The 2009 Lineup
"Ready for Action!"

"Raisin Cain" The first all-woman team was formed in 1991, competing annually until the 14th derby. Although they never won the final show down, they did win a few heats, plus the support of many fans. The history of the little Massey is very colorful!  Although the team had many fans, the atmosphere inside the arena was a different story. Even though they had beautiful and detailed decorations, the competitors didn’t see it that way. It seemed as though they all saw the same thing when they looked at the women’s combine. It must have resembled a huge bull’s eye. It never failed that the little combine would never be able to leave the arena under its own ‘steam’. (If there were 5 combines in the heat, four of them would zero in on the combine!) After 10 years (and ten Best Decoration Awards) the busy crew retired their combine. It was briefly used for advertisement in local parades, and even made a very short-lived (recent) ‘come-back’ as a participant in the derby. Presently, is parked in a corner of a field and will probably remain there until it is covered by years of dust storms. Note: The combine was always sponsored by the Golden Grain Café. (Owners, Jean Gardner and Joan Gardner are sitting on the header, photo #1. Check out photo #2 to vaguely understand what happened to the combine five minutes after entering the arena!) Members of the women’s crew:  Driver, Dawn Watson Lobe, Karla Fowles, Robin Kulm, Val Watson, Sidney Wahl, Ruby Koch, Carol Kent, and Carol Kelly.

And on with the 2009 Derby.... 

Hard to believe, but every year the derby gets better and better, and the 2009 derby was no exception. It was one of the biggest and best derbies to date. The Lind Lions club proudly hosted 16 combines, many who traveled long distances to participate in the 22^nd event. We salute the 13 towns for their outstanding representation in the derby. Hats off to Reardan, Pasco, Kettle Falls, Ritzville, Kahlotus, Rosalia, St. John, Davenport, Diamond, Othello, Spokane, Lind and Los Angeles, California! With agonizing fuel prices, we commend their participation and we hope their home towns recognize and applaud their representation.

We had a great group of drivers, some new and some seasoned drivers who put on a terrific show for an appreciative crowd. We also salute C. Thomas Howell, who drove the All Jacked Up combine, a first ever experience for him. (Not even sure if he had ever seen a combine until his arrival in Lind, WA). Thank you, Chad, for helping to make their experience a memorable one in Lind, WA.!! We sincerely hope to see all the drivers back for more action in 2010. (You too, C. Thomas Howell!).

Unless otherwise noted, pictures on left are courtesy of Carol Kelly, Lind, WA and all action pictures on the right are courtesy of Stephen McFadden, Ritzville Journal.


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Sharon Englehart, Webmaster
Page Updated July 24, 2009