Considering extreme weather conditions and last minute changes, the 2006 installment of the Sebago Lake Rotary Derby Fest fared pretty well last weekend, say Derby watchers.
With the paradox of bitter temperatures and lack of ice and snow, combined with the announcement of a statewide expansion, the fishing tournament and derby events still managed to attract a sizeable crowd for much of the weekend.
While its expanded venue and increase in permitted fish species had some locals grumbling, other areas of the state are already clamoring to be part of next year’s action. But organizer Tom Noonan’s response to that request is that “it’s just too early to tell.”
“Part of the reason we added other events was to attract more people,” he said. “It’s a lot more fun here at Sebago Lake.”
He also points out that the tourney was started as a fisheries management tool with the goal of thinning the togue population. This year, that didn’t happen. He will be talking with Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to ensure the derby meets their fish management goals.
Repeating a statewide derby would also tax the endurance of the 30-member Rotary Club. Although Noonan said all the members were great about pitching in for this year’s event, having a statewide tournament with six weigh stations did “dilute the work force locally.”
Final figures on money raised for charity from this year’s derby won’t be available for a few weeks, but Noonan knows they won’t be as high as last year’s. Many people who usually arrive by snowmobile couldn’t make the trip across the open water this year. And, even though shuttle buses were used more this year, crowd size was down, kept away by concerns about unsafe ice or the weekend’s bitter temperatures.
For those who did brave the elements, the festival offered an assortment of crowd-pleasing exhibitions. The air show, snowmobile speed runs, snowmobile stunts and the polar ice dip created an exciting diversion from spectators’ cold hands and feet.
Unfortunately, one advertised feature didn’t fare as well. Located in a huge tent set up on the ice just off Raymond Beach, the ice mall turned into a water world as its heater warmed up the icy floor more than the shoppers.
But preliminary figures for the polar dip are impressive. George Bartlett, the Rotarian liaison believes the event may garner as much as $52,000 for Maine Children’s Cancer Program.
This year’s derby weekend may also go down in the books as the safest ever. Raymond’s Fire & Rescue Chief Denis Morse said the weekend locally was accident-free.
“People were pretty conservative,” he said. “They were well-behaved. I was very pleased with the overall attitude.”
Area businesses were mixed on their views of the derby’s success. Don McClellan, owner of Sunset Variety on Route 302 in Raymond, said they saw an increase of business during the weekend but not nearly to the extent that last year’s derby brought them. In 2005, McClellan ran out of high-test gas during derby weekend.
“Last year was exceptional,” he said. “But this year was still a plus business-wise.”
According to Walt Manchester, who owns Good Life Market on the corner of routes 302 and 85, their weekend traffic remained the same.
“The derby hasn’t impacted our business good or bad,” he said.
Though Noonan is keeping quiet about details of the derby’s future, a bill is in the legislature that, if approved, would raise the $30,000 prize purse to $100,000. The increase would allow the Sebago Lake event to award more prizes, which would, Noonan says, draw more interest in the derby and increase proceeds for charity.
The view of Raymond Beach on Saturday morning at last weekend’s Derby Fest was a busy one as fishermen and crowds gathered.Send questions/comments to the editors.
