Jaycees hope their annual fair picks up velocity at speedway

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000 | 11:49 a.m.

Sitting ringside under the red and yellow big top, Max Torregrossa rests on a patio chair as workers test the colored lights for the upcoming shows.

"We're very picky in the details," said the Italian circus performer. "We want everything to be perfect."

The one-ring circus tent, home to Circo Italiano, a troupe of traveling acrobats, clowns and jugglers, will open its flaps tonight as the Las Vegas Jaycees 54th Annual State Fair commences at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"This is the traditional, down-to-the-roots circus," said Torregrossa, who does a human balancing act with his wife. Italian trapeze artist Fabiana is the main attraction. Fabiana balances on her head while swinging back and forth sans net above an estimated crowd of 700.

"There will be something for everybody," Torregrossa said. Adding a circus is what fair officials had in mind two years ago when they moved its venue from Cashman Field to the more spacious speedway.

"We were outgrowing Cashman completely," fair manager Theresa Mandryk said Wednesday as she sped through the speedway parking lot on a golf cart. "We didn't have a lot of room to do these (attractions) at Cashman."

In its second year at the speedway, officials are expecting a larger crowd than last year's turnout of 35,000, which was nearly half of the attendance of previous years. Although high numbers aren't expected this year as fairgoers are still adjusting to the move to the speedway, officials say they aren't worried.

"Families want to go to a fair," said spokesman Ken Rubino, who is expecting an attendance of more than 50,000. "They'll pretty much go wherever it is."

"It will pick up," Mandryk said. "It will just take a year or two."

The fair began as a fund-raiser in 1954 at Cashman Field, then moved to the convention center for a few years before returning to Cashman. Despite the popular rides and attractions on the Strip, the fair has still managed to draw in audiences.

In addition to the circus, the fair has expanded its petting zoo -- featuring exotic animals -- and switched to carnival company Davis Amusements, which has brought in more "kid-prone" rides, Mandryk said.

The education booths (in air-conditioned tents), the midway, the community stage, pig races, pickle-eating contests and strolling musicians will still be featured. Local bands will perform, including Louie Louie at 8 p.m. Sunday.

"We've got a little bit of everything," Mandryk said. "You're going to see a lot more stuff for the kids that we haven't had in the past."

Missing this year is the Jaycees Fair Queen, which has been a long-standing tradition. A small turnout of contestants forced officials to cancel it this year. Hotels are holding similar events, making for stiff competition, Mandryk said. "People don't want to do fair queen."