Enduro race is 'redneck dream'

About 600 spectators enjoyed the Enduro Auto Races at the Waseca County Fair grandstand on the night of Saturday, July 15. The event was organized by Southern Minnesota Promotions (SMP), which promotes demolition derbies and enduro auto races in the region. Enduro races take place on a circular track; racers continue driving as long as their cars hold up, until a winner is decided. The name “enduro” is short for endurance, referring to the sheer length of the race and the fact that cars must stay in working order to finish. The races at the fair had two divisions: full size and compact cars. While full size cars circled the track 250 times, the compact race was only 150 laps.

Tanner Chadderdon of Faribault, driving car number 18T, said he has participated in the sport of enduro racing for 12 years. When he was 15 years old, Chadderdon started helping his father Mike with his racecar and eventually became a racer in his own right. Both Chadderdons competed in the compact car division Saturday. While Tanner finished sixth, Mike scored tenth place. 

Dan “Rudy” VonRuden, who hails from Morristown, also competed in the compact car division and estimated that he had been racing for 25 years. While preparing his car for the race, VonRuden was assisted by Jarrett Owski. VonRuden grew up next to Cannon River Speedway in Morristown; when he was younger, he “wanted to race but could never afford it.” As an adult, VonRuden has made a name for himself as an enduro racer and placed second in last year’s race. Despite his success, he said that he is in the sport more for the enjoyment than the glory of placing highly. “I’m just here to have fun like any other redneck American,” quipped VonRuden. He added that enduro racing reminds him of road rage on Interstate 35W, but “if someone gets you mad, you can knock them out of the way.”

“It’s a rush when you’re trying to go fast with 25 other knuckleheads trying to beat you,” said VonRuden. 

Brian Nelson, one of SMP’s organizers, said that their enduro races have been happening at the Waseca County Fair for between 15 and 20 years. As opposed to other forms of racing, Nelson said that enduro has a relatively low cost of entry per car, making it possible for some racers to enter “out of curiosity.” To plan each race, Nelson said that a lot of communication must take place between SMP and parties like racers and fair staff to arrive at a set of rules and safety regulations that work for all concerned. 

Local fire trucks were on standby throughout the races. In addition, special vehicles and personnel doused the track with water at regular intervals to keep down dust. Between waterings, dust clouds and chunks of mud were common, often flying out over the audience.

The winner of the enduro race’s full-size division was Brady Krohnberg, with Travis Woodfill placing second and Stacy Krohnberg third. Jerry Coopman won the compact enduro race, VonRuden took second place for a second consecutive year, and Nate Coopman placed third. Full results for both races are available on the Southern Minnesota Promotions Facebook page.