Brandon Twp.- The station wagon is a sight to behold.
The exterior is rusty and spray painted a variety of colors, including red, green, white, pink, blue and gold with slogans like ‘Dirty South,? ‘Hugs 4 Life,? ‘Ridin 4 Boys,? and ‘I love Mom, Dad, Katie, TJ and Noah.? The glass windows are gone and a look inside displays a gutted interior, with not much remaining except the front seat, steering wheel, and gauges.
The ?87 Ford has 140,000 miles on it and looks like it is ready for the junkyard.
But Kristen Burton, 17, has other plans for it? the Figure 8 races at the Oakland County 4-H Fair.
‘It’s the only Ford I’ll ever drive,? says Burton, who will be a senior at Brandon High School this fall. ‘I’m not a Ford person. I like Pontiac or Chevy.?
Burton, who works at the Outback Steakhouse in Clarkston, bought the station wagon for $100 after seeing it for sale in a lot along M-15. She had been looking for a car to drive in the Figure 8 races, which she has watched from the sidelines for the last several years at the 4-H Fair.
‘It’s thrilling and seems exciting,? says Burton of the races, in which eight or nine cars race at about 30 mph for 27 laps around a track in the shape of a figure eight. The first, second and third place cars from each heat advance to a championship race in which the first place prize is $5,000. Drivers not placing in the heats can participate in a consolation race if their car is still running, in which the winner gets $300.
To participate, Figure 8 racers need a valid driver’s license and a car that meets requirements. Burton’s father, Fred Burton, has been preparing her car for the race, removing the glass and interior to prevent flying debris. He also plans to take out the front windshield and place a metal bar across it. Another bar goes across the driver side door for protection.
Burton, who will wear a jumpsuit and helmet for protection during the race, says she was told smaller cars are better for the Figure 8 races. She chose the station wagon because ‘it’s bigger and safer,? but says she is not worried about the race being dangerous.
Burton, who has had her license for one year and says when she’s not working she is shopping or driving, says she practices for the race by driving in her backyard, tearing up some grass in the process, running into a wood splitter and having a near miss with the garden.
‘I just like driving,? says Burton, who wants to be a doctor one day and own a BMW. ‘I was going to do the (Demolition) Derby, but didn’t want to destroy the car right away. I plan to keep it running and use it next year.?