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Home > Archive > Aug 2, 2007

Get Demolished at County Fair
By Bill brown
If you’ve ever been cut off in traffic or been stuck behind a really slow driver and felt the urge to give them a nudge with your bumper, you’re obviously not alone.
At the Washington County Fair Demolition Derby, drivers get to do more than that. They get to bash, ram and destroy their competitors’ cars – and possibly win money for it.
“You get to see if you can build something that will run longer and stay intact longer than somebody else’s (car) will,” Kevin Jones, Hurricane resident and derby participant, said. “There is so much adrenaline and testosterone flowing, it is just incredible.”
“This year, we expect to have around 30 cars,” said Brent Gafa, chairman of the Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. “It has grown by at least a couple of cars every year.” Gafa said they had drivers from Cedar City, Page, Delta, as well as local drivers from St. George and the Hurricane Valley area coming to the derby this year. He said it is one of the most popular events at the fair. For the last three years they have had to turn people away at the door, because there were no more seats available.
The derby is held in three heats, with the top two finishers from each heat earning a slot in the main event, Gafa said. There is also a grudge match, which any of those who don't get to advance from the regular heats can enter, if they can get their car running again. The winner of the grudge match also earns a slot in the main event.
Even though there is a purse of $3,000 for the winner, most of the drivers enter the derby for the roar of the crowd, Gafa said, The fans at the derby are just incredible, he said. Several drivers have told him even if they did not participate in derbies anywhere else, they would always participate in the derby here at the Washington County Fair because the crowds were the best, rowdiest crowd around.
Gafa said people call him right after the fair, wanting to know rules and information about the derby for the next year. He said people spend the whole year and hundreds of dollars building their cars for this derby.
“This is an event you do not want to miss,” Gafa said. “It is really fun. Come and experience it. It is just unbelievable.”
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby is Saturday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Large Outdoor Arena. Tickets are $7 at the gate. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.washcofair.net, or during the fair at the ticket office, south of the flagpole.

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