going to get a different flavor but why mess with perfection?  Chocolate strawberry milkshake.

Deep fried Reese's peanut butter cup.  Oh, yeah!

My traditional Demolition Derby meal:  Pad Thai with lots of Sriracha sauce.  YUM!

Boring lemonade from the stand next to the Pad Thai place.  Too much water and sugar, not enough lemon.

Hypnotized by the chocolatey goodness of a Mississippi Mud ice cream bar.  Tasty!