By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — This year’s Demolition Derby — held on Aug. 3, the last day of the Northern Maine Fair — was won by Steven Holmes, who credited his late grandfather, Sterling Haynes, for his win. Holmes had two vehicles in two different categories: a car for the regular derby and a very special truck for the inaugural truck demolition event.
“The truck, a Ford, hadn’t been used since my grandfather passed a few years ago. The last Demolition Derby he came to, in 2011, he died about a week after,” said Holmes.
Holmes said his grandmother couldn’t bear the sight of the vehicle in the backyard, overgrown with weeds, for the past two years.
“We decided we needed to do something with it. Even though it was roadworthy when it was parked, we felt he’d approve of us putting it in the first truck derby. Gram hadn’t looked at it since it was parked, but when we started working on it, she checked it out. It made her smile,” said Holmes, who went on to place second in the truck demolition event and took first place in the main event.
Holmes wasn’t alone in dedicating this year’s event to a lost loved one.
Bob “Bobby” Anderson, of Limestone, lost his wife, Lisa, earlier this year, following a brief illness. He dedicated his participation in the derby to his late wife.
“Andrea Bard Smith (event organizer) got in touch with me on Wednesday. By Friday, my brother and I were putting the car together. Lisa loved the Demolition Derby; I think she’d approve,” said Anderson. “This one’s for her.”
Anderson placed third during the grand finale, with his faithful sidekick, Sponge Bob, bouncing along for the ride atop the car — a sight familiar to spectators, since the cartoon character has been atop Anderson’s vehicles for nearly a decade now.
Festivities got under way, before a packed grandstand, with the Prettiest Car competition. Jackie Abar, of Wade, and Tony Baker, of Ashland, tied for first place. Abar’s white van depicted, among other things, a large image of the Joker from “Batman” fame on the passenger’s door. Baker’s vehicle was a bright pink, with a breast cancer awareness theme. Todd Condon, of Ashland, and Mike McDougal, of Washburn, tied for second place.
Four vehicles were entered in the first-ever truck demolition event. The winner was Alan Holmes, of Wade, followed in second by his son, Steven Holmes. Milo Haney, of Connor, placed third, with Brandon McAfee, of Houlton, in fourth.
The evening’s first regular heat included: Anthony Boyce, of Presque Isle; Mike Bowker, of Crouseville; Jessica Cote, of Castle Hill; Mike McDougal, of Washburn; Brian Pelletier, of Caribou; and Duane Blackwell, of Limestone. McDougal, Boyce, Cote and Pelletier moved on to the grand finale.
The second heat featured: Baker, of Ashland; Abar, of Wade; Nick McDonald, of Presque Isle; Joseph Silliboy, of Houlton; Bob Anderson, of Limestone; and Jesse Clark, of Washburn. Moving on to the grand finale were: Baker, Abar, Anderson and Clark.
The third heat was made up of: Taylor Condon, of Ashland; Brandon Simpson, of Presque Isle; Haney, of Connor; Steven Holmes, of Wade; Todd Condon, of Ashland; and Kyle Wells, of Brewer. Both of the Condons and Holmes moved on to the final round.
A consolation heat provided those who didn’t make the initial cut for the grand finale a second chance to make the big event. Consolation participants included: Bowker, Blackwell, McDonald, Simpson and Haney. Silliboy and Wells had hoped to make the round but were unable to get their cars running for the match. Moving on to the grand finale were: Bowker, Blackwell, McDonald and Simpson.
The grand finale was one of the largest in recent Demolition Derby history, with 15 cars making the final event. Participants included: Boyce, Cote, McDougal, Pelletier, Baker, Abar, Anderson, Holmes, Taylor Condon, Todd Condon, Bowker, Blackwell, McDonald and Simpson. After several minutes of bashing into each other, a winner was declared. Steven Holmes walked away with the trophy and cash prize of $1,000, followed in second place by Baker, who took home $700, with Anderson finishing in third, receiving a prize of $500. All other participants in the grand finale were guaranteed at least a $50 check for their efforts.
