Demolition (Demo) Derby

[Shack]

Anyone else do these? Wrong time of year to talk about doing them, but the right time of year to start looking for a car.

I used to pit or, if I could get my hands on a car for free that was worth entering, drive in these in my late teens and early 20's. I came across some footage from 99' where I was able to take third in our heat. That year we had about 10 cars in the event at Sherburne County. four of us (including me) were in this heat. I am 135 :

I snuck into the feature because of one rule of thumb! NEVER pull your stick until an official is banging on your car to pull it. Even then you have 20-30 seconds to act stupid, while the voluntary stick pullers pull theirs.

There has been some talk of doing this once again next year and if we can find some cars, I would love to get back for one last time to let my kids have the experience of dad being in the Demo.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Shack, we built one in high school. I didn't drive it, but did a lot of the labor on the car. It was a riot. I'll see if I can find a few pics to scan in. Our beauty was a '79 Chrysler Newport with a 318. We ran it at Golden Spike Speedway and at the Benton County Fair.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Shack, here's our baby (this was about 12 years ago). We had a lot of fun and learned a lot about cars

[Shack]

Cool RW. I think mine that year was a 78/79 New Yorker. That is a nicely painted up one. We used to spend days and weeks painting them when we first started running the Demo, but by 99' (the last time I was in one or even at one) it was just let the neighborhood kids have at it with a box full of spray paint cans. Thanks for sharing.

Figured more would have been in Demo Derby's? Maybe that is why Sherb. & Anoka county would see crews coming from a 100+ miles away. Just unique to this area for popularity? Fin times though!

[Gordie]

I used to run demo back in the early 80's

I used to run old mopars perferably with the old wide block 318 virtually indestructible as the motor goes I ran 1966 thru 1970 corrnets and newports used to have a lot of fun doing these but I got into the world of offroading and was much more fun althou I would love to someday get behind the wheel of a demo car but I dont know if this old body could handle that kind of punisment anymore

[lakevet]

Did demo derby with friends in high school. First year we got cleaned out by a pair of Chrysler Imperials that were traveling around to the county fairs. When they got to our county it was their 5 th county fair they had run in. That was an awesome car. Those Imperials took an amazing amount of punishment with only scratches and very minor dents.

Seen combine demos. Would be fun to do one of those!

Our parents figured demo derby was one more thing to keep us boys out of trouble (along with lots of chores, fieldwork, and hunting and fishing). They'd rather see us in the emergency room from demo car accident than drug overdose! Those late friday summer nights working on and running the cars around our neighborhood out in the sticks are priceless. Thanks for the post, brought back a lot of good memories.

lakevet

[deadeye]

Hmmm....and I got a tired, but well running, 318 that just happens to be sitting in the garage right now Lol.

I have never done a demo Derby myself but a friend and I were thinking about trying in a smaller car class since I also got a 4g63 that's sitting bored too. Just not enough time in the day lately to get a car and get it up and running. Sounds like a lot of fun though.

[Biggestfish]

Shack, I am up by Fergus Falls and those same big crews as you say have run shows up here. I guess it has a lot to do with insurance. A big promoter can do many shows and has the crew and all the tools for inspection. As far as the big car class you used to run, that has gone big time for the most part. Most of those guys can have anywhere between 500 to 1500 in just a body and sometimes 2000 plus in a engine.... and after that countless hours in building and welding. I have been running in the compact classes up here for last few years and while the compacts was once just a few years ago more of a beginer class, has got very tuff to compete in. You will most likely be looking at around 150 to 300 for a FWD car that just runs and then hope you get one that is not very rusty... Also talking about getting a front bumper off a 70's GM that can run a guy 200 bucks plus. Lets not forget at least a day welding on the car and doubling tires just so you can get through a heat without getting destroyed. All in all in the last few years I have been able to bring home around a 1000 dollars in winnings, but I have spent way more than that in cars and welding material. It's fun no question, but a lot of time and money. I figure I had about 300 bucks in a 89 Chevy Celebrity this year and countless hours in building and it was destroyed by me and a lot better cars and builders than I in about 7 minutes. Have fun and good luck if you decide to give it another shot.

[stumper]

I used to run ,but got out of it yrs ago. Now I got the itch REAL BAD!!! My ability to heal just isnt what it used to be, so I may never do it again.....But yah never know,LOL. Im actually going to a Demo tommorow afternoon....