Crash course

The Crawford County Fair’s 2011 demolition derby saw driver Kote Sleeper, of Farlington, sent to the hospital after he suffered an extreme case of whiplash, a first in the derby’s nearly 30-year history. Saturday night’s demolition derby ended perfectly, though, with no injuries and Parsons driver Chuck Billman winning the $2,500 first prize.

“We had a good derby,” said Kim Viets, derby superintendent.

The 32 drivers were divided into four heats. The top two winners of each heat won $150, the third place winner got $75, and all three were ensured a berth in the final round of the tournament. The top purse was $2.500, with a $1,250 take for second place and $750 for third place. There also were $200 in prize money each for fourth through sixth places. Needless to say, competition was fierce, and exactly what both drivers and fans expected.

“I like watching them crash,” said Sarah Ellis, who went to school in Pittsburg with drivers Brandon and Trevor Randall and Cody Hobbs, and came with a group of 15, each wearing bright green team shirts, to cheer them on. “The adrenaline rush is awesome.”

Chuckie Hessong, who recently joined the Fair Board said she also likes the excitement and the ear-splitting scream of open engine headers.

“It gives my heart a bit of a rush,” she said.

For the drivers, working the demolition circuit is a labor of love. Brian Kirkpatrick, of Walnut, said he’s been driving for about 8 years. The money isn’t great and cars don’t last very long, he continued. But when he straps into his steel cage on wheels and lines up to begin a heat, there isn’t much that could be better in his eyes.

“There’s an adrenaline rush like you wouldn’t believe!” Kirkpatrick said.

Kirkpatrick said he has to do when he can actually find an old, steel bodied car for sale, is strip the interior completely.

“You have to make it so it can’t catch on fire,” Kirkpatrick said.

Then there’s the engine, which either has to be rebuilt or replaced, and the rear end.

“Your money is in the motor, transmission and rear end,” said Kirkpatrick, whose current car is a 1972 Frankenoldsmobile on a 1974 frame.

A lot of Kirkpatrick’s bodywork s done at a shop owned by his friend, Justin Kichler, who also lives in Walnut and is a derby driver. The friends often compete with each other in the same derbies, but the rivalry lasts about as long as the heat.

“We just work together,” Kichler said as he contemplated his 1976 Oldsmobile station wagon.

Before they can race the cars are reinforced, and a roll cage of some sort often is installed, joints need to be welded — i.e., fusing the car doors to the body, and the driver’s side is reinforced. There also are stiff penalties for hitting the driver’s door, even by accident.

“Safety is a big thing because cars are getting harder and the impacts are getting harder,” Kirkpatrick said. “Every year you build a little different than before, and it takes years to get to where you win good money.”

Demolition Derby Results

Heat No. 1 Winners:
• No. H, Cody Hobbs, of Pittsburg
• No. 89 Justin Kichler, of Walnut
Third:
• No. 10 Just McReynolds, of Bartlett

Heat No. 2 Winners:
• No. 96, Allen Winters, of Mound Valley
• No. 13, Chuck Billman, of Parsons
Third:
• No. 34, Cody Julich, of Altamont

Heat No. 3 Winners:
• No. 21, Josh Buckle, of Girard
• No. 34, Brian Scholes, of Girard
Third:
• No. 55, Robert Scholes, of Arma

Heat No. 4 Winners:
• No. 13x, Billy Cox, of Arma
• No. 18, Travis Beery, of Parsons
Third:
• No. 3, Cody Harris, of Hepler

Final results:
First place ($2,500):
•  Chuck Billman

Second place ($1,250):
• Allen Winters

Third place ($750):
• Justin McReynolds

Mad Dog Award for best hit ($400):
• No. 81 Jeff “The Drunk Skunk” Bartholomew, of Erie, for making multiple awesome hits throughout the night.

Fourth place ($200):
• No. 7, Ryan Stewart, of McCune

Fifth place ($200):
• Jeff “The Drunk Skunk” Bartholomew

Sixth place ($200):
• No. 34, Cody Julich, of Altamont