HAYWARD — Engines and spectators roared as mud took flight at the Hayward Mud Bog.

The event featured drivers in 55 vehicles who raced for time and distance through a sloppy drag strip Saturday on the south side of Hayward during Hayward Days.

Jason Delaney competed in Class A, the closest-to-stock of five divisions, and said his strategy was to push his four-cylinder ’91 Toyota pickup at full throttle.

“You put your foot down, get it past the red line and hope you can make it through,” he said.

Alisha Meyer won Class D with a time of 5.082 seconds and said the course was unpredictable, but that it was part of the fun.

“It’s a lot of luck,” she said. “Luck and tires. Sometimes if there’s someone who did really well in front of you, you can follow their tracks. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it doesn’t.”

The bog was the second of five events that Austin Stump Jumpers organized this year. The organization keeps track of drivers’ points for the circuit and recognizes the winners.

Meyer is the group’s treasurer and has been affiliated with Austin Stump Jumpers for 12 years, she said.

Although drivers competed head-to-head — with a vehicle in each lane — winners were selected in a time trial format. The first criteria for placing was the time it took to complete the course in the best of two runs, and the second criteria was distance.

Kevin Harris won Class A with a time of 13.308 seconds, and Adam Kermes won Class B in 6.370 seconds.

Justin Helder took gold in Class C — a division that allows for tires to be cut for added traction — with a time of 4.094 seconds.

Meyer won Class D, and Rick Wagner won Class E in 5.075 seconds. Drivers in class E were allowed to use non-factory blowers, superchargers, turbos and Nitrous Oxide Systems.

Each vehicle was inspected before the race. Drivers were required to wear Department of Transportation approved helmets, and passengers were not allowed.

After the Austin Stump Jumpers’ mud bog races on Sunday at Ostrander, the organization will continue with an event Saturday at Geneva.

The top three finishers in each class are listed in the scoreboard on page 10.

 

Class A

1. Kevin Harris 13.308

2. Dana Peterson 16.196

3. Andrew Jacobs 23.288

 

Class B

1. Adam Kermes 6.370

2. Arlyn Krause 7.413

3. Martin Thordor 7.514

 

Class C

1. Justin Helder 4.094

2. Adam Meyer 4.159

3. Brody Page 4.906

 

Class D

1. Alisha Meyer 5.082

2. Adam Kermes 5.890

3. Scott Wangen 6.174

 

Class E

1. Rick Wagner 5.075

2. Adam Meyer 5.091

3. Brody Page 5.182