By Alex Paul
Chronicle staff

     Mike Rehmke, Okanogan, has used the same 1964 Mercury Monterey in four Tonasket demolition derbies.
     But there wasn’t much left of the 44-year-old rig Aug. 31 after placing in the money in two heats.
     Overall winner was Kevin Fletcher, No. 300.
     Remke and co-driver Chuck Heinlen, Okanogan, have been entering the Labor Day weekend derby since 1986.
     The two said it’s getting more difficult to find the bigger, older cars that make good demolition derby entries.
     “They’re all being crushed and shipped to China because the price of metal is so high,” Rehmke said. “I’ve been lucky, though. All of my cars have been free except my first one.”
     Heinlen said drivers look forward to the event that is a fund-raiser to support the Tonasket Founders’ Day Rodeo and defray expenses for 2008 rodeo queen Kieann Teall. Both the derby and the rodeo are sponsored by the Tonasket Comancheros.
     Other civic groups, including the Eagles, sponsored food booths and a beer garden to raise funds for other community projects.
     “It’s like a reunion,” Heinlen said. “We see the same people and we just keep hitting each other. This is a good derby because most guys keep their tempers.”
     Their No. 86 car featured a trunk lid mural of Pandia, the Greek goddess of chaos and mayhem. It was painted by Kelsie Gadd, 16, a junior at Okanogan High School. She is the daughter of Steve Gadd, the team’s mechanic, whose day job is administrator of the Okanogan County juvenile department.
     Announcer Mike Stansbury, a self-employed truck driver, said he’s been involved with the event for more than 20 years.
     “I joined the Comancheros in the 1980s and have been at it ever since,” he said. “It’s a good time and there’s a lot of action. People come out to have a good time. It’s an American tradition. There are quite a few demo derbies in the Northwest but we think we put on one of the best.”
     Assisting Stansbury in the announcer’s booth was Bev Montanye, Tonasket, whose husband, Ken, was in charge on the ground and two sons, Keith and Jordan. Both had cars entered.
     The antics of Budley the Clown (Bud McSpadden) entertained children and those young at heart. The derby drew 21 cars.
     Other sponsors included Xtreme Power Sports, Les Schwab of Omak and Oroville, Montanye Logging, David Hannah Transportation and Columbia Distributors of Omak and Wenatchee.
     Trophy sponsors were The Junction, George Frank, Parker’s Orchard, Tim’s Country Saw Shop, Montanye Logging, Hedlund Chevrolet, Blue Sky Construction, Maverick Bar and Grill, Tonasket Saloon and Cafe, Webber’s Dirt Works, Superior Auto Parts and Allen’s Auto Parts.
     Results:
     Heat 1 – 1, David Pierce, 76PW. 2, Mike Rehmke, 86. 3, David Brown, 76. 4, John Harris, 47.
     Heat 2 – 1, Kevin Fletcher, 300. 2, Mike Olmstead, 77. 3, Jeb Heindselman, 74. 4, Greg Lawson, 7.
     Heat 3 – 1, John Harris, 47. 2, David Pierce, 76PW. 3 (tie), Rick Webber, 82, and Jim Caveness, 65.
     Heat 4 – 1, Mike Olmstead, 77. 2, Keith Montanye, 00. 3, Kevin Fletcher, 300. 4, Eric Brown, 01.
     Main heat – 1, Noah Olmstead, 77JR. 2, Kevin Fletcher, 300. 3, Mike Rehmke, 86. 4, Karl Isenberg, 69X.
     Best appearance – 1, Kevin Fletcher, No. 300.
     Overall winner trophy – 1, Kevin Fletcher, No. 300, $878.
     Powder puff – 1, Katie Laton and Brandy Weller, No. 44.
     Mechanics’ race – 1, Karl Isenberg, No. 69X.
     Farthest traveled – 1, Brandon Weller, No. 44, East Wenatchee.
     Most wrecked – 1, David Brown, No. 76.
     Overall – 1, Kevin Fletcher, $878. 2, Mike Olmstead, $549.
     Omak-Tonasket demolition series winner – 1, Mike Olmstead, $250 from Tonasket, $250 from Omak.
     Raffle sponsors - Tonasket Comancheros, Scholz Sporting Goods, Shannon’s, Whistler’s, Maverick Bar and Grill, Tonasket Saloon and Café and Tonasket Pizza Co.