Lenard Stanfill brought a fluorescent yellow 1973 Chevy Impala
to Bolado Park Sunday afternoon. After using the back-end of his
Impala to score derby points, he left Sunday evening with a 1973
Chevy hatchback.
Lenard Stanfill brought a fluorescent yellow 1973 Chevy Impala to Bolado Park Sunday afternoon. After using the back-end of his Impala to score derby points, he left Sunday evening with a 1973 Chevy hatchback.
Twenty-one truck and car drivers revved their engines to the preamble of Alan Jackson’s “It’s Alright to Be a Redneck” at the 2006 San Benito County Fair’s 12th demolition derby. The car and truck categories wowed the audience and provided new experiences for many.
“I’d never been in a car accident before,” said Ashley Lloyd-Jones, who placed second in the main heat with her 1975 Ford. “Much less a demolition derby.”
Despite the light rain throughout Sunday, crowds were still strong.
“Attendance was up even though the rain was threatening,” said David Rovella, the truck-pull and demolition derby organizer.
There were 14 car entries and seven truck entries, fewer than in previous years. The cars, trucks and parts used to make them demolition-ready are becoming harder to find and afford, Rovella said.
Fewer entries did not take away from the excitement, as the derby had the audience in constant suspense. The back-end bashing, tire shredding, radiator fluid hemorrhaging cars and trucks brought “oohs” and “ahhs” from the crowd. Smoke, engine fires and sparks provided all the fireworks the 2006 SBC Fair needed.
“Well, the fans got their money’s worth today,” derby judge Bob Wilson said.
Wilson said the 2006 derby ran smoothly. Like many of the events at the SBC Fair, the derby relied on volunteers to make it happen. Proceeds from the derby will benefit local charities, Rovella said.
The heats were judged using one-point per hit and a one-point deduction for going out-of-bounds or hitting a driver’s side door, derby judge Stephanie Azevedo explained.
The car category had two primary heats, awarding first-place only, and first-place for the consolation heat with everyone who did not make the final and first- through third-place for the main heat, the showcase of the evening. The seven-driver truck competition awarded first- through third-place and a final “fun run,” allowing any truck still running to participate, Rovella said.
For many of the drivers, the challenge was to keep their vehicle running.
For Lloyd-Jones, it was not only proving she could succeed in her first derby, but also something else.
“I’d like to prove the girls could do it too,” Lloyd-Jones said. “Maybe better.”
Sunday afternoon there was no maybe about it.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335, or mv*********@fr***********.com.
