HURRICANE — Tradition holds that the last night of the Washington County Fair is the loudest, crunchiest and most exciting night of all. The “Demolition Derby” was held Saturday, bringing crowds to their feet and smashing automobiles that the drivers have worked on all year to get ready for this event.
Starting with 8- to 12-year-old kids driving real cars with their parents in the passenger seat and working up to the big metal of the truck category, the 2016 “Demolition Derby” lived up to its reputation as the loudest and most fun show in town.
Derby promoter Matt Wetzel said all winners received cash prizes, and over $40,000 was awarded last night to participants.
For the actual derby, participants were allowed to drive anywhere on the track, with the last car “standing” being the winner. For the figure-8 challenges, drivers maneuvered in figure eights for a specified number of laps, guided by barriers and leading to the potential for heavy crashes in the center. Drivers were divided into classes based on their age and whether they were driving lightweight vehicles, such as Toyotas or Datsuns, or heavier vehicles like Lincolns, Cadillacs and Buicks.
Carl Lamar, Marty Lane and Amy Chesley, the KONY 99.9 morning team, were on hand at the event, both in the booth and trackside to bring attendees the exciting crash-by-wreck action and to entertain the crowd between heats.
Wetzel announced the winners of the individual heats were:
Kid Class (8-12 year old)
- Heat 1 – 1st Place: Gage Brown
- Heat 2 – 1st Place: Kaulin Wetzel
Figure 8 Heavy Class
Figure 8 – Light class
- Heat 1 – 1st Place: Eric Crosby
- Heat 2 – 1st Place: Clay Salisbury
- Heat 3 – 1st Place: Mel Jensen
Demolition Derby Stock Build
Demolition Derby Limited Weld
- 1st Place: Brilee Lamprecht
Demolition Derby Truck Class
The Outlaw class was not run due to there only being two entries, Chuck Gilmore and Casey Hyatt. The prize money was split between the two entrants.
Ed. Note: The results posted on first publish of this report were those posted by the Washington County Fair, which it came to light Sunday were last year’s results. This report is updated to reflect the 2016 results and supplied by Matt Wetzel, Demolition Derby promoter.
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The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
An inoperative demolition derby car is removed from the track after a heat, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
Crowds of fair-goers packed the stands for the 2016 Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
Crowds of fair-goers packed the stands for the 2016 Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
Crowds of fair-goers packed the stands for the 2016 Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
Demolition Derby cars race by at the start of a heat, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
The crowd stands for the National Anthem at the 2016 Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
2016 Fair Royalty poses before the start of the Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
Bad Company, one of the trucks entered in the 2016 Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Austin Peck, St. George News
Hurricane Valley Fire Authority firefighters look over a car which caught fire during an event at the 2016 Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Austin Peck, St. George News
Cars lined up waiting for the 2016 Demolition Derby to begin, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Austin Peck, St. George News
A youngster takes the wheel of a car at the 2016 Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Austin Peck, St. George News
Casey Lofthouse walks hand in hand with one of his children who participated in the 2016 Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Austin Peck, St. George News
A broken car gets a push off the track at the 2016 Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Austin Peck, St. George News
The start of a heat of the 2016 Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Austin Peck, St. George News
A broken down car waits for rescue during the 2016 Demolition Derby, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Austin Peck, St. George News
Cars lined up waiting for the 2016 Demolition Derby to begin, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Austin Peck, St. George News
The Washington County Fair Demolition Derby. Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
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"I wrote my first word when I was very young. I enjoyed this so much I decided to write many more words."
A native of Pacific Palisades, Calif., Ric was bitten by the news bug as a staff writer and associate editor of the Palisades High School Tideline. After school he entered the media as a radio personality, both playing music and reporting news. Ric moved to St. George in the 1980s and was the morning personality on all three major AM stations in town. An avid amateur radio operator, Ric is looking for a good band to play in, as he plays keyboards, bass and guitar. Ric, who currently is working on developing a lifestyle that doesn't require his presence, lives in the center of St. George with his partner Terri, two snoring dogs and too many neurotic cats.
This was a fantastic fair. Well organized and family oriented. the weather was perfect for the event. It was a great success. I would like to thank all the people that were involved in putting this together. also like to say thanks to all the volunteers that help make this possible. we should be so blessed to be in a community with loving and caring people .Praise the Lord
I couldn’t agree more. Great time with the family. Thanks to everyone that made this a great fair!
Which Dumpster are we dealing with here? You are all over the place. Please get some help.
May God bless you and watch over you. because your misguided soul needs purpose !