Demolition derby has been my summer love ever since I was a little kid.  My dad is the main reason why I got so interested in demolition derbies.  He has been part of the Jay County Fair Board for more than twenty years.  Every year he announces the derbies to the huge crowds that come to watch.  He first started taking me to them when I was seven years old.  I have been infatuated with derby cars ever since.  When I was 16 years old, I participated in my first demolition derby.  I found a 1983 Cadillac and received it for free.  It took about one month to get the car ready to go.  I sold the car to a junkyard after I tore it up on the track.  Down below are some before and after pictures of my car.

     This is my first derby car ever.  It is           This is Friday night's derby.  I let        This is the heat of cars that he was

      a 1983 Cadillac.                                              one of my friends drive the car            in.  We wrote Patriot Cruiser on the

                                                                                 before me.                                                 front, our school mascot was a patriot.

       Here, I am getting my car ready               My crew and I had some problems             I am getting out of the car to

        the next day.                                                 getting the car to shift into drive.                help work on the transmission.

           After we got the car fixed, I drove      Here is the head official making sure          After I passed inspection, I drove

           it to the inspection line.  All cars         the body of the car is not reinforced.         over to get in line for my heat.

           have to pass inspection in order       When you pass inspection, you get a        The kid on the front of my car is

           to be allowed to race.                             wooden stick to tape by your drivers        one of my good friends.

                                                                                door.

              After I parked in my heat line,                We found known, except for duct            I watch nervously, because

              my friend and I started to look               taping my stick to the drivers side.         the demolition derby is about

              for any last minute changes.                  The stick on the drivers door is               about to start.

                                                                                      there to show that your car is still

                                                                                      running.  When your car stops

                                                                                      running for 3 minutes or longer,

                                                                                      then you  have to break off your

                                                                                      stick.

             This photo was taken during my             This is an after photo of my car.  I            This is another after shot of my 

             heat.  I am the red car at the back             was going to save the car for the             Cadillac.  I tore up the back

             of the track.                                                     next year, but it would have been             pretty well and left the front

                                                                                        too much work to get the back                  in pretty good shape.

                                                                                         end up.