Keep your eye on the ball
Photos by CHANSE WATSON The Gyro ball heads toward the finish line at the 6th Street bridge in Wallace as the crowd welcomes its arrival with cheers.
Onlookers watch the ball go under the River Street bridge in Mullan.
Wallace Gyro club members lead the large group of followers out of Mullan as the ball floats down the river.
A portion of the follower get ready to move as the ball continues down the river in Mullan.
Attendees of Gyro Days enjoy the street fair set up on 6th and Cedar Street in Wallace.
The carnival rides present at the event provided fun for the whole family.
Some younger Gyro Days attendees have a go on the octopus type ride. Looks fun!
It’s not everyday you get to see a large crowd of people following a large beach ball down a river.
That’s exactly what many had the opportunity to witness though this weekend when the city of Wallace held the 76th annual Lead Creek Derby and Gyro Days celebration.
Dropped in the chilly waters of the Coeur d’Alene River on Saturday at noon in Mullan, this year’s Gyro ball was actively pursued by a parade of bicyclists and motorists for nearly eight miles down the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes for the derby.
Riding a flatbed trailer pulled by an old army Humvee with another ball attached to the roof, members of the Wallace Gyro Club led the charge of eager followers while making sure the ball continued down the river.
While the Gyro Club and company tracked the ball down the river for the Lead Creek Derby, the party was already on in Wallace.
Kids and adults alike celebrated Gyro Days by enjoying the many carnival rides set up along Sixth and Cedar streets.
From the Ferris wheel to the zipper ride, there was fun to be had for all ages.
Around 3 p.m., a crowd began to form at the 6th Street bridge in anticipation for the ball’s arrival from Mullan.
This anticipation continued to build at the finish line as those who were at the front of the pack began to trickle into town from the east.
Little by little, the massive group that had followed the ball from Mullan converged with the crowd in Wallace.
After three hours, 22 minutes, and 52 seconds, the gyro ball subtly and swiftly drifted under the Sixth Street bridge to a chorus of cheers.
This year’s time was the fastest since 2012 — when it finished just three minutes over the three hour mark.
In the past, the Gyro crew has had to loosen the ball from a number of different obstacles in the river that would, in turn, increase the time it would take to reach its final destination.
In 2015, the ball took a record slow five hours, 36 minutes, and 54 seconds.
This year was a pleasant exception.
Dustin Howell, Wallace Gyro president, said that favorable weather and creek conditions contributed to a speedy finish.
“The creek was up and there was no breeze, which can affect its speed.”
According to those who tracked the ball’s progress down the river, the only major obstacle the ball encountered was an eddy near the Compressor District.
The Gyros got to work and rectified the situation, sending the ball down the river on its natural path to Wallace.
All-in-all, both the Lead Creek Derby and the Depot Days celebration are being considered huge successes.
“Wet weather dampened turnout early on, but Saturday was beautiful and the festival enjoyed a great attendance,” Wallace Chamber of Commerce Coordinator, Dave Copelan said.
“Turnout was also helped by the Gyro District Convention, which convened in Wallace at the same time of the festival. Railroad Depot Museum Shauna Hillman said the Depot had a large number of visitors and the Lead Creek Derby ‘had an excellent crowd.”
Although money and attendance totals are still being added up, Howell was equally pleased with the weekend.
“It was obvious that there was a terrific amount of community support,” he said.
In the past, Gyro Days has seen its share of hooligans and intoxicated mischief.
Just last year, law enforcement was forced to break up a fight (sparked over a stolen teddy bear) on Cedar Street between carnival workers and bar patrons.
Thankfully though, nothing like that happened this year.
“We had no major incidents to report and no arrests related to Gyro days!” Shoshone County Sheriff, Mike Gunderson said happily.
“It’s always a busy time for us with these events, but we also support the long lasting traditions like Gyro Days and the impact it has for the city of Wallace and Shoshone County.”
With the final time finishing time set in stone, the Gyros have released the names of the derby’s winners.
Winners are chosen by the final time corresponding with who ever holds the ticket with the closest time.
The tickets purchased through the Gyros each have a precise finishing time associated with them, chosen randomly by a computer program.
The sale of the tickets funds Gyro scholarships and the various other youth activities every year, as well as provide financial support for the carnival.
This year’s winners are as follows:
50 old-time silver
dollars prize
- Zeke Dexter, Cataldo
$100 prize
- Darren Aravy, Big Creek
- Phil Baker, Coeur d’Alene
- Bruce Van Broeke, Mullan
- Jim Sabala, Coeur d’Alene
- Steve James, Coeur d’Alene
$50 prize
- E. Whyleman, Coeur d’Alene
- Bruce Flohr, Wallace
- Terry Carlson, Wallace
- Sandra Daves, Aguanga, California
- Jack Johnson, Silverton
$25 prize
- Shauna Hillman, Wallace
- Janice Solum, Wallace
- Tammy Scheel, Mullan