HOULTON, Maine — It was a busy time for motorsports fans at the Houlton Community Park July 1-4, 2016 with thrilling events held each of the four days of the Houlton Agricultural fair.
On Monday, July 4, the “Tuff Truck, ATV and UTV Competition” proved to be one of the highlights of this year’s fair. About 500 people sat along “Derby Hill” to watch drivers put their vehicles through a rigorous obstacle course, featuring mudholes, manure piles, tires and logs.
The competition was brought the fair by Jere Humphrey of New Limerick and also featured a long jump competition where drivers soared over a small ramp to see who could travel the farthest in air.
“Being involved with motorsports for several years, I actually did a couple of these events when I was the race director up at Spud Speedway in Caribou,” Humphrey said. “We have tried them at different times at different locations. It seemed liked a good fit for the fair.”
Featuring numerous vehicle classes, the Tuff Truck competition drew a good field of drivers, who were competing for cash payouts.
The four-wheel drive unlimited category featured a $500 prize for first, $300 for second and $200 for third. David Cianci finished first, followed by Kevin Hix and Don Cianci.
The four-wheel drive street stock division was won by Dustin Francis, followed by Dalton Wilde and Caleb Gerritsen.
In the two-wheel drive open category, Boner McGary finished first, followed by Steven Wotton and Alex Croxen.
In the UTV Open event, Derek Fitzpatrick edged David Tucker Sr, while in the ATV Open, Matt Bustard was first, Ryan Wellington was second and Leonard Wilde finished third.
Ten participants competed in the long jump event. Don Cianci was the winner of the $250 cash prize, traveling 50.6 feet. In second place was David Cianci, with a jump of 44.5 feet, while Dalton Wilde leapt 36.4 feet.
Humphrey said he is in hopes to bring the event back next year, and make it even larger, but it will require approval from the fair board in order for that to happen.
On Sunday, July 3, an ATV/UTV drag race competition was held. Leonard Wilde won the 251-399cc, while Nancy Haggerty captured the women’s division; Jesse Caldwell won the 900cc; and Corey Daggett won the 400-599cc; Dillon MacDougal won the 600-799cc; Matt Tidd captured the 800-999cc; and Matt Tidd won the 1,000cc and up.
The demolition derby once again drew a huge crowd to the park as thousands lined the hill to watch one of the largest fields of racers compete Saturday, July 2. Prior to that event, lawn mower races were held in the derby pit area.
Attempts to get the winners of these events were not successful.
On Friday, July 1, a Jeep Jamboree Shown ‘N Shine and obstacle course challenge was held. In the Show ‘N Shine event, Nathan Casey of Bangor won the Classic (pre-99) category as well as the “Most Used and Abused”; Mike Folsom of Houlton won the 1992-2001 category; Alicia Decker of Mars Hill won the 2002-2011 category; Harold Decker of Mars Hill won the 2012-present; Casey also won the extreme category; Folsom won the People’s Choice Award; Rick Kinney of Wiscasset won the farthest challenged award; and Eric Nelson of Monticello won the promoter’s choice award.
The skills competition featured Jeeps riding over telephone poles, backing up to a loading dock, traveling over a broken bridge, riding over a pit of tires and up a ramp. Nelson won the skills competition, taking home a $50 cash prize and a trophy.
