Loudoun Fairgoers Have a Bang-Up Time
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Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Hundreds of fairgoers were packed into a crowd around the track at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds Monday to watch carnage unfold before their eyes at the annual demolition derby.
David Roberts, the announcer for the evening’s main event, began counting down. The crowd joined in, shouting the numbers in excitement as the drivers revved their engines.
Photo Gallery
Loudoun County Fair, Day Two
With the local fire department looking for flames under the hood, Andy Crisp, from Hillsboro, Va., climbs out of his '88 Oldsmobile Cultas after the first round of the demolition derby. (Preston Keres)
There were many games for the fairgoers to test their luck, including the Toss for Turtles booth. (Preston Keres)
Here, Evan Malone (L), 18, from Leesburg, has a mouthful of corn as he takes on the competition in the corn on the cob eating contest. Malone would finish three ears. (Preston Keres)
Rodney Monroe inspects the damage to his car at the end of the second heat Monday during the demolition derby at the Loudoun County Fair. (Kevin Myrick)
Jennie Cockrell, 11, from Purcellville, spends time with her Blue Buck hog "Sean," that she'll show on Tuesday and Wednesday. (Preston Keres)
Jennie Cockrell, 11, from Purcellville, spends time with her Blue Buck hogs that she'll show on Tuesday and Wednesday. (Preston Keres)
Erin Gaylord, 10, from Purceville, stands with her goat "Ferrari" as she waits to be weighed. (Preston Keres)
Some of the livestock need a little assistance getting into the weight chute, so Gene Schneider gives a little push. (Preston Keres)
Logan Potts, 10, from Purceville, keeps an eye on the corn on the cob eating contest. (Preston Keres)
Drivers Stacy Vormbrock and Jimmy Liptak inspect the damage after derby officials stop the race to clear a disabled car from the track. (Kevin Myrick)
A race official looks on as two cars collide Monday during the demolition derby at the Loudoun County Fair. (Kevin Myrick)
Demolition derby officials look on as the "7" car driven by Rodney Monroe is hit on the passenger side by another car. (Kevin Myrick)
Three cars in the demolition derby smash into one another Monday at the Loudoun County Fair. (Kevin Myrick)
Andy Crisp stands on his car and cheers after being knocked out of the demolition derby Monday at the Loudoun County Fair. Crisp would go on to win the Best Crowd Appearance award at the derby. (Kevin Myrick)
Andy Crisp's car is finally knocked out of commission after firefighters from the Hamilton Fire Department put out the fire in the engine one last time Monday during the demolition derby at the Loudoun County Fair. (Kevin Myrick)
Drivers get a brief moment of peace in the chaos of the demolition derby Monday at the Loudoun County Fair. (Kevin Myrick)
Firefighters are quick to act, putting out the "13" car of Andy Crisp after the engine caught on fire Monday during the demolition derby at the Loudoun County Fair. (Kevin Myrick)
Danny Manning in the "69x" car slams into the back of the "05" car driven by Jimmy Liptak, and moments later Liptak was hit from behind by another car. (Kevin Myrick)
James Harbin in the "03" car slams into the back of Andy Crisp's "13" car Monday during the demolition derby at the Loudoun County Fair. (Kevin Myrick)
Cars in the demolition derby rev their engines as fans count down the start at the Loudoun County Fair Monday. (Kevin Myrick)
Fairgoers sit and wait for the beginning of the demolition derby at the Loudoun County Fair Monday. (Kevin Myrick)
John Tilton stands beside father and son John and Ethan Smith as the contestants eat corn in the Corn on the Cob eating contest Monday at the Loudoun County Fair. (Kevin Myrick)
From left to right: Jim Conway, John Tilton and John Smith chow down on corn in the Corn on the Cob eating contest at the Loudoun County Fair Monday. (Kevin Myrick)
Fairgoers sit and wait for the Corn on the Cob eating contest to begin at the Loudoun County Fair Monday. (Kevin Myrick)
Melissa Conway and Erica Butkiewiez, both 15, lead their sheep back to the barns at the Loudoun County Fair Monday. (Kevin Myrick)
This Boer goat, a South African breed of goat, is owned by Elisa Gladstone. (Kevin Myrick)
Leah McSwain, 16, looks after her goats, Penny and Piper, in one of the barns at the Loudoun County Fair. (Kevin Myrick)
As the crowd reached “one,” the drivers threw the cars into gear and all at once seven cars went into reverse aiming for one another. The crowd cheered on the local drivers in cars painted with spray paint that, under normal circumstances, would have been rusting away in a scrap yard.
Roberts, 52, is one of two brothers who operate Stony Roberts Demolition Derby, the organizer for Monday’s main event at the fair. For 44 years, the family-owned business has toured 25 states for 11 months each year, organizing and officiating what Roberts calls “family-oriented entertainment.”
In the years since the family began organizing demolition derbies, Roberts has seen more than 100,000 cars demolished and eventually recycled.
All of the participants in Monday’s event were from Loudoun County and some won awards. Andy Crisp took home the Best Crowd Appearance award. His car was seriously damaged during the first heat of the derby and fires started in the engine twice, prompting firefighters to put out the flames.
While it might look chaotic, there are measures put in place to keep drivers and spectators from getting hurt. In order to race, teams must first modify their car -- everything from moving the gas tank into the back seat to removing all glass from the car.
Cars also have to meet a certain criteria, including being the same as they were from the factory. Creature comfort can be removed, but nothing can be added to the car.
“We try to keep impacts on the cars below 35 miles per hour,” Roberts said. “Anything above 35 can cause serious damage.”
Roberts knows the dangers firsthand. A former demolition derby driver, Roberts was run over in an event in 1979 in Greenville, Mass. After a year of being bedridden, Roberts was forced to retire from driving in events.
Since then, Roberts has been organizing the events instead of being behind the wheel. He emphasizes safety throughout the event, reminding the crowd between heats to keep back from the fence.
Chris Prack, one of the many spectators in the crowd enjoying the derby, sat with his son and watched as cars slammed into one another. His whole family came to the fair, but Prack came especially for the derby.
“My son’s never seen a demolition derby before,” Prack said.
While this might be the first demolition derby for Prack’s son, this will not be the last one for the Roberts family. They’re organizing other events in Stanardsville on August 4 and in Front Royal on August 9.
While the Roberts family spends as much as 11 months out of the year traveling from event to event, Roberts is happy to be doing it.
“It’s a relief for us,” Roberts said. “Normally, I’d deliver mail on an average day when I’m not smashing and crashing.”
Tagged: loudoun county fair
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