Safety still Job 1 at smash ’em up demo derby

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN TOM STOPPEL
Most sports come down to the survival of the fittest. But few sports, with the possible exception of boxing, encourage the participants to intentionally attempt to render their opponent helpless.

This year’s Marion County Demolition Derby, set for Saturday at the fairgrounds rodeo arena, will reward the competitor who will do exactly that.

The Marion County Demolition Derby will take center stage for the 30th time beginning at 7 p.m.

While the object of the derby is to disable the competition, organizers of the event go to great lengths to ensure the safety of all the competitors.

Mike Duerksen of Hillsboro has been involved with the derby since its inception.

Duerksen, who has won the event, entered a car in the very first year, and, with the exception of two years when he was out of town, has entered every year since.

“Herb Friesen, whom I was working for, was one of the promoters that first year,” Duerksen said. “We built three cars that year and I drove one of them.”

Duerksen said he continues to enter because he still enjoys it.

He said his derby experience is an advantage in some ways, but he knows luck-whether good or bad- plays the biggest part in the success of those entered.

But safety is the primary concern of all associated with the event.

“Our main concern is that everyone comes out of the derby safe and has a good time,” Duerksen said. “The rules are there to make the derby safe for all the drivers-and people shouldn’t take the derby too seriously.”

Duerksen took time from preparing his car to explain the criteria that must be met for a car to be a legal entrant.

Determining what make and model of car to enter is the first step in the overall process. Duerksen wouldn’t say which car is the best, but he did whittle a few options off the list.

“Chrysler Imperial, hearse and checker cabs aren’t allowed,” Duerksen said. “They’re just built too good and strong.”

Once the the driver and pit crew determine what car they will use, they begins making alterations to make the best car possible.

What makes a good car?

“A good car is a safe car,” Duerksen said. “A lot of cars may run good, but they have to be safe.”

Over the years, competitors have tried to skirt rules to gain an advantage, so rules have changed as the ingenuity of drivers has increased.

But most of the rules, no matter what prompted them, are based with the drivers’ safety in mind.

Duerksen outlined some of the key rules:

Radiators and fans may be removed but not relocated.

“You can’t put the radiator inside where it can’t be hit. We’ve had guys try to run without a radiator by using a bypass hose, but they usually don’t last long.”

No auxiliary cooling systems for engine or transmission.

“Other derbies allow this, but heat in the cars is a big factor and that would give that person (who uses an auxiliary cooler) an unfair advantage.

“At the state fair one year, a guy had a 30-gallon drum in the passenger seat that was full of water circulating through the engine. He didn’t need a radiator and could use his front end all he wanted.

“It just wasn’t fair to those who don’t use them, so this rule levels the playing field.”

Batteries must be relocated out of engine compartment.

“It would be unsafe if batteries were in the engine compartment. Most of the guys put them on the floorboard up front and they must be strapped down. They check that real close.”

All glass, chrome and grills must be removed.

“Flying glass can be pretty dangerous, and if someone had a strip of chrome sticking out, it could jab somebody through their window.

“Also, the arena we use is primarily for rodeos and we don’t want to leave things laying around that the animals could get cut on.”

Stock gas tanks must be removed. No tanks larger than six gallons, and tank must be metal-outboard boat tanks preferred. Tanks must be in back seat area in center or behind driver’s seat.

“We’ve found in the past that most of the bad fires have been because of ruptured gas tanks or poor installation of tanks and/or fuel lines.

“As for the amount, even one gallon of gas can cause a big explosion.

“You also have to take most of the interior out of the car. You don’t want anything that can soak up gas and cause a worse fire. You have to bolt the tank down to make sure it’s stable.

“Outboard boat tanks are strong. A lot of guys build their own tank but this gives an alternative choice.”

No trailer hitches, roll bars, extra weights or special bumpers allowed.

“It comes to the point when you just have to shut people off from doing too much to make the cars too strong. You don’t want the derby to last forever.”

All trunks must be empty. “They don’t want people to have any extra weight or reinforcement, or their mother-in-law in their trunks.”

Maximum frame height of 12 inches in front and 13 inches in back.

“If you didn’t have this rule, someone would come in with a car that’s two feet off the ground. It keeps someone from having a tall car and going over the top of someone else.”

A safety strap from hood to dash will be required.

“We never used to have that rule, but one year someone’s hood came off and almost came back into the driver, so it’s a safety precaution.”

All doors must be strapped, wired or welded shut. Outside driver’s door must be reinforced.

“Cars must have a piece of channel iron from one foot in front of the driver’s door to one foot behind the driver’s door. The reason it’s limited to just one foot is so people don’t put a piece from the front of the car to the back. That would be reinforcement and make it like a battering ram and could go right through a door.”

Safety belts and helmets are required. “Obvious reasons. Purely for safety.”

No paddle tires and no liquid in tires.

“Liquid in the tires gives you too much traction as do the paddle tires. You just get too much speed and it makes it unsafe at the higher ramming speeds plus it throws too much mud and debris at other drivers and into the crowd.”

There must be a fire hole in the hood, at least big enough for a fire extinguisher.

“If you have an engine fire, the firemen have to be able to get in there to put it out.”

No welding on body in engine compartment.

“People started welding a bunch of reinforcements.”

Trunks may be welded, chained or bolted.

“This way they won’t fall off so easy and it makes cleanup faster. A lot of hitting goes on with the back, and you want your trunk down good for strength and safety.”

All wheel weights will be removed.

“This means the small weights they use to balance your tires. If they’d come off and get thrown into the stands, you could get someone seriously hurt. You really don’t need your tires balanced too much in a demo derby anyway.”

No anti-freeze in radiator-water only. “This is so the derby stays environmentally friendly. They don’t want that in the soil on the rodeo grounds.”

Duerksen said most of the rules are there for the safety of the drivers, and all of the rules are designed to make the situation even for all who enter.

But to win, it takes more than luck and a good car.

“You need to have a good pit crew, too,” he said. “You need someone who’s either a good mechanic or a good sheet-metal worker.”

Cars are inspected on derby day before they’re allowed to run. Inspectors make the final decision regarding the rules, and there are no exceptions.

Duerksen said you can buy a car for as little as $100, but everyone has a lot more in them by the time they’re done.

He said there really are no “cheap” cars.

“Most guys try to run the same make of car each year because they have parts already,” he said. “If you can find a car with a bad motor and you have a good motor sitting around, you can buy a car pretty cheap.”

He also said some people are fortunate enough to use the same car for more than one year.

Duerksen knows the economic impact the derby has on the fair.

“It’s been the backbone of the fair since it started,” he said. “It’s fun, exciting and full of local people as drivers, pit crews and sponsors. Each one of them have their family and supporters in the crowd, usually making the event sell out.

“It takes a lot of time, work and money for every car that’s in the derby,” he added. “I hope people go out and watch or participate and have an evening of fun and thank the drivers and their helpers.”

When all the preparations are concluded, and the final inspection is done, all that’s left is to head into the arena like the Roman gladiators, and may the luckiest driver win.

“It’s not a do-or-die thing, or something that people have to earn a living at,” Duerksen said. “The derbies we have in this area are for the fun of it.”

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