Hey....WHO likes Demo Derby action ??

[Kern Dog]

Last night I went to the first Demolition Derby that I have been to in over 25 years....

Funny that this Ford had "Joto" across the front of the hood. The word is Spanish for "Homosexual male"...

 

[Kern Dog]

The cars there were all 1970s and older. This looks to be an early 60s Lincoln Continental.

 

[Kern Dog]

Some of the modifications that the cars had were strange. I noticed they all came out of the pits with really stiff looking suspensions. Some sedans had that odd looking bend over the trunklid area too.

 

[Kern Dog]

Station wagons are a favorite.

 

[Kern Dog]

It was great to see the bent wheels, spewing radiators, engines on fire...

 

[Hey-O]

Nothing but fun to watch!! Figure 8 racing is a good time also. I just wished they'd use cars that weren't 70's. Thanks for the post!!

 

[Kern Dog]

 

[Kern Dog]

I looked up the rules in a few sites...Radiators have to be in stock locations??? How the heck do they keep from pushing them into the engines? Side impacts seem to do minimal damage to the cars yet in the rules I saw that side bars were prohibited except for the drivers door area.
Several Fords used Dodge or Chevy V8s...I know it is fun to bash Ford for building UNreliable cars but why dump the Ford engines? Is it because they use a front mounted distributor and are prone to damage during frontal impact?

Also...NOTICE that "bend in the trunk area of the white and red car? What is the purpose of that?

 

[Kern Dog]

Fun stuff!

 

[Skytrooper]

I hadnt been to one in over 45 years. Last year Don Frelier told me his son was competing in one locally. My wife and I went and met up with Don and his wife. It was crazy fun ! I had forgotten just how much I enjoyed them when younger. Hopefully will be going to watch him this year too !

 

[Kern Dog]

They had a truck competition too.

The orange and black trucks were FORDS, one has an LS Chevy, the other two were Mopar engines. Years back, I talked to a guy that ran truck demo derby...He said the Fords of the early 60s were a favorite, the "Unibody" trucks that had the bed welded to the cab.
View attachment 765681

 

[Kern Dog]

This Dodge had a Chevy engine.

Note the fire....

THEN the smoke...

 

[Kern Dog]

He lasted almost to the end.

 

[cr8crshr]

Glad you enjoyed yourself Kern. Me??? I see it only as a big waste of both time and the money spent to get these vehicles into Demo condition only to then see them destroyed. And really for what??? Just me as I have never been to one and really do not care nor want to...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[Kern Dog]

 

[Kern Dog]

 

[khryslerkid]

They still have them here, especially on the 4th of July. But the figure eights are the best!

 

[Kern Dog]

I have watched circle track racing with "Claimers and "Beaters" for years but never have seen a figure 8 race.
I am curious as to how these cars are built and prepped for these races.

 

[Budnicks]

Way back in the 80's
I helped build a old 4 dr 71-72 (?) Malibu (Chevelle body) IIRC
a buddy of mine had a muffler shop, West Coast Muffler
we had his advert. mantra "no muff too tough"
on the side of it, with pink paint too, #007

IMO what a complete waste of money, time, resources
& especially hrs spent
just to destroy it
even if it was a POS Cheby 4dr to begin with
he did the D.D. in Antioch Ca., dirt track/toilet bowl racing Sat. nights
I was into the Winged Sprint/Super Modified Cars way back then
it was a natural progression to do a Demo Derby POS
filthy muddy crap, wasn't worth putting back on the trailer

he didn't last long either, he took like 6th place, out of 20 cars
no money, after 5th IIRC
A 60's series 62 Caddy won IRRC

never did another one either

IIRC 1st rule in the rule book used to be, 'no Imperials allowed"

 

[khryslerkid]

I have watched circle track racing with "Claimers and "Beaters" for years but never have seen a figure 8 race.
I am curious as to how these cars are built and prepped for these races.

I guess they all have their safety requirements and are tech-ed before racing. (see how I spelled that)

Here's a little sample. Check out the busses at the end...