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First 3rd Annual Chilipalooza At Thomas Hopkins
American Legion Hall
Chili wasn’t all there was to the 2005 Chilipalooza coordinated by the Laid Back Lizzards team
and sponsored by the Wichita Darting Association, February 26, 2005 at the Thomas Hopkins American Legion Post in Wichita, Kansas.
Although many a mean cup of chili could be had for the $3 taste tester kit fee, the actual contest was
between a dozen chefs of varying degrees of culinary ability.
There was chili hot enough to put a mean scald on a wooden spoon. Then, there was very palitable middle of the road stuff that had no afterburn whatsoever.
The judging panel, composed mostly of Wichita Darting Association members, otherwise known as the
‘daring seven,’ included former WDA president Rick Lowry, Sherry Blanchat, Debbi Goodrich, Sonja McFarthing (last year’s champ), Gregg Turner, Ted Cruz and Pete Wyscaver,
the former WDA sargeant-at-arms.
The decision was made based on tossing out the worst three sample cups from one division, then scrubbing
the worst three sample cups from the other division. Then the top six were taste tested again by all seven judges.
Entry C-4 won,
followed by C-1, then C-5. Sylvan Songer of Wichita, a florist by trade, nailed the top prize money for the C-4 entry. The Rat Bastards’ entry was next, followed by the Lizzards’ own Chamberlain family entry. Ironically, Songer’s chili did not receive a single vote in the people’s choice voting. Go figure. Peoples choice award went to the Chamberlain Family, followed by the Rat Bastards’ entry.
Chamberlains’ scale model depiction of the annual Lizzard Palooza won the top prize for presentation,
followed by the ‘Rats.’
Darting was the reason we all came to the tournament, but good chili nearly always inspires the efforts
to beat the round board game. To that end, the Chicago-style blind draw began at 5 p.m. Ron Cheese Linenberger, Park City, the veteran, couldn’t have drawn much better when he pulled Dwayne Clifford of Wichita. Clifford threw a Ton-20 out, by the way. Linenburger-Clifford went on to take the championship matches in two straight over Gary Boisen and David Andree, of Wichita.
Third place was a different matter as the match was settled in the final leg with the ‘Head Lizzard’
himself, Jim Dunham, Wichita and Shelly Hein, Wichita, winning over Sherry Blanchat, Wichita and Kenny Chamberlain, Rose Hill, another Lizzard.
The ‘late’ blind draw championship was won in three legs by Gregg Turner and Kenny Chamberlain of
Wichita. Second went to Chris Roberts and Jim Kamphaus of Wichita.
Dwayne Clifford, Wichita and Harley Adams, Derby, beat Sylvan Songer, Wichita and Shaylea Wilkinson, Rose Hill, a junior darter, in the consolation finals.
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