How to Participate in a Demolition Derby
While demolition derbies are fading in popularity because of the scarcity of the older cars that stand up well to abuse, you can still find them at the occasional county fair or carnival. By stripping down your vehicle and making driver safety your priority, you will be able to have fun participating in a demolition derby.
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Instructions
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Strip the interior of the vehicle of anything that might cause injury to you or cause the car to catch fire. This includes the windshields and side windows, the dashboard, all exterior chrome, headlights and taillights, carpets and interior panels. Vacuum the vehicle thoroughly, so that dirt and loose objects will not fly up and hit you during a collision.
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Move to the engine compartment, and strip out everything you will not need, such as the heater-core housing, extra wiring, hoses and windshield-wiper motor. Take special care to remove the vapor-recovery unit, which is full of gas.
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Strengthen and reinforce all areas of the vehicle that will make the car more durable during a demolition derby, such as the gas tank, the frame and the steering column. Find tips on how to prepare your car for a demolition derby at the Demolition Derby Drivers' Association (DDDA) website (see Resources below).
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Use the Demolition Derby Drivers' Association website to find out about events in which you may want to participate. The DDDA site is also an excellent resource for rules and regulations, as well as classified ads for derby-ready vehicles and parts.
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Drive smart, as encouraged by the DDDA. That means observing all rules and regulations during a derby, such as not ramming the driver's door on another vehicle and using the rear of your vehicle as the preferred point of contact to protect the engine compartment. Always have at least one fire extinguisher at your disposal as well.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are worried about your vehicle failing an inspection before a derby, show up right before the start time of the event. During this time, judges tend to look less closely at the vehicles because of time constraints.
