Derby brings more for fans
Figure-eight race is latest, best excitement for fans
MOSES LAKE — Each year the Columbia Basin Rodeo Association challenges itself to make the KWIQ Demo Derby a fun, new and exciting race for all who attend.
Demolition Derby director Jeff Janke and the rodeo association have made four changes to this year's demo derby. Drivers are now required to install an h-bar inside their vehicles. Cars registering for the demo derby will have until Wednesday at 3 p.m. to take advantage of the early registration discount. Stunt motorcycle driver Troy Lerwell and Barrel Man Crash Cooper will help entertain the crowd between heats and events and finally, organizers have replaced the Australian Pursuit with the figure-eight race.
"We are trying to have something different each year," Janke said. "This year it's the figure-eight race."
The decision to require an h-bar in each participant's car came from a combination of suggestions from drivers and a rollover incident in the 2004 demo derby. An h-bar is a simple post that bolts to the ceiling and floor of a car, preventing the roof from caving in if a rollover collision were to occur.
Drivers will also be happy to know they have until 3 p.m. to register their car for the demo derby at the reduced rate of $20. They must register it at the Rodeo Association's office at 821 West Broadway, across from Michael's on the Lake.
After 3 p.m. all registration will take place at the Grant County Fair grounds and the fee increases to $40. Every driver must be at least 18 years old to to participate in the event and have a valid drivers license. The Rodeo Association will have to make a copy of each participants drivers license in order for them to compete.
"We extended it this year because we understand some people work the day of the demo," Janke said. "There are also out of town contestants who can't register until Wednesday. We feel it is right to give everyone the opportunity to participate in the event."
Inspections of the cars will begin at 3:30 p.m. and depending on how many late entries there are registration will close about 7 p.m. or shortly thereafter.
During the races Janke is proud to welcome back an entertainer from the rodeo of two years ago. Lewrell performs stunts and tricks on his motorcycle for the amazement of the crowd. His performance at the demo derby will be just a sampling of what people can expect to see during the rodeo itself.
Cooper will also be out there with Lewrell between heats and events entertaining the crowd with stunts and throwing souvenirs into the crowd. They will be giving away shirts, hats, water bottles and Frisbees.
The past two years before the main event fans got to see the Australian pursuit. This year fans will see drivers race in a figure-eight.
"If people have not seen a figure-eight race before it is something they have to see," Janke said.
Racers will try to avoid contact in the middle of the figure-eight while still keeping an eye towards speed and the finish line.
It is not known how many drivers will participate in the figure-eight race.
Gates open at 3:30 p.m. The time trials will begin at 6:30 p.m. and at approximately 7:30 p.m. the first race will take place. It will be a trophy dash among the fastest cars from the time trials.
After one trophy dash, cars will line up for the heat races. Last year's demo derby featured 26 heat races with eight cars competing in each race.
Once the heat races have finished, the women will compete in the powder puff race. About 22 women competed last year, split up into three heat races.
The end of powder puff racing signals the inaugural figure-eight race for the Grant County Fair demo derby. Janke has had favorable feedback from drivers about the new race and expects a good participation from drivers. Fans can expect heat races with fields of eight cars competing.
After figure-eight racing tractors will enter the arena, remove the tractor tires and smooth the surface for the main event, demo derby.
Organizers have slightly modified the start of the race. Drivers will enter from both the North and South gates this year.
Once all the cars are in the arena and lined up facing the walls they will wait count down from two minutes before the smashing begins and continues until one car is left running.
Janke said the event grows every year and credits the the Rodeo Associations ability to put on an entertaining show for crowd and all the equipment which is donated each year.
"The demo was over by 10:30 p.m. last year," Janke said. "Without tow trucks from Vista, Moses Lake Towing and Agri-Fix, the Demo Derby would drag on like in years past till 12:30 a.m."
He also credits all the farmers who donate farming equipment for making the arena surface so nice. Janke says it is amazing that the very next night a rodeo takes place on the same surface.
After the demo derby is over organizers will allow fans a small amount of time to visit the arena and look at some of the cars.
For the 21 and over crowd the beer garden will open up after 11 p.m. and this year they will have food for sale thanks to a donation from Johnsonville Brats.
Janke says the demo derby is appropriate fun for the whole family but be warned because he says anyone that has not been to a demo derby before will get hooked after their first one.