Downhill fun for kids in the 'Kiwanis 300'
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They didn’t all get trophies, but all the racers had fun in the 5th annual Tillsonburg Kiwanis 300 Downhill Race Sunday afternoon on Old Vienna Road.
“Everybody had fun,” nodded Kiwanis director Mike Dean, organizer of the Kiwanis 300.
Ashlynne VanderGulik, 7, won each of her three heats in the 6-7 age group, and her combined time of 65.89 was good enough at the end of the afternoon to take an overall championship.
A combination of good driving skills and a good kart, built at Advanced Automotive, helped her win her Kiwanis 300 Downhill Race division, but VanderGulik said it was probably more of the first.
“Good driving,” she said, smiling.
The secret to going fast, she said, recalling advice she got before the race, was “keep your feet off the brake, and lean forward – it makes you go faster.”
Both suggestions worked, VanderGulik felt like she was going ‘fast.’
“It’s all about fun,” she stressed.
Several sponsors contributed to Sunday’s Kiwanis Downhill Races, in both prizes and funds to provide karts, including Eastwood 88 Manufacturing, Crompton’s Home Hardware, Jim Conn and Family, Advanced Automotive Repair and Towing, Kelly Coulter, Eco Pro Pest Services, J&S Collision, TA Thomson Electric, and Snap-on.
A total of 18 children raced Sunday afternoon, and trophies were awarded to first, second and third-place winners. Trophies were sponsored by Thrill Show Productions.
Grab bags were available to all the competitors.
Kiwanis 300 division winners were:
6-7 – 1st Ashlynne VanderGulik 65.89; 2nd Andrea Downey 75.45
8-10 – 1st Coven Lucas 57.69; 2nd Bradley Want 58.17; 3rd Brier Downey 59.12
11-13 – 1st Dharma Buyse; 2nd Andrew Veinot 56.20; 3rd Lucas Jones 59.80
Four of the karts were ‘sponsored’, which means they were available for any children not able to bring their own kart.
“We got a couple donations, and with the donations we built a couple more karts,” said Dean. “We don’t want to turn anyone away.”
They also built a new starting ramp for the races, using it for the first time Sunday.
FISHING DERBY
On Saturday, July 6th, the Tillsonburg Kiwanis are hosting a Children’s Fishing Derby with prizes and trophies available, carrying on a summer tradition started by the Tillsonburg Optimists.
“It’s free for kids,” said Dean. “There’s a nominal fee for adults, I think $2-3.”
Registration is expected to begin around 6 a.m., but actual fishing tournament won’t start until 8 a.m.
The Oxford OPP are once again contributing to the derby with their Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire initiative, supplementing the prize table, and providing volunteer support.
“It’s about getting parents out with their kids,” summed up Dean. “Just like the Downhill Race.”