Two largely successful events that attracted hundreds to the Route 66 Summerfest last year were the Downhill Derby and the Fire Truck Pull, and those events will make an encore performance in 2009.

“They were so successful last year, we’re bringing them back this year,” said Route 66 Summerfest Co-chairman Nick Barrack. “Tell those participants to get going on (building) those cars,” Barrack said recently.

This year’s event kicks off Thursday, June 4, with the Miss Route 66 Summerfest Pageant followed by two days of activities Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6. The pageant will be held 6 p.m. at the Middle School Auditorium.

The Fire Truck Pull was hugely popular, an event won by a team from the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department. Then-Sheriff Don Blankenship and his crew pulled the 50,000-pound truck 20 feet in just 6.58 seconds to win the top prize, which sponsored by the Rolla Police Department to benefit Special Olympics.

Sheriff’s Department Detective Andy Davis said the agency already is making plans to defend its Fire Truck-Pulling title.

“We’ll be ready, and we challenge all newcomers,” Davis said.

The inaugural Downhill Derby similarly attracted several-hundred people who lined Eighth Street for the event won by 9-year-old Gerrick Lonning in his car No. 50. Gerrick defeated his sister, Annie Lonning, 6, to win the children’s title.

From all indications, there figures to be more cars entered this year.

“From what I’m hearing, there are expected to be three times the cars this year as there were last,” said Dawn Smith, who co-chairs the event with Barrack.

After the pageant Thursday, the Route 66 Summerfest will kick off at 4 p.m. Friday as cars gather at the St. James Visitors Center for the traditional “Route 66 Cruise into Town” that begins at 6:30 p.m.

“We usually get between 50 and 100 cars to cruise in Old Route 66,” Smith said. “It’s a great event with all the classic cars and motorcycles.”

Also on Friday, the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Picnic begins at 5 p.m. in downtown area, an event open to the public.
Tickets are $8 each. The Army Jazz Band is scheduled to perform.
At 5:30 p.m., the Skateboard Games begin and the Food Court will open.

By 7 p.m., those cruising Old Route 66 arrive from St. James and Miss Route 66 Summerfest’s coronation takes place at the Downtown Bandshell — and Summerfest is in full swing.

At 7:30 p.m., a Charity Poker Run is scheduled, hosted by the local motorcyclists’ group, Rolla Road Riders.

The final event Friday begins at dusk with “Movie Under the Stars,” hosted by Fidelity Communications. The event will be a current running movie and popcorn and soda will be available for sale.

“I’m really looking forward to all the events,” Smith said. “And, I’ve already put in an order for good weather.”

Last year, high winds and an unconfirmed tornado Friday blew through the area early in the day but by 7 p.m. Friday the event was in full swing when Pageant Organizer Renae Hammons announced Susie Dobkins as the new Miss Route 66 Summerfest.

On Summerfest Saturday, the day will kick off at 8 a.m. with the doubles tennis and sand volleyball tourneys and the Tour de Phelps, a leisurely bicycle ride from Rolla to St. James.

By 9 a.m., the arts, crafts and food vendors will open their booths, as will the kids activity areas, the military displays, the giant sandbox, St. Louis Science Center exhibit and the Segway rides.

By 10 a.m., cars and motorcycles will be situated for the Route 66 Motorcycle Classic and Car Show on Pine Street. Also, the Skateboard Games will resume at 10 a.m.

By noon, thousands will gather around the start and finish lines for the Second Annual Downhill Derby. Moms, dads, aunts, uncles and grandparents will congregate to watch as the young and the young at heart race their cars down Eighth Street for a chance to be the fastest gravity car at Summerfest.

“That was so much fun last year. (Chamber of Commerce Executive Director) Stevie Kearse and I had the first race. It was just so much fun,” Smith said.

At 2 p.m., crowds will shift toward the Kids Tricycle and Bicycle Races; at 3 p.m. is the Skateboard Exhibition, Motorcycle Rodeo games and Poker Run.

By 4 p.m., teams will gather to test their collective strength in the Fire Truck Pull. Last year there were five teams and even more are expected this year.

At 6 p.m., there is the ever-popular Burnout Contest and then at 8 p.m. Route 66 Summerfest will conclude with a Free Street Concert at the Bandshell by “Sh-Boom,” a St. Louis band.

“They’re a great ’50s and ’60s band, consistent with the theme of the Route 66 Summerfest,” said Smith. “They’ve got a great CD, and I think a lot of people will enjoy them.”

For more information about the Route 66 Summerfest, visit www.route66summerfest.net.