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July 25, 2008

Redneck Games attract city slickers

By Tom Davidson

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — It came down to cold hard cash. More than $2,000 of it was up for grabs Thursday night in the dirt in front of the grandstand at the Jefferson Township Fair.

Seven events were offered up at the second annual Redneck Games that proved to be more an exhibition of brawn than brains. It also was a celebration of that special brand of rural “culture” that exists in the region.

With dueling truck nights and bike nights here, along with pairs of dirt tracks and drag strips within driving distance, even city slickers from the Shenango Valley were familiar with the rural rites celebrated during the games.

While some of the competitors were bona fide hayseeds, others were less countrified, and one man, Lonnie Bridges of Farrell, celebrated a diverse heritage as the son of an Amish mother and African-American father.

Bridges’ friends admitted they razz him about his unique upbringing. He was part of a six-member team that included guys from Greenville, Wisconsin, Sharon, Farrell and Masury.

“Men love competition,” Tony DiFrischia, the Greenville guy, said, quickly adding that the money also motivated him to enter. “They’re also giving away good money.”

He said he wouldn’t have competed if bragging rights were the only thing at stake.

“I wouldn’t do it for a trophy,” DiFrischia said.

First place for each of the seven events was between $100 and $200. Less entry fees of $20 per team and it amounted to enough to make entering worthwhile in these trying times. For the fans, it was also worth it, with admission at $4 a head — less than the cost of a gallon of gas in some places.

The events included an obstacle course that involved carrying a seed bag, throwing bales of hay and slaloming through seed markers; hillbilly horseshoes — throwing toilet seats at a post in the ground; tug-of-war; a human tractor pull; and a pizza-eating contest.

Mike Zec, who captained the team of DiFrischia, Bridges, brother James Zec, Ryan Dibble and Gary Jones, christened the group “OutKasts” because they didn’t fit in with the rest of the competitors.

“Because technically, we’re not rednecks,” Mike Zec said. “We’re city boys, man.”

They didn’t fare as well as they hoped, placing second in the obstacle course — earning $100 for it — and losing in the horseshoes and tug-of-war competitions.

The latter battles proved to be a crowd pleaser as the teams faced off on both sides of a strong rope and ground up the dirt on the fair track.

“It’s fun. Extremely fun,” DiFrischia said.

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