Demolition derby crashes through Madison County
- posted: 10 July 2007
- scrollnews@byui.edu
Fans congregated to cheer on the cars participating in the Demolition Derby at Madison County Fairgrounds, June 7. The derby was sponsored by the Madison County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue.
“I love wearing my Dale Earnhardt shirt with cut-off shorts and feeling dressed for the occasion,” said Kyle Scott Hansen, a freshman from Maple Valley, Wash.
Kyle Weekes from St. Anthony has been riding and crashing cars for 13 years. His blue, white and yellow car lasted three full rounds before his car stalled from the damage. “I only started working on the car yesterday at 5 p.m. My longest derby car lasted me 8 derbies.”
With shaking hands and a glow in his eye, Weekes said, “The hard hitting is what’s addicting. After the first hit, I’m loose and not nervous anymore. I just love it.”
Despite the addiction of crashing and love of the ride, demolition time can be dangerous. Weekes has had his ribs, nose and fingers broken. In addition, he has broken the legs and arms of his competitors.
Some riders spend hours putting together their derby masterpieces, polishing the paint and double-checking the mechanics.
“Believe it or not, with the right parts and the right help, I can start and finish a car in four hours, paint job and all,” Weekes said.
After each round, giant tow trucks dragged the mangled messes out of the pit. The cars that “survived” one round stayed to compete. One may assume that once a car is crashed, it’s dead and gone. However, Weekes said that if he properly assembles his cars with finesse and patience, he could preserve his transmission and engine for up to four derbies.
The derby consisted of many rounds, with stunts and children’s games in between.
“Crashes, games and fun. The Demolition Derby: where men are men and women are too,” said Miriam Cope, a senior from Tualatin, Ore.
Some students, however, didn’t have quite the experience they were hoping for during these filler activities.
“I wanted to wrestle in the mud with the kids for the money run, but a chubby 3-year old in a red skort flat-backed me, and I never made it to the pit,” said Rachelle Derricott, a senior from Bountiful, Utah.
Many BYU-Idaho students were there for the love of crashing and some just to have a good time.
“I don’t know what’s more fun, watching the people or watching the cars,” said McCall Bradley, a junior from San Antonio, Texas.
First-timers and regulars were impressed with what the derby had to offer this year.
“Tonight was amazing. Probably the best event I’ve been to since I moved to Rexburg five years ago,” said Mark Schlofman, a senior from Boise. 
