i am not kidding.
i love to go to the demolition derby in my home town.
it's a fun night…everyone is there to have a good time…and sometimes you get muddy!
raise your hand if you like to go to demo derbies too!
i knew i wasn't the only one.
we sat with our friend joel and his two grandsons.
it was packed.
we sat on the side facing the sun and it was so bright for the first hour.
blinding sun.
the drivers wear helmets while they drive (so we can be safe…says dora the explorer)
they have no glass and i was told by kids this year that the gas tank is in the car…so it won't explode.
correct me if i am wrong.
i probably am.
they paint their cars all different…this striped one was my favorite this year…unique.
but i will always cheer for a pink car also.
and it is really loud.
when all those engines are running at the same time it is LOUD.
they have 60 seconds to get their car running again if they are stuck or their engine dies.
if they can't they have to break off their flag in their window and sit and wait till the heat if over.
(again…correct me if i am wrong)
this is a "demo official" as you can see.
they tell the cars when to start…if they need to stop…help them if their tires fall off…etc.
seriously.
the derby runs in heats of about 7 cars each until only two cars are left.
so you sit for about 15 minutes in between heats.
one break you have to go get a snack…we just got pop because the line was too long for funnel cakes.
there is country music blaring over the speaker system.
you have to have ambiance you know?
another break always has to be waiting in line for the porta-potties. UGH! so gross.
and another highlight is the guys in a golf cart throwing out demo t-shirts to the crowd.
i want a demo t-shirt.
after a tractor pulls the cars out that are dead this truck sprays water over the dirt to keep it wet.
when it's really muddy the cars can't drive as fast…(so we can be safe…)
notice the guys in the orange shirts…they are texting!??
between heats the kids can be on the fence…not during.
safety.
the girl in the pink tee and sunglasses was shaking her little booty to the music…it was so cute.
the cars parade around the arena before the heat starts.
sun was starting to set…that is mud flying in the air.
there are a lot of fire fighters, EMT and police to keep everything under control.
so would like to hear a little of this derby?
thanks to joel and his cool flip camera…i have video for you!
(and now i really want a flip camera too)
the first one is just us in between heats…
the drunk man was a problem and we asked him to leave…finally…he did.
i told you i was a weirdo-magnet.
this proves it.
and now you are dying to see the real thing…i know it.
you want to feel the action!
crank up your sound so it feels like you are there.
you are all redneck mamas like me who love to watch cars smash each other.
did you love it?!
HA!
there was even a compact car heat.
a ford pinto! (aaron meyers i miss you.)
our group was really wanting lloyd's red car to win…screaming for lloyd.
but Cory won.
he and his buddies were pumped!
this year there was a fireworks show before the final round.
and they were really good…i was impressed.
the Hamm brothers were the two final cars…kind of the usual thing.
they are "famous" for winning the derbies in hillsboro.
jason (left) has his wife's name on his car…CARLA…now that is love.
she probably had to put up with a lot of him working in the shop to get a winning car.
i think her name should be on the entire side next year…end to end.
just a thought carla.
another night of small town goodness.
grateful for stuff like this…even if it is really hick and redneck.
it is too fun to care.
Jordan Livingston - We’re the officials every year it is fun
Sebastian Gaydos - I’m still thinking why most of you love watching demo derby. My wife loves watching ’em too and I think she’s addicted to it! There’s this one time that she even wanted to join and use our car. And I’m like, “What?! Our car?! Are you out of your mind?!” Hahaha! But still, I love her for that. =)
Christian Louboutin Platforms - “It turned out to be one of the best short pieces I have ever done, and Kate Wilson, editor at Scholastic, read it to her little girl, and they both loved it, and she emailed me in the new year and asked if they could publish it as an illustrated book.
truck rental - This sure seems like a perfect night out! TO be honest- I didn’t get the “fun” you were talking about at first- but going through your pictures- this seems like an amazing event to attend!
chris schroeder - i enjoy running derbies. usually run canton and hillsboro every year, u know my number OU812 just out to have fun!!
Kristine Robb - O.M.G! ha ha i am totally laughing out loud!!!!!!!!!!!! that is HILARIOUS! i think i will have to add a demo derby to my summer-to-do-list next year! your pictures are amazing of course but the video is a nice touch. you could totally score one of those for christmas!
pam - raising my hand! LOVE the demo derby.
eric and i were TOTALLY cracking up at the videos.
jamie - i LOVE demolition derbies. haven’t been to one in years. i think my 5-year-old would LOVE them too. thanks for the video!
Treemama - and i thought i was the only pseudo redneck mama who loves the derby! and this is the first year we went for the derby instead of rodeo night.
we (of course) rooted for the girl driver in the pink car with the peace sign on the side!
simply stork - my husband is an emt and we sometimes get to go and work the races in our area…one time I got to go and due to a double accident I was the one who drove the ambulance…Way Too Cool!
~simply~
Alicia Fulmer (Coach) :) - I.LOVE.THE.DEMO.DERBY!
Lindsay - If I ever make it to Kansas I hope it’s on demo derby night!!
Tess S. - fun, fun, FUN!
emily :] - demo derby… so much fun! its my favorite part of going to the pratt county fair. btw, i love the picture of the fireworks to pieces. not to sound like a creeper, but it’s now my desktop background, i love it that much.
sara - i love a good demo derby too! now for a real county fair.. have you ever heard of hog wrestling??
adrienneK - hmmm im not one for demo derbies BUT it was great getting to see you guys on video!!! yay:)
Dana D @BoysMyJoys - The video was hysterical with all the on-screen comments!
Now I need a lesson on using my fingers and math to determine how long until the sun goes down! I’ve never heard of that before! 🙂
Danielle - Oh, we were talking about going to the demo…. Thanks for the video, now we can experience a little of what we missed. My brother drove in it so many years ago—really a lot of FUN! Next time wait in line for one of the funnel cakes those two are some of the NICEST people I know!
rachel - WOW that looks fab fun. I’m with Sophie’s comment, I too thought the derby was only on something like the ‘Simpsons’ – doh I’m an idiot!
Sophie - I’m gonna sound like SUCH an idiot but I didn’t think those derby’s even existed. Forgive me, I’m English. I’ve only ever seen them in cartoons and stuff. 😛
I seriously wanna go to one now! (:
Peggy Rice - Okay, now my 2 year old thinks you are the coolest as well!!! He says, “more, more, more!”. Jaylee says, “now that’s how you smoosh a car.” Paris needs a race like this.
Laura Phelps - Hmm.
OK.
Um…
Is there a Starbucks close to this?
That might be the only way to get me there.
BUT.
In all fairness…I have yet to see your video.
It is LATE here.
And my husband is sleeping.
I may have a different opinion in the morning.
Hmph. Just when you think ya know a girl!
dawn - Okay, I didn’t read through all the comments and maybe someone already mentioned this — but what about the SMELL?!? Did it smell like…burning rubber and overheating car?!? I grew up in rural Minnesota. The demo derby comes every summer and my mom started taking me young. (If you saw my mom — you’d never guess her to be a demo fan — but she was pure awesomeness and exposed me to all kinds of cool things like this.) I miss them. They must have them somewhere in Oregon — I’ll have to research. My daughter is now four — it’s time. Glad you had fun — and I wish I could’ve been there! 🙂
Beth - As entertaining and fun as you make it sound, I still don’t think I would like the demo derby. Enjoy reading about AND seeing your time there 🙂
Carol S. - Totally agree. I’m from suburbs of Chicago, and we love the demo derby out here too. Cute videos! You guys have a little southern drawl happening over by you. Very fun. You’re too cute. Fun website.
Stephanie - Yes, the derby was exciting, but what I found even more thrilling is that you stood in line to get a “pop” and NOT a “soda”. Finally someone outside of Ohio drinks pop.
I knew I loved Kansas!
Courtney - Oh man, this brings back the memories… back when I was a country girl growing up. We’d go to the county fair each year for demo derby night. One year our machanic even bought my mom’s old tank of a car off her and put it in the derby. They painted it like a pack of fruit striped gum and called it the lifesaver. I cried because it made me sad that our old car hurt (I was little OK!). I miss the fair and the demo derby and the funnel cakes.
Jenn - Looks like a great way to spend an evening! Never been to one… but someday perhaps when Olaf gets a bit older 🙂
Cate O'Malley - I love that you call soda … pop. 🙂
tabitha - i took my two boys to a demo derby like a hundred years ago [ok it was more like 10], they were 11 and 8 and i thought they were gonna love it!!! they didn’t. at all. they were overwhelmed by the awesomeness, that’s what i told myself, later i realized they were both sick with head colds and the noise and fumes probablly nearly killed them. i rule as a great mother! haha…they have, since then, come to appreciate [loudly and with enthusiasm] the joys of the Demo Derby. 🙂
ps. ~hosting giveaway at my blog 🙂 ~
http://www.ftnliving.typepad.com
Meg - My favorite was the people watching from the bucket that was suspended 50 feet over the arena. Good times. Check out our blog for my interpretation of the county fair.
Julie - I have never been to a demolition derby -I wouldn’t even know where to find one – so thanks for the vicarious experience through video! That was great.
amy - this had me chuckling–especially the video with the little notes in it. my favorite by far was the “drunk man says yeeehawww!!” reminded me of going to the rodeo by my parents house in new jersey. yup, a RODEO in NEW JERSEY!! good times.
yeehaww!
Christy - You are so funny! My husband & his brother entered the derby at our state fair, several years ago. They didn’t last too long, but they had an absolute blast! The uglier the car, the better. They love to buy old random beat up cars & trash on them, silly boys!
amber - I love small town life! I would have cheered for the pink car too!
TRACI - Not a fan of the derby but LUUUUUUUV the videos. You crack me up with your fancy necklace on at a DERBY with MUD..LOL
Sarah - Would you still like me if I told you that you could’t get me to one of those if it was the last place in the world that sold funnel cakes?
maribeth - love it! especially the pop up video . . . looks like you have a blast!
candice - How fun, I have never been, do they even have them in Cali? You look so cute on the video, the curly hair and your necklace, how cute! More videos please, I love videos!
colleen - I haven’t seen this much Redneck fun since I went to Walmart… thanks for the videos…they were great!
Dana M. - This made me smile. Good to see you at the derby. You captured it in all it’s glory, mud and crazies. Kate spent the entire first 4 heats under the “mud” blanket we brought. When she finally emerged she screamed that this was “The best derby EVER!” To really enjoy an event like this, it helps if you know some of the drivers. The Hamm brothers are usual winners, but they build good cars and this is what they eat and breathe. Growing up across the road from them as kids, we put on our dad’s helmets, lined up our big wheels and trikes and played “demo derby.” What memories. Next year plan on your family coming to our place for supper, then we can “do the derby.”
Let me know when you plan to come to town this week.
Emily D. - We sat on the opposite side no sun, but you have to get there a little earlier! The boys enjoy it, not really my thing, but since I have boys I guess I have to endure it! Kind of wish the Hamms would have more competition, not so fun when you know who will win.
Shawna Landers - This looks just like Abilene’s Central Kansas Free Fair demo night!! I love the demo. It must be a Midwest thing or something but I can’t imagine the fair without it. I didn’t realize that Hillsboro had their fair at the same time!!
Great pictures!
Thanks!
Shawna
Anna Marie - Now wasn’t that a fun post?!? Your hair was super duper cute in that first video ;)|
My brother-in-law drove in a derby 2 weeks ago. Fun stuff!
Have a great evening, Megan 😉
Ruth - This looks toooo fun! And for a redneck you are incredibly glamorous 🙂
kelli - thanks for posting– that brings back fun memories! btw, i think you were the best dressed demo derby go-er!
Amanda - ahhh there were fireworks this year? lucky. i had plans so i couldn’t make it. 🙁 thanks for the recap though. i had some friends in high school who worked on the pit crews. i desperately wanted to be their (better) friend so that i could do it too. oh, and i also want to be friends with the fam who sits in the cherry picker.
Lauren - I love the demo derby too!!! I haven’t been in years! hmmm….maybe that’s an idea for the weekend!
Love your blog – read it every day! Have a great week!
Valerie - This brought back the memories. I am a Tulsa girl, but for “one and a half winters” we lived up in MN (that’s how you count time up there). My husband’s cousin up there invited us to the demolition derby. We had no idea what to expect and showed up in our little preppy Ralph Lauren shorts ensembles only to find ourselves surrounded by rednecks and mud flying up in our hair. It was awesome. It still makes me laugh to this day. I’m back safe and sound again in Tulsa, but I will always love Anoka, MN for its county fair and the hilarious night it gave me. 🙂
Allikayes Mama - I went to a demo derby at the Nebraska State Fair when I was younger…we teased our hair up nice and high…put on lots of makeup…and put on temporary barbwire arm tattoos! We fit right in back then!!! So fun!!!
jennifer - Feelin’ like the dorky city girl here. I only thought they did that in the movies, not in real life! Kinda like when we first moved to CO and I realized that there really are cowboys, too. I have apparently led a very sheltered life and I need to experience more. Your pictures are wonderful, as usual. You’ve got such a gift!
Amanda B - so funny…dave and I had a conversation last night about how much I LOVE demo derbies….we didn’t go last night but we were at the carnival and animals, WISHING I was at the derby, but not sure how a 1 and 2 year old would do. Anyway…I was telling him how much I love them, I really really do. He likes them too, but thought it was funny how much I had to say that I LOVED them! So I’m glad that you love them too! The one in my hometown is AWESOME, way better than Harvey County! I want to go back there next year! I have that redneck/hick streak in me too! It’s kind of fun, I’m not ashamed to admit it.
Sorry to hear about the drunk guy. But glad you guys got him taken care of.
Angela B. - I live in the city and now am so jealous that we don’t have the derby around here. What a blast!
kristin - i’m am HIGHLY avoiding the question from micah about when the demolition derby is…we forgot until it was too late. he is not going to be happy.
Kirsten - Oh I have to ask my parents about this memory…like I was a little girl in the 70’s…Pasadena CA?…and I remember we had these huge ugly green corduroy pillows we would take to sit on at the races – figure 8 racing. Loved it, and wish we had flips back then, lol!
Lori - Wow! that looks really fun! If you hadn’t included the video, I would never have considered it. Thanks!
amy j. - Corey is driving back to Abilene tonight to go to the COMBINE demo derby. Are you jealous? 🙂
Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Oh yeah! We went last year and our kids had so much fun. You captured it well.
Georgia - Meg, your so glam!! ♥ a glam red neck mama! lol x
Karen E - Oh I love the demolition derby. Lots of fond memories going to the derby with my grandma at the local fair. My sweet looking grandma screamed and yelled and jumped out of her seat when watching it – she loved it so much!
I lurk on your blog, only discovered it about a month ago and I think your photography is fabulous. 🙂
A pocket full of posies... - Too funny!!! growing-up for fun my dad owned a dirt race track…I was the trophy girl stand-in one night…I was 12…don’t you know that poor guy who won was sadly disappointed!! 🙂
Julia - Have had a migraine for 4 days…even with that I am still laughing at that first video….now I’m confused about division….haven’t heard about the famous Hamm Brothers-feel a little out of it.
Amanda Jo - My husband is a very proud redneck and we go to Cowtown Speedway near Ft. Worth everytime they have a Demo Derby! You have to get there EARLY otherwise you’ll be wading in a sea of Wranglers and cowboy hats.
I think everyone should experience a demo derby at least once in their life time!
misty - off the subject…
have you seen the Disney Family Fun magazine? I just saw it for the 1st time yesterday and picked up a copy… when I was reading it last night I thought just about every project in there would be right up your alley to do with your kiddos!
they have a website
http://www.familyfun.com I haven’t checked it out yet but the magazine is GREAT
misty - omgosh this looks like FUN~ I am in Oklahoma and we have a LOT more rednecks than Kansas ;0) so I am sure there has to be a demoderby around here somewhere!! I MUST go! I am seriously going to look into it because my birthday is coming up and we were going to to go a Tulsa Drillers game, but I think my husband would enjoy this so much more! (& me to) =0)
Jen - My dad drove in demolition derbies up until I was 2 or so. He had a car with all our names on it and I have a picture of my mom posing on it with a small beehive hairdo and pedal pushers. Co-ol.