2016 Mermaid Festival Demolition Derby Sure To Be A Smash
NORTH WEBSTER — Demolition derbies are a prime example of the primal urge to destroy stuff. And if past years are any indication, the 2016 Mermaid Festival Demolition Derby, held at 7 p.m. June 25 in North Webster will be no exception.
Two area salvage yards, Stuckman’s and Holle’s, will also be competing for a trophy and, more importantly, bragging rights. Both companies will have cars entered, stripped to the derby’s safety specifications and ready to rumble.
Robert McKinney, a Stuckman’s employee, has chosen an early ‘90s Chevy Corsica, but says they are not picky. Any car that is not in good enough shape to put in the yard is a candidate. Then all plastic and glass parts are removed, the gas tank is moved to the rear and the battery is placed on the front seat. Even with these safety measures, however, the derby has its dangers.
“My first year the floorboard caught on fire,” McKinney remembered. The fire was just feet away from the battery when he scrambled to safety as the fire department moved in to extinguish the blaze.
“It’s like being in a car wreck,” he said of the derby, before adding, “Make that 10 car wrecks.”
Another Stuckman’s driver described cars turned over on their sides among other acts of mayhem that make the derby such an riveting spectacle. He also offered some advice to new drivers, “Make sure you use the rear of the car.”
Anyone interested in joining the action needs to be at the track, located at the north end of the festival grounds, at least an hour before race time, with their car prepped.
The Lions Festival Committee event chairperson for the derby is Darrell Clark. For more information, go to www.nwlionsclub.com or www.mermaid-festival.com.