Admission
$10 Adults
$5 Children (10 and under if accompanied by adult)
Pit Pass $12 (must be 16 years or older)
Grandstand

Demolition Derby History

Demolition derbies were first held at various fairs and race tracks, and speedways by independent promoters in the 1950s. There are unconfirmed reports of events occurring as far back as the 1930s utilizing the abundant supply of worn out Ford Model T's. The originator of the concept for demolition derbies is disputed. One source said that Don Basile is often credited with inventing the demolition derby at Carrell Speedway in 1947. Another source states stock car racer Larry Mendelsohn created the concept for demolition derbies at New York State's Islip Speedway in 1958 after realizing many people favored wrecks to racing.

The sport's popularity grew throughout the 1960s, becoming a standard of county fairs in rural areas.

Various classes of vehicles have competitions staged on figure 8 shaped tracks. Bump To Pass Figure eights are also quite popular as they involve less prep work from the usual figure eight racer which usually can also race as an oval track street stock. Demolition derby vehicles - especially school buses - often compete on figure 8 tracks. The best known figure 8 track in the US is Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead, New York.

Basic Rules

Derbies frequently have few rules, with most regulation focusing on the cars' composition and not on the actual action on the track. Drivers are required to be at least 16 years old. They are usually required to have seat belt and a helmet An event begins with drivers lined up on a dirt oval with their tail lights facing each other. They begin in reverse and starting crashing into each other. Drivers are usually required to crash into another vehicle every 2 minutes or they are labeled as "sandbagging" and become disqualified. The last running car wins the event; in order to speed up the end of a particular event, some derbies will require the last two cars running to make all hits from that point forward head-to-head, making contact only with the front ends. An event typically takes about 20 minutes. Depending on the sanctioning body, it may be illegal for multiple cars to collaborate and gang up on opposing cars in a sandwich effort, and could result in disqualification for both parties that do so; the enforcement of this rule varies widely.

To make the event safer, all glass is removed from the vehicle, and deliberately ramming the driver's-side door area is forbidden. The driver's door is often required to be painted white with black numbers or blaze orange, or with contrasting colors, for visibility. Most demolition derbies are held on dirt tracks. or in open fields, that are usually soaked with water. This causes the competition area to become muddy, which in turn helps to further slow the vehicles. Some drivers use both the front and rear of the vehicle to ram the other competitors. Others tend to use only the rear end of the vehicle, to help protect the engine compartment from damage.

- Wikipedia (specific rules at the Fair are set by the Noble County Community Fair Derby Committee)

Types of Cars

Any hardtop automobile or station wagon is allowed. No Chrysler Imperials, limousines, convertibles, jeep or hearses are allowed. Compact cars must be 104” wheel base or less and 4 cylinders, 6 cylinder class must be 112” or less wheel base and 4 or 6 cylinders. Trucks have a different set of rules when permitted to run. 6 cylinder and truck classes to be run on limited dates and will be listed on entry blanks. All 4-Wheel drive vehicles must remove 1 drive shaft.

Prize Money
     
Friday, July 22 – Figure 8 Demo Derby
1st & 2nd for each heat - $25.00

Feature
1st $500
2nd $400
3rd $300
4th-$200   

Mini-Van Derby – (to follow Figure 8)
1st $300
2nd $200
3rd $100

Also featured Friday, July 22
Combine Derby & Garden Tractor Derby

Saturday, July 23 – Demolition Derby
Sub Compact, Pick – Up Truck & Powder Puff (not eligible for feature)
1st $300
2nd $200
3rd $100

Main Derby
1st & 2nd for each heat - $25.00

Feature
1st $1,250
2nd $1,000
3rd $750
4th $500

Any questions, feel free to contact:
Derby Committee: John Moorhouse (260) 239-2286 
Chris Terry (260) 336-4595

Combine Derby/Minivan & Figure 8 Demo Derby Sponsors
Garden Tractor Sponsors:  Archbold Equipment, Noble County Disposal, Fillmore Equipment, WBTU 93.3, 95.5FM - AM1140 The Hawk, Community State Bank, Freels Machine Works, Hixson Sand & Gravel, Noble REMC, Noble County Tire

Demolition Deby/Trucks Sponsors
Noble County Disposal, Noble Chevrolet Cadillac, WAWK 95.5FM - AM1140, NIPSCO, Noble REMC