Race fans have descended on Fairbury as the city gears-up for the annual Prairie Dirt Classic this weekend.
Golf carts were spotted throughout town on Thursday along with garage sales and heavier-than-normal traffic. Local businesses appeared to be busier thanks to out of town visitors. Volunteer Doug Aaron is driving a shuttle all weekend, supplied by K&S Ford, transporting people to various places.
“I have already talked to a guy this morning from Oregon,” Aaron explained. “I talked to someone from New York and talked to one guy from Pennsylvania.”
Larry and Jill Koontz from Pekin make an annual trip to the PDC and enjoy every minute of it with their kids and grandson.
“We’ve never really had a bad experience over here,” Larry said.
The couple typically spends time browsing garage sales, enjoying the pool and trying the different places to eat.
“This is our favorite place to come every year,” Jill said.
Jessica Jackson made the two-hour trip from Colchester, Illinois to enjoy a weekend of racing at Fairbury. She feels this is the best race of the year in a great environment. Jackson attends a few races at various locations during the year but especially enjoys the big events such as this. She was shopping at garage sales Thursday.
“I like them it’s nice, just gives you something to do for entertainment.”
Denise from LeRoy was also spotted traveling between garage sales and agrees that the sales are great.
“We just got some stuff at the Spotted Owl cheap,” she said with a smile.
Scott Ferguson of Morris is part of a group that comes to the PDC each year to hang out and enjoy racing.
“The Prairie Dirt Classic is one of the best race weekends of the year around here,” Ferguson admits.
Ferguson was looking forward to Thursday evening’s live band and bean bag contest on the grounds.
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