MONROE - Demolition derby fans are a unique group.
Green County Fair Secretary Joyce Binder wanted to be diplomatic about the enthusiasm of the derby's fans.
"They're fanatical about the demo derby," Binder laughed. "The tractor pull and rodeo draws people here, but the demo derby is what most people want to see."
Every year on the Monday before the Green County Fair, there's a line of people at the ticket window. Derby fans come early to make sure they can get tickets for what Binder says is the fair's most popular event.
Binder said the first four people were at the booth at 1 p.m. Sunday.
This year, Binder said there were more people at the ticket office earlier than in past years. It's never been uncommon to see people in line at 5 a.m., patiently waiting for the ticket office to open at 8 a.m. This year, however, more people were at the fairgrounds before 5 a.m.
"I think they're coming earlier and earlier," Binder said.
Jeremy Ballard, Monroe, already had been in line for about 20 minutes by 8:15 a.m. and, judging by the number of people in front of him, still had quite a while to wait for his chance to buy tickets. Ballard is a regular at the derby and said he thought he arrived early enough to get tickets.
Joe Watkins, Belleville, is an avid fan who used to participate in the demo derby. He waited for his tickets and laughed when asked if he thought the fair would run out of them before he got to the window.
"I think I got here early enough," he smiled.
Like Ballard, he had a long await ahead of him, too.
Binder said there will be a few tickets left Saturday, but they won't be choice seats. The second race of the day Sunday brings out the largest crowd, she said, because that's when the winners from the afternoon events take the field. Those tickets sell faster, Binder said.
The demolition derby is at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
The 2008 Green County Fair opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Green County Fair Secretary Joyce Binder wanted to be diplomatic about the enthusiasm of the derby's fans.
"They're fanatical about the demo derby," Binder laughed. "The tractor pull and rodeo draws people here, but the demo derby is what most people want to see."
Every year on the Monday before the Green County Fair, there's a line of people at the ticket window. Derby fans come early to make sure they can get tickets for what Binder says is the fair's most popular event.
Binder said the first four people were at the booth at 1 p.m. Sunday.
This year, Binder said there were more people at the ticket office earlier than in past years. It's never been uncommon to see people in line at 5 a.m., patiently waiting for the ticket office to open at 8 a.m. This year, however, more people were at the fairgrounds before 5 a.m.
"I think they're coming earlier and earlier," Binder said.
Jeremy Ballard, Monroe, already had been in line for about 20 minutes by 8:15 a.m. and, judging by the number of people in front of him, still had quite a while to wait for his chance to buy tickets. Ballard is a regular at the derby and said he thought he arrived early enough to get tickets.
Joe Watkins, Belleville, is an avid fan who used to participate in the demo derby. He waited for his tickets and laughed when asked if he thought the fair would run out of them before he got to the window.
"I think I got here early enough," he smiled.
Like Ballard, he had a long await ahead of him, too.
Binder said there will be a few tickets left Saturday, but they won't be choice seats. The second race of the day Sunday brings out the largest crowd, she said, because that's when the winners from the afternoon events take the field. Those tickets sell faster, Binder said.
The demolition derby is at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
The 2008 Green County Fair opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday.