Demolition Derby Dishes Destruction

You could almost hear the rumble half a mile away, making the turn onto 2400 Airport Ave, the X that marks the spot of the 273rd Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair.

Drawing closer to the track, the dull roar became deafening, and its origin unmistakable: a demolition derby.

Fans crowded along the small motorsports outfit towards the back of the fairgrounds, hoping to catch a glimpse of full-grown men and women treating automobiles with reckless abandon.

The Fredericksburg Fair's derby, hosted by R and R productions, runs all this week with the types of events varying day-by-day. Wednesday, races include minvan derby, Ladies' night, and backseat driver. The latter features a blindfolded driver whose sole guidance is a passenger serving as navigator.

Monday's racing included 15 participants. Four heats were held: 4, 6, and 8 cylinder events and a combined heat that featured both 6 and 8 cylinder vehicles.

To give a simple explanation of a derby heat, the participating cars line up and are parked paralel to one another. When the countdown strikes zero, the game is on. The last car (and driver) left standing wins. Drivers must cause collisions to inflict damage upon competitors while at the same time protecting their own automobile.

While it may seem like ramming opponents head-on is the most likely way to score a knockout, it's not advised according to Rudy, head of R and R Productions, who are putting on the derby.

"You should use the back end of your car to hit the front of theirs," said Rudy, who declined to give his last name. "You try to work on the front end, their steering mechanism and the motor itself. The more you can use the back as a weapon, the more you save your radiator and engine."

The action was fierce, as drivers didn't shy away from contact but rather invited it. Throughout the evening engines smoked, tires disintegrated, and participants were truly put to the test.

The fans loved every minute of it, letting out loud cheers when a big hit was put on or a driver was able to re-start his engine.

Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair president Benny Brooks thinks that motorsports are a key component to a successful fair.

"I think any motorsport we have here, people love it," remarked Brooks. We want people to know this is just the beginning of what we're doing with our motorsports park."

Check back with Fredericksburg Patch throughout the week for more coverage of the fair. 

Download the movie

Download the movie