Racer travels from Boston to reunite with family
Staff writer
For the drivers in the figure 8 race, the night was something of a family reunion for several of the participants.
Amelia Brandt’s father and uncle got her a car for her birthday, and as a thank-you, she rammed it into theirs.
Brandt, who turned 30 Tuesday, flew in from Boston last week to celebrate with her family and compete in the figure 8.
She said her father, Mike Brandt, and uncle Lloyd Anderson, both veterans of the event, from Hillsboro, built every car in the figure 8 except for Suderman’s.
Amelia, who lives in Quincy, Massachusetts, a southern suburb of Boston, was racing in her first figure 8. College friend, Christina Bourne, who attends the University of Kansas Medical School in Wichita and is originally from Arizona, was attending her first demolition derby. Yet she was part of the festivities, too, racing in the figure 8 competition.
“It was really surreal,” she said.
“I can’t believe we were doing that,” Amelia added.
Amelia had a fast car with a poor turning radius, while Bourne had a slow car that handled better. Both had “Lloyd rules” written on their steering wheels, courtesy of their cars’ co-builder.
The Brandts and Anderson couldn’t resist ramming each other a bit on the track. Amelia said her dad claimed she “made him lose.”
“I just saw him, and I had to get him,” Amelia Brandt said. He would get her back, though, eventually overtaking her.
Mike finished second. Anderson finished third, and Amelia and Christina finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
“I let them win,” Amelia said.
Last modified July 31, 2014