Demolition derby title up for grabs
Demolition derbies give pleasure to a lot of people, not the least scrap metal dealers.
Entry numbers have not been finalised for the derby at Riverside Speedway, Sandy Point, on Saturday, but club member Casey McEwan thought between 30 and 40 cars could start.
The derby is the final race of the season at Riverside.
Cars, fitted with roll bars, race around the track crashing into each other and on every lap they must go over a ramp. The last car moving is declared the winner.
Palmers ScrapMetal manager Nathan Anderson said damaged derby cars often found their way to the company’s yard.
‘‘We’re more than happy to take them ... we’ll be happy to see them.’’
The cars are crushed on site before being shredded in Christchurch or Auckland.
Luke Fallow’s car for Saturday’s derby, a Honda Accord, was won in a raffle organised by the Spartans Southland Stockcar Team, which is fundraising for trips out of the province next season. Fallow drove in the derby last year but only survived the first lap before disaster struck.
‘‘I hit the ramp and crashed ... that was it.’’
Fallow said driving in the derby gave him an adrenalin rush.
The Spartans team sourced the Honda Accord from a Mataura scrap metal dealer with the proviso that it is returned, regardless of its condition, after the derby.
The Honda was given a makeover by Spartans members.
Casey said the derby was always a ‘‘crowd pleaser.’’
Riverside’s promotions officer, Dean Miller, confirmed improvements would be made to the track in the off season, along with an upgrade of the control tower.
Track experts from around the South Island will inspect the track soon.
‘‘We want them to assess it and give advice on bringing it up to an international standard,’’ Miller said.
A better surface would attract more high-profile drivers, he said.
Riverside officials will also trial track lights during the off season, with the possible long term view to night racing. ‘‘We want to see what it looks like.’’