Cars, sludge fly at mudbogging races

The mud was flying as cars, trucks and even a bright yellow van raced around the Grandstand Arena for the mudbogging races at the Yuba-Sutter Fair on Saturday night.

This year’s track proved somewhat difficult for some of the drivers. The first truck on the course couldn’t make it through the first straightaway after its front end flew up and slammed to the dirt track when the driver went too fast. A bulldozer had to roll in and shove him out.

A few cars later, Allen Clayton, 25, of Olivehurst took to the track in his black Ford car. Clayton has been racing cars since he was 15 and hit the track for the third year at the fair in Yuba City. He placed second in last year’s competition and was gunning for first with a very quick spin around the track. However, he missed an arrow and went the wrong way on part of the track and was disqualified.

His daughter was not pleased.

“I told him, ‘Make sure you take the right turn,’” Tessa Perkins said.

But even with the disqualification, Clayton was still smiling afterward while watching the rest of the racers finish their runs.

“It’s just fun to come out here and tear up the cars and show off a little for the crowd,” Clayton said.

The main even for Saturday was a prelude to the carnage and mayhem of today’s Destruction Derby. The metal starts twisting and bashing at 7 p.m. Tickets for this event are separate from fair admission and cost $10.

The final day of the 2007 fair starts at 1 p.m. and ends at midnight. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for kids 6-11. Ages five and under get in free. Parking is $3.

Appeal-Democrat intern Kyle Buis can be reached at 741-2400 or kbuis@appealdemocrat.com