Demo Derby - Glory Days

Tonight is one of the nights I look forward to every year...going to the Demolition Derby at the fair. One of the reasons being because it has been an annual event for our family but the other reason being because I actually got to participate in it about 11 years ago (isn't it terrible that I can't remember exactly which year!?)Back before I even knew Duke and while still going to college, I worked at a little bar & restaurant called the Riverboat Depot. A few of the friends that I met while working there ran Demo cars and when I mentioned that I thought it would be fun to do it some day, they took me seriously and offered to help me build a car.
Thinking back, it is even a surprise to me that I actually went through with it. I NEVER would have been able to do it without their help though. There is A LOT of work that goes into building a Demo car and there isn't much reward other than the adrenaline rush you get from smashing it up!
The guys thought it would be funny to put their nick-name for me on top of my car when I wasn't looking. Very funny!!!
And the bumper said 'Freeze This' because there was a fellow bartender that said I would 'freeze up and never actually go through with it.' Well, I was determined to show her!
And that is just what I did! I was in the heat with the mid-sized cars to start off but I ended up getting stuck up on the railroad ties and couldn't get unstuck so I didn't get to smash the car up too much.
But I was able to get into the consolation round (anyone that could get their car running was able to get in and try for a chance at the feature).
I ended up winning the consolation heat and I made it into the Feature...against the 'big dogs' aka all of the veterans that stick a lot of money into their cars and actually know what they are doing. I can't recall who actually took these pictures but that was my car right in the middle of that smoke.
I lost reverse and my car started on fire (like big flames that took the fire truck to put out, not just the fire extinguisher) but I ended up getting 3rd place overall and boy was it FUN! 1000 times more fun than the bumper cars :) I get excited just thinking about it.
The next morning we went back to the fairgrounds to pick up what was left of my car.
Isn't that just CRAZY!
This is one of those things that never even had the chance to make it on to my Bucket List and was more fun and exciting than I ever could have imagined.
It does seem a little surreal looking back, especially now that I am a mini van driving mother of two. And the whole thing is a little a lot redneck but absolutely no regrets! Can't wait for tonight. Just hope the weather holds out.
The END!