By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Numerous fender benders took place at the Crawford County Fair Sunday night. No one was cited, however, as the crashes took place on the grandstand infield for the Demolition Derby.
Starting at 6 p.m., eight heats of various vehicles took to the concrete barrier section of the grandstands infield to see whose car could take a licking and keep on ticking.
Finishing in the top five of his heat, driver Tim Lohr and his crew were working to get his car ready for the feature race. Lohr explained what prompted him to compete in the Demolition Derby
“It is a fun habit,” Lohr said. “I have been doing it for the past twenty years.”
Waiting for the compact race to start, Jacob Burgess watched the derby from the sidelines with anticipation. Burgess explained what drove him into competing in the Demolition Derby.
“I’ve been around it my whole life,” Burgess noted. “I really like the adrenaline rush.”
The Demolition Derby wasn’t just for the boys. Driver Stephanie Fowler looked on at the derby, cheering on family while waiting her turn. Fowler explained what got her into doing demolition derbies.
“My dad has done it since he was 18-years-old so I’ve just grown up around it,” Fowler said.
Neither Fowler nor Burgess took the top prize for the compact car heat, as the field had to move it on over for Hank Williams, who won the heat driving a black Zeus Tires vehicle.
Taking in a date night at the derby were Ed Kirk and Katy Frank. Kirk explained what brought them out to the derby.
“I haven’t been out to this one before, so we came out this year to check it out, and see about bringing some cars out next year,” Kirk said.
Nathan Rossman was viewing the derby from the bed of a truck. Rossman explained that it is the action that brings him out to watch the Demolition Derby.
“I came out to watch the cars derby, my favorite part is when the cars catch on fire,” Rossman said.