Schultz

from front

Driving a Grand Prix af xed with one of his signature mannequin heads, Jon won the modi ed compacts class at the Benton County Fair both Aug. 4 and Aug. 7. The trophies were two of many he has earned from derbies across Minnesota, Wisconsin and other states in the Midwest. Summer smashes have become a Schultz family tradition. Jon’s sons – Jordan, 20, and Jameson, 15 – have been competing in demo derbies since they were 12. Jordan also competed at the Benton County Fairgrounds last week, nishing third Aug. 7 and seventh Aug. 4. Jameson competes in the youth class for 12- to 17-year-olds. He recently competed in Elk River. The father and sons spend many late nights in their shop preparing for demolition derbies. The trophies, memories and friendships make it all worth it, Jon said. Jon loves the feeling that comes over him as he enters the pit. “The second that ag drops and you make that rst hit, it’s a big adrenaline rush,” he said. Jon did not set out to be a demo derby competitor. The motorsport found him. He had enjoyed watching the mud y from the stands, but it was not until someone offered him a Buick Century during the sale of another vehicle that he decided to run the old car in the derby at the Benton County Fair. It did not take long before Jon was hooked. “You do it once, you pretty much get addicted to it,” he said. Jon has competed at the Benton County Fair every year since his rst run. Now joined by his sons, he competes at several other grandstand events. The Schultzes are currently gearing up for the Mille Lacs, Kandiyohi and Carlton county fairs. Then, they will move on to competitions in Alexandria and Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Jon has also competed in Illinois and Kansas, garnering national recognition. The Schultzes average 10 or more derbies per year between local, state and national events. Derbies in Minnesota and Wisconsin usually run from April until October. Out-of-state derbies typically start in November. Jon once competed in the Winter Slam derby in St. Peter where temperatures plunged to 20 degrees below zero. Prior to going in the pit, he had to keep the car covered with a tarp, use torches to heat up the oil pans and continuously start the vehicle to make sure it would run. What started as one car and one event became multiple cars and countless events. The Schultzes have amassed a big collection of car parts. “You learn to build cars; you learn to x them to keep them running,” Jon said. Derbies involve preparation, especially for the modi ed classes, which require more welding. “Modi ed classes take a lot of time – a lot more time than basic builds – but they last longer,” Jon said. Weeks before the derby, the Schultz boys can be found in the shop working late into the night. The anticipation keeps them going. “We always make the track somehow,” Jon said. The Schultzes run Grand Prixes, Luminas and Cutlass Supreme derby cars. Jon is fussy about the demo cars he buys. They can be tough to come by in Minnesota due to rust issues, so he often buys them out of state. Fans can quickly identify Jon’s cars. Years ago, Jon was picking parts off a car at a junk yard when he found a mannequin head next to it. He negotiated the model head as part of the deal and has displayed them on derby cars ever since. The head model on the car Jordan drove last week is a bearded man sporting a mullet. “We switch it up between about 10 different heads,” Jon said. Because demolition derby is a risky sport, their cars are also equipped with tubing and roll cages. Jon credits much of their success to support from a group of derby friends they travel with. “The majority of our friends are demo derby people,” Jon said. The derby enthusiasts help and support each other, offering advice and loaning tools. Someone in the group often wins, which is fun, especially at big shows with stiff competition, Jon said.

PHOTOS BY ELLARRY PRENTICE Jon Schultz (left) bumps a car driven by his oldest son, Jordan, at the Aug. 7 demolition derby at the Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids. The father and son competed in the compact modifi ed class, with Jon winning and Jordan fi nishing third.

Mud fl ies and exhaust fumes spew as Jon Schultz, of Rice, competes in a demolition derby Aug. 7 at the Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids. The Sauk Rapids grandstand was where Jon competed in his fi rst derby, and since then, he has competed across Minnesota as well as Wisconsin, Illinois and Kansas. Saturday, Aug. 14, 9 a.m. – Overeaters Anonymous. Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. For more information, call Joyce at 320-7612275, Donna at 320-291-7251 or visit oa.org. Monday, Aug. 16, 6 p.m. – Rice City Council Meeting. Rice City Hall, 205 E. Main St., Rice. Tuesday, Aug. 17, 9 a.m. – Benton County Board of Commissioners Meeting. Benton County Administration Building, 531 Dewey St., Foley. Tuesday, Aug. 17, 11 a.m. to noon – Living Waters Lutheran Church Food Shelf Distribution. Living Waters Lutheran Church, 1911 Fourth Ave. N., Sauk Rapids. If in need of emergency food assistance, call 320-255-1135.

The Schultzes work to promote the motorsport and support or mentor fellow competitors. They sponsor Mad Dog awards, presented to the hardest hitter in every class at the Benton County Fair. The St. Cloud area is a great place to buy parts, and there are plenty of people willing to help newcomers get started, according to Jon. “We try to help out new drivers, encourage more people to join,” said Jon, who is proud to see his sons carrying on his passion.

Tuesday, Aug. 17, 4-6 p.m. – Rice Area Farmers Market. Sponsored by the Rice Area Women of Today. At the corner of Division Street North and East Main Street, Rice. Tuesday, Aug. 17, 6 p.m. – Overeaters Anonymous. Alano Club, 23805 County Road 2, Cold Spring. For more information, call Joyce at 320-761-2275, Donna at 320-291-7251 or visit oa.org. Tuesday, Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m. – Little Rock Lake Association Meeting. Watab Town Hall, 660 75th St. N.W., Sauk Rapids. Tuesday, Aug. 17, 7 p.m. – Free Grace Recovery Meeting. Hosted by Free Grace United. All are welcome; everyone struggles with something. The ROC, 141 Fourth Ave. N., Foley. Thursday, Aug. 19, 3-6 p.m. – Sauk Rapids Market. Coborn’s parking lot, 110 First St. S., Sauk Rapids. Thursday, Aug. 19, 5:30-9:30 p.m. – Rock the Riverside Music Nights. Featuring the Soupbones and Rhino. Southside Park, 103 River Ave. S., Sauk Rapids. Thursday, Aug. 19, 6-7:30 p.m. – Police Activities League. Last event of the season featuring a picnic. For children ages 5-15. Participate in no-cost activities with members of law enforcement who are not in uniform. Westside Park Lion’s Building, 101 Fourth Ave. N.W., Rice.

Friday, Aug. 20, 11 a.m. to noon – Living Waters Lutheran Church Food Shelf Distribution. Living Waters Lutheran Church, 1911 Fourth Ave. N., Sauk Rapids. If in need of emergency food assistance, call 320-255-1135.

Saturday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m. – Overeaters Anonymous. Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. For more information, call Joyce at 320-7612275, Donna at 320-291-7251 or visit oa.org. Saturday, Aug. 21, noon – Rice Parade. Kiddie parade begins at 11:45 a.m. Division Street, Rice. Saturday, Aug. 21, 2 p.m. – Tractor Pull. Sponsored by and located at the Old Creamery Café, 405 E. Main St., Rice. Saturday, Aug. 21, 5-8 p.m. – Party in the Park. Free food, giveaways and concert by DPB and Crew. Bridge Church, 205 Sixth Ave. S.W., Rice. Saturday, Aug. 21, dusk – Second annual Family Movie Night. Featuring, “The Croods: A New Age.” Hosted by the Rice Recreation Department. Rice Area Ball elds, 125th Street Northwest, Rice.

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