Looking forward to the Demolition Derby at the Shelburne Fall Fair

September 13, 2013 · 0 Comments

It might seem atypical of “sporting” when players set out deliberately to disable or demolish the equipment of other players, or when it’s “every player for himself,” but that’s what demolition derbies are all about – and they’re defined as “motorsports.”

The last vehicle running is declared the winner; much as the last gladiator in ancient Rome.

One of them is happening right here in Shelburne at the Fall Fair this Saturday at 5 p.m. on the Agriculture grounds.

There’ll be three classes of vehicle: full size cars, 1980 and newer; 6-cylinder ones, 1980 and newer; and those of four cylinder.

There’ll be an interesting twist to the small-car event: Whereas the larger ones just bash at each other any which way, the little ones have to navigate a figure-8 course while doing it.

Organizer Curtis Young could not be reached for comment, but others say the event has always been well attended by an enthusiastic crowd, as it has been elsewhere.

It wasn’t immediately determined when this began locally as part of the annual fairs, but Wikipedia says it most likely originated in the 1950s in the U.S. and spread rapidly around the world.

But it says there are reports of such events being held in the 1930s and even earlier with worn-out Model Ts, and even before that with worn-out locomotives.

“Demolition derbies can be very dangerous. Although serious injuries are rare, they do happen,” Wikipedia says.

“To make the event safer, all glass is removed from the vehicle, and deliberately ramming the driver’s-side door area is forbidden. The driver’s door is often required to be painted white with black numbers or blaze orange, or with contrasting colors, for visibility,” says Wikipedia.

How popular is the sport?

“In 1965 a reported crowd of 20,000 packed into Rowley Park Speedway to see Australia’s first demolition derby. ABC’s Wide World of Sports televised the World Championship Demolition Derby from the mid-1960s until 1992.

“In 1972, the Los Angeles Coliseum hosted a demolition derby with mint-condition late model cars driven by Mario Andretti, A. J. Foyt, and Bobby Unser. The popular ABC sitcom Happy Days included the character Pinky Tuscadero, a professional demolition derby driver and occasional love-interest to the show’s most popular character, Arthur Fonzarel.”

There might never be such shows as those again, but the popularity of demolition derbies such as Shelburne’s isn’t expected to wane any time soon.

By Wes Keller