Long drive for a quick trip

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Alyssa Larson gets ready for one of her Crackerbox Derby runs in the car built 30 years ago by her grandfather, Richard Larson. Alyssa finished third in the open class. (Herald Photo by Michael Farrell)

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The trip from Roscoe, Ill., was worth it for 11-year-old Michaela Nelson.

Michaela topped 21 other drivers to win – by the narrowest of margins – the open class of Saturday's Grundy County Corn Festival Crackerbox Derby.

Despite living near Rockford, this was the fifth year she has competed in the derby.

"It's fun," she said.

With a time of 28.48 seconds for two runs, she nipped Bobby Lieske, who finished second with a time of 28.49 seconds.

Former champion Alyssa Larson, 10, of Saratoga School came in third, at 28.88, driving a 30-year-old car. The little red car was built by her grandfather, Rich Larson of Morris, and has been driven by many family members over the years, including Todd, Chad, Greg and Justin Larson.

John Davis, 9, of Naperville, repeated his fourth-place finish from last year with a time of 29.04, followed by Katie Hemmersbach, 8, of Immaculate Conception School, who was fifth with a time of 29.08, and and Kailey Pierce, 9, of Saratoga School, who was sixth at 29.13.

Colton and Anna Club dominated the plastic-wheel class.

Anna, 13, of Milton Pope, drove two cars, finishing first and third, while Colton Clubb, 10, Milton Pope, finished fourth.

Tim Clubb of rural Marseilles said he has built the cars for his children.

"A couple of them are four or five years old and one is about 25 years old. I use metal, plastic or wood. The wheels are the key (to going fast), they have to turn freely," he said.

With 16 cars in the plastic class, Anna Clubb took first with a combined time for the two runs of 25.15. Joey Mosier, 11, of Dwight, was second at 25.56.

Anna, driving a different car, finished third at 26.08 seconds, followed by brother Colton, at 26.10 seconds.

Patrick McCabe, 8, of Saratoga School, was fifth at 26.12, with Austin Mosier, 10, Dwight, sixth at 26.8.

In the Derby Class, Dustin Kernica, 7, Seneca, improved on last year's third-place finish to win the first-place trophy, with a combined time of 25.67.

Samantha Tondini, 11, moved up from fourth last year to take second at 25.75, followed by Jacob Hairald of Morris in third, at 25.9.

Vanessa Sanches, 8, also improved from last year, moving from sixth to fourth, with a time of 26 seconds even.

Jacob Weinreich of Seneca came in fifth, at 26.22, and Isabella Tondini sixth, at 26.47.

With nine cars competing in the precision class, Tommy Dale of Sandwich was first with a combined time of 25.84, followed by Rylee Harr, 11, of Saratoga School, second, with a time of 26.77.

Austin Mosier of Dwight was third, with a time of 27.3, followed by Jack Guldenbecker, in fourth, at 27.31 seconds. Joey Mosier of Dwight, at 27.79, was fifth, and Colton Clubb sixth, at 27.95.

Morris Scout Trooper 469 conducted the derby again this year, led by Stan Motter.

 

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