BY APRIL EVANS
Commercial-News
GEORGETOWN
April 23, 2009 08:53 pm
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The third annual Spring Explosion Demolition Derby is coming to Georgetown Saturday, with more than 100 vehicles expected to arrive, ready to smash and crash into each another.
Organizer Darren Alexander said he expects it to be the biggest derby yet, both in vehicles entered and grandstand attendance. He said it’s one of the top five derbies in the nation, car count-wise.
“This isn’t your local county fair demo derby,” said Alexander. “This is more your pro-circuit. The action will be fast and non-stop.”
Drivers will be competing for more than $16,000 in prize money and are traveling from seven states to compete. More than 3,000 people came to watch the event last year.
Alexander said for the $10 adult price of admission a person could choose to watch a two-hour movie in a theater, or they can come to the derby and see four to five hours of live entertainment.
Also, funds raised go toward benefiting local youth organizations. This year, groups like the Georgetown Youth Sports Association, Georgetown-Ridge Farm Youth Football League, Georgetown-Ridge Farm Athletic Boosters Club, Georgetown-Ridge Farm soccer and the Destination Imagination program will share profits.
Last year, he said $8,000 was donated to youth organizations.
“It’s more or less a way to bring money into the community from outside of the community,” said Alexander. “And it has worked really well. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger.”
Seven classes are being offered this year. Full-size, 1980s and newer, pro-mods, trucks, compacts, beginners and a promoter’s heat.
The beginner’s class is for drivers between the ages of 14 and 21.
“We’re breaking them in for the road,” said Alexander.
The promoter’s heat is comprised of 10 teams of two, all of which are derby promoters running cars.
One driver, “Fabulous” Ray Ferguson of Rockport, Ind., will enter in two classes Saturday. He said his extraordinary moniker was bestowed upon him once by a derby announcer and it just stuck.
He’s been doing derbies for eight years and will be rolling a 1991 Crown Victoria and a 1976 Chevrolet Impala onto the track Saturday. He said he’s poured hours of garage work and up to $9,000 each into the cars.
“I do it to take out frustration,” said Ferguson. “I like the people, too. And I’m fortunate enough to make a little money with it, too.”
Ferguson won second in his class at the Georgetown derby last year.
“I like it,” said Ferguson of the Spring Explosion. “It’s a pretty good derby. There are nice people to work with. I really enjoy going down there and running.”
IF YOU GO
The Spring Explosion Demolition Derby takes place at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Georgetown Fairgrounds. Pit gates open at 8 a.m. with pit passes costing $20 each. The grandstands open at noon, with adult tickets costing $6 and tickets for children under 10 costing $7.
The Georgetown Lions Club will serve breakfast at the food building on the fairgrounds from 7 to 10 a.m.
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