Super Kids at the Quincy Derby: ‘This is one of the days I look forward to every year’

QUINCY — Tony Cornett pauses quite often when talking about the impact of the Super Kids portion of the Quincy Derby on his son, Michael.

The emotion, at times, gets the best of him.

“This is such a great event, and Michael loves it,” Tony explained. “You can see it in his eyes how excited he is (to take part).”

It was even more special this year because it likely was Michael’s last derby, according to his dad. Michael has been a part of the event since 2016. About to turn 18 years old, Michael is on the cusp of outgrowing the derby cars, which will end a memorable career for him. He is among the event’s all-time victory leaders and won a 2017 championship.

The Super Kids division of the derby, sponsored by the Quincy Optimist Club, is for youngsters with physical or emotional handicaps. There are Super Kids champions, but there are no losers. One and all are accepted, and one and all are cheered. For some, it may be their lone moment in the sun.

“I’m always at the top of the track, and Michael’s mom, Dana, is at the bottom,” Tony said.

That’s so Michael can hear cheers at both the beginning and the end of a race, regardless of the outcome.

Tony said Michael often communicates through expression.

“We all need to listen to the kids more,” Tony advised.

On the 18th Street hill between Bob Mays Park and Quintron Way, everyone listened Friday to the kids — and applauded, cheered and pumped their fists in the air for them.

Roy Webb, retiring superintendent of schools for Quincy, was on hand — as usual — to serve as a starter for part of the day.

“This is one of the days I look forward to every year,” Webb said. “I love what this event does for the Super Kids. I’ve been doing this for four years, and it has been (more enjoyable) than I could have ever imagined.”

The event was broken into three divisions involving 68 Super Kids. Three champions were crowned from the three double-elimination brackets.

Not all Super Kids can complete the competition. If heat or another weather-related problem becomes too taxing, or if a physical ailment becomes too much to overcome, they often  withdraw. However, the officials and the fans make them feel like a winner upon exiting.

“It’s so rewarding to see the looks on the faces of the kids you are driving for,” said Jadyn Vogel, 13, who will compete Saturday in the Super Stock, Stock and Master Elite portions of the derby.

Vogel and more than a dozen other competitors from the regular portion of the derby serve as “buddy drivers” for the Super Kids. The Super Kids cars are specially designed to hold both a driver and passenger. Many of the Super Kids need to be strapped in with special harnesses.

“I’m just happy to help out,” Jadyn said.

The Super Kids even have their own derby hall of fame, which inducted twin sisters Ali and Maddie Hamilton of Keokuk, Iowa on Friday. The Hamilton sisters were two of the most popular Super Kids derby participants in its early years, and both rank among the event’s all-time winners. Ali Hamilton also was a 2016 Super Kids champion.

“This has been such a blessing for the girls when we found it back in 2016,” said Emily Hamilton, Ali and Maddi’s mother.

Emily Hamilton said the Super Kids proved to be a boost for her twins, especially in their confidence. The Hamilton twins are now 17 and last raced in the Super Kids in 2019.

Friday’s Super Kids champions were Zach Hastings-Hull of Quincy, Luke Land of Springfield and Tobias Myers of Quincy.

Hastings-Hull finished 5-0, defeating Zaakir Brooks (6-2) of Quincy in the finals of the first bracket. Drake Morganti (3-2) of Louisiana, Mo., and Zeke Eichor (3-2) of Hannibal, Mo., rounded out the top four.

Land (6-0) held off Alaina Obert (6-2) of Liberty in the second bracket championship round. Elise Tode (4-2) of Quincy ended third, and Keegan Griffin (4-2) of Hannibal, Mo., was fourth.

Myers rolled to a 5-0 record in the third bracket. Nathan Martin (4-2) of Quincy was runner-up, followed by Marissa Carr (5-2) of Lake St. Louis, Mo., and Landon Ludwig (4-2) of Quincy.

Obert, who won a 2019 championship, is now the all-time Super Kids victory leader. She is 24-12 in derby action.

Martin (20-11) became the second Super Kids racer to reach 20 career wins. Cornett is now 16-11 and in third place on the career list.

Saturday notes

• Action will get underway around 8 a.m. for the Super Stock and Stock racers. The Masters Elite competitors will start later in the morning.

• An ironic, yet quite interesting, fact: Going into this weekend’s 2022 derby competition, the total number of competitors from all event classes over the years now totals (drum roll, please) … 2,022. Super Stock (832) has had the most entries since the derby’s inception in 2005.

• Boys and girls have each won 19 combined titles in the Super Stock and Stock divisions.

• Vogel has won the last six Stock championships, and Kaelyn Hess (2012-13) and Logan Steinkoenig (2010-11) each have won two consecutive titles. However, no one has ever won back-to-back championships in the Super Stock class.

• Quincy drivers have won a combined 23 championships in the Super Stock, Stock and Masters Elite divisions. The only other town with more than one is Danville, Iowa, with three. Twelve different towns have produced champion drivers.

• Six active drivers enter Saturday with 20 or more career victories: Vogel (58-14, including 50-6 in Stock), Tyler Wisely (35-12, Kalli Mullen (29-9), Addison Buckley (28-11), Lizzy Blickhan (24-18) and Tanner Wisely (21-8).