Published: June 20, 2008 02:16 am         

Auto cross is family affair at McLeod County Fair

Originally published in the June 13, 2008, print edition.

For animal lovers, it’s the livestock buildings. For thrill seekers, it’s the carnival rides. And for music lovers, it’s the bands. Whether you’re a pedal pull person or a fair food fan, the McLeod County Fair in Hutchinson is sure to please both young and old.

For A.J. Forcier, owner of Crow River Glass and Signs in Hutchinson, the auto cross is the highlight of the fair.

“My whole family races,” said Forcier, who is one of three people in charge of the auto cross. “It’s a really fun event.”

The event will be especially exciting this year because the Speed Channel cable network will be recording the race, Forcier said. “This is going to be huge to get professional guys taping and editing. They do in-car cameras and everything.” It is scheduled to broadcast before June 30, 2009, but Forcier hasn’t yet been told the exact date.

One great thing about the auto cross, according to Forcier, is that it is open to a wide variety of ages and types of vehicles.

“That’s our biggest draw right now, that you don’t need a certain car,” he said.

The auto cross has male and female participants, teenagers and retirees. And since the event’s start three years ago, there has never been a single injury.

“We had a close call last year,” Forcier said, “but it’s very safe. You have to put a roll cage in your car, and you’re wearing your seat belt, of course.”

The track is a mix between an oval track and a motocross track, he said, with jumps that can send the car four feet high. “You get some pretty good air.”

Forcier said he used to do oval track racing, but now enjoys the auto cross, which is much less of a time commitment.

“This is more of a family event,” Forcier said. His children, ages 2 and 4, like to pretend to fix the cars. “They’re definitely into it.”

This year, the auto cross will have four divisions: full-size trucks, compact trucks, full-size cars and compact cars. First-, second- and third-place winners receive prize money and a trophy made out of a racing tire.

For “half-time entertainment,” Forcier said they’ll be having Rhino car racing. “It’s like a go-cart on steroids.”

In addition to auto cross, the grandstand is also the setting for the fair’s other big events, including the motocross, demolition derby and championship rodeo.

Battle of the Bands is another event that premiered in 2007. About 10 local bands competed on stage. “It was a big hit last year,” said Nancy Witte, fair manager and secretary.

The longhorn cattle that were shown last year will be returning for the second time, she said.

Witte said she hopes to be able to have a Parade of Champions for the first time this year. “All the 4-H and open-class champions will get to parade around the fairgrounds,” she said. “Last year it rained and we never got to do it.”

In 2007, attendance for the fair was down because of the weather. “It rained on our biggest days,” Witte said. “We ordered sunshine for this year.”

This year’s McLeod County Fair runs Aug. 13-17 in Hutchinson.

     

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