Destruction rules at Demolition Derby

Throngs gather for the five-event spectacle at the fairgrounds.

Dan Roos (right) and Jason Pennington collide during the modified class demolition derby Friday at the Butler County Fair in Hamilton. Roos took first place, and Pennington took second and the “Mad Dog” award.

Staff photo by Nick Graham Dan Roos (right) and Jason Pennington collide during the modified class demolition derby Friday at the Butler County Fair in Hamilton. Roos took first place, and Pennington took second and the “Mad Dog” award.

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By James Sprague, Staff Writer 1:17 AM Saturday, July 30, 2011

HAMILTON — With dust flying, radiators leaking and a bevy of cars, trucks and lawnmowers speeding around the arena bent on destruction Friday night at the Butler County Fair, it could easily have been mistaken for a scene from a post-apocalyptic film.

But it wasn’t a movie. It was the crown jewel of motorsports events at the 2011 Butler County Fair — the Demolition Derby.

Throngs of spectators — some parking as far away as the Butler County Educational Service building on Ohio 4 — gathered in the grandstands and in the pit area for the slated five derby heats of modified cars, junior lawnmowers, mini-trucks, senior lawnmowers and stock cars.

Derby winners were awarded trophies and cash prizes upwards of $1,500 and “Mad Dogs,” drivers who hit the most during the car and truck heats, were awarded $500.

“I think we’re going to have a pretty good time tonight,” said Darrel Rutherford, director of the Demolition Derby, as drivers prepped for the first heat.

From armored lawnmowers to cars with straight pipes running upwards from their engine blocks, the competitors flew backwards, forwards and all around the dirt track with reckless abandon, smashing anything in their way and in some cases driving with broken axles in their attempts to capture victory.

Dan Roos of Hamilton survived a furious showdown to win the first race of the night, the modified heat.

“It’s not too bad,” Roos, his face covered with soot and dirt, said of his victory.

David Tillery Jr. of Hamilton brought home the trophy in the next heat, the junior lawnmower, exuding the confidence of a born racer when asked if he thought he would win.

“Yeah,” Tillery said, grinning.

It was a good evening for the Tillery family as Tillery’s father, David Sr., also won the senior lawnmower heat after a final head-on collision with another mower.

The crowd witnessed even more action in the mini-truck heat, won by Matt McCord, when one truck was tossed on its side after a jolting hit.

Danny Neal stepped into the winner’s circle with his victory in the stock car heat, which drew loud boos from the crowd for its slower pace than the rest of the nights races.

There was a reason for the slower action, Rutherford said.

“There were a lot of beginners in the stock heat,” Rutherford said. “Some of the other heats were a lot stronger.”

But despite that, however, Rutherford felt the event was a success.

“Overall it went pretty well,” he said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5226 or jsprague@coxohio.com.

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