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Crowds cheer for big crashes at fair derby
Video
By SHELBY SCHROEDER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BAZETTA — Bits of car flew through the air, mud was sprayed skyward, police sirens wailed and the crowd cheered for more.
Dozens of cars careened into one another as the main attraction at the Trumbull County Fair’s demolition derby at the grandstand.
With the stands packed Wednesday night, the overload of guests spilled onto the sides of the grandstand, behind fencing and a protective metal net.
“I’m here to see some wrecks,” said Donna Villa of Niles, with an enthusiastic grin.
She got comfortable in the second row of the stands with her fiancé John Laskey, also of Niles.
“I’ve heard of these. We’ve seen them on TV, but we’ve never seen them in person,” Laskey said. “We’re excited!”
The announcer roared over the grandstand speakers, “You’re probably here for one reason, right?”
“You want to see cars crash!” he shouted.
Pre-crumpled cars, masked at varying efforts with spray painted designs, sped through the derby stage one by one.
Surrounded on four sides by massive tractor tires that cushioned the arena walls, the cars assembled next to one another in two rows, their rears facing the other row.
Once organizers waved their green flags, the race to wreck began.
The audience yelled as drivers led a chaotic spree to crushingly disable their opponents’ vehicles. Drivers roared their engines in an attempt to dig through several inches of thick, brown mud.
To witness the action up close, some customers spent an extra few dollars for a pit view.
“This is where you go [to] get muddy,” said Frank Sodders of Champion. “We pay to sit here every year.”
Sodders brought his two sons, Matthew and Frank Jr., 7 and 9, respectively, as part of a three-year-old family tradition. He said the derby was like a freeway car pileup that people could watch, but still enjoy.
“I don’t like seeing this stuff on the streets, but here it’s a good time,” Sodders said.
One by one, drivers dropped out of the competition — their wheels shoved in, their engines overheated, or their vehicles lodged in the mass of other immobile cars.
In the end, and among the wreckage, Mike Watson of Johnston was named the winner. His car, number 214, was the last demolition survivor.
Earlier, Richard Roscoe, county fair board president, said the event would be the highlight of the evening. And many spectators agreed.
“It was awesome,” said Aden MacGregor, 8, of Youngstown. “Did you see the crash?” he asked.
The 162nd annual fair continues through Sunday evening at the fairgrounds here.