Road rage:

OTHELLO —It's one of the few times where crashing your car is not only allowed, but encouraged.

That's why more than 70 local area drivers came out to the races last week, for a little demolition as part of the Adams County Fair and Rodeo Wednesday night.

The event attracted all kinds of participants, from high school students from Warden to adult racers from the Tri-cities for a derby with drivers in supped up cars ready to race, or junkers that have been fixed up just to demolish. But while demolition may be the name, it's only one part of the event. Some drivers like to smash them up inside the arena grounds, but others like Tony Garcia of Pasco are all about the racing.

"You come out here and it's probably the most fun thing to do," Garcia said, "without getting in trouble."

Garcia brought a siren to his races, in a worked up decoy police car, complete with the D.A.R.E. logo. Garcia acknowledged though that he enjoys working on pit crews as much as racing the cars themselves.

"I like a good running car and a good looking car," Garcia said, "We like to race, to compete. We don't like coming in last."

Even in time trials, drivers like Garcia put their feet to the floor to get the best seed for future races, and aim to see the checkered flag from waver Dick Hemore, himself clad in a sky blue tuxedo.

Othello Rodeo Association Vice President Gary Pierce said the demo derby is one of the events to help fund the rodeo later in the week, and it works because people just love to watch iron get smashed. Volunteers come out of the woodwork as well, Pierce said, to help put on the derby for cheering fans in the stands.

"Ours has been very successful," Pierce said.

The demo derby during the Adams County Fair was the second in Othello this year, and was the last in a point system circuit that also saw events in Lind and Warden over the summer. This was the first year of that point system between derbies at the three cities, but Othello Rodeo Association President Mark Fleshman said the derby itself has been going on much longer than that.

"It's just kind of our tradition at rodeo time," Fleshman said, "we have something to involve the community."

Fleshman said the event is designed to be a fun one for local drivers, before the rough and tumble action of rodeo events on the weekend. And drivers can collect money for their racing with both the point system and events like Australian pursuit and powder puff racing. But Fleshman said the racing is about more than just the chance for a cash prize.

"It's not a money thing, it's a blast. They have fun," Fleshman said, "I think the only reason there's any money involved is you've got to measure who the winner is."

Joseph Fries of Othello tried his luck with a Ford Fiesta, and said he signed up for the derby because it allowed him to race without breaking the law.

"The racing is just no laws," Fries said.

Allen Moeller of Moses Lake has helped others on their cars, but was participating in his first demo derby. Before racing, Moeller joked about taking his frustration out in the purple car called "Hay Bug."

"No, it just looks fun as hell," Moeller said. "It looks like a blast."

Driving a Buick with National Wild Turkey Federation Plates, Brad Harshman of Royal City got his car at the last minute. This was his first event as a racer, and Harshman said the derby was just a nice way to get rid of his "road rage."

"I've pitted forever," Harshman said, "but this is my first time getting my own car, doing it myself."