Last year’s Mesa County Fair Demolition Derby champ will be back again this year to defend his title at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 26.
Randy Albrecht, a principal with Profession Tool Service Inc., was in the last car moving in 2007. He drove a 1966 Dodge, identified by “7R.” Seven for the lucky number seven, and R for Randy.
Albrecht said he drove 800 miles one way to pick up another ’66 Dodge for this year’s competition.
“My brother found it in a back alley in Kansas,” Albrecht said.
The old car is being used for scrap parts.
Albrecht has been involved in demolition derbies for 20 years, he said.
He grew up on a ranch with brothers and naturally they were destructive, he said.
“It just seemed like it was a good idea to smash ’em (the cars)” on the ranch, Albrecht said.
His derby strategy is “hit and run, hit and run,” he said. “Don’t stop, keep moving.”
His attire will be blue jeans and nothing flammable.
Albrecht’s parents from Kansas are taking the train to Grand Junction to see their son compete in the demolition derby.
Albrecht said his mom doesn’t get scared for him anymore.
“She got tired of getting scared many years ago,” he said.
The worst he was hurt was at an event years ago when an opponent’s car went through his passenger side door and stopped 6 inches from his right arm. Battery acid spilled all over the place.
“You’re just stiff and sore for three to four days after,” he said.
Just like the Mesa County Fair slogan says, “The Best 6 Days of Summer” are upon us.
The fair is Tuesday through Sunday, July 22–27.
Some people spend all year preparing for the fair (organizers, agriculture clubs) while the rest of us just show up and wait for the entertainment and maybe a fried candy bar.
Fairground gates open at 11 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. most days. The fairgrounds are at 2785 U.S. Highway 50 on Orchard Mesa.
Carnival rides open at 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 11 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
With so much going on, we couldn’t fit the fair’s entire schedule in these pages. For a complete daily schedule go to www.mesacountyfair.com.
Below are the evening grandstand attractions.
Tuesday, July 22:
7 p.m. — Old Time Tractor Pull.
Wednesday, July 23:
6:30 p.m. — Colgate Country Showdown.
9:15 p.m. — Fireworks Extravaganza.
Thursday, July 24:
7 p.m. — Professional Bull Riding: The Enterprise Tour (ticket required).
Friday, July 25:
7 p.m. — One Republic in concert (ticket required).
Saturday, July 26:
The official celebration day of Mesa County’s 125th Anniversary.
7 p.m. — Demolition Derby (ticket required).
Sunday, July 27:
Last day to catch the side acts such as The Reptile Adventure, Fido 500 Mini Dog Races and Penelope the Clown.
4 p.m. — Fair closes.
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E-mail Samantha Stiles at Samantha.Stiles@gjsentinel.com.
Here’s a look at the animals found at the Mesa County Fair.
• Depending on whether the animals make weight, look for about 84 cows, more than 200 pigs, 100 goats, 80 rabbits and other animals.
• At the 2007 fair, a rabbit sold for $1,000. The Grand Champion cow brought in $6,500. The Junior Livestock Sale is at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 26, in the Show Ring.
• Participating in this year’s fair are 26 4-H clubs with more than 500 members total.
— Source: Mesa County 4-H, Colorado State University Extension.• Admission prices at the gate are $5 for adults and $1 for seniors and children under age 12. A coupon for $1 off admission can be downloaded from the fair Web site, www.mesacountyfair.com. People who ride the bus or a bike to the fair, get in free. Parking is free.
• All day carnival ride wristbands cost $25 at the gate or $17 at First National Bank of the Rockies locations.
• Advance tickets to the Professional Bull Riding event cost $12 for adults and $5 for children younger than 13 and can be purchased at area Corral West locations. Tickets at the gate cost $15.
• Tickets to the One Republic concert cost $26.50 in advance and can be purchased through www.midnightsunevents.com and at Major Mortgage. Tickets are $30 at the gate.
• Advance tickets to the Demolition Derby cost $12 at area City Market locations or $15 at the gate.
Evening ticketed events in the grandstand include the fair daily admission fee.
