Shake, rattle, and roll!
Photo by CHANSE WATSON Paul Twidt of Page, Idaho gets the crowd fired up after his car is pinned between another car and one of the logs that defines the driving area.
(From left) #1 Steve Henry of Kingston, #16 Walker Texas, and #42 Levi Falck kick the dust up in the second heat of the derby.
That'll buff out. #72 Kyle Watts' car sprays coolant after a collision with #13 Nick Elam of Kingston.
#50 Brian Taylor and #254 Tim O'Neill of Cataldo get into the heat of things.
#1054 Chris O'Neill of Kingston moves in to hit #24 Casey Thorne while #15 Nathan Colvin cruises past. O'Neill moved on to take second place overall in the event.
COEUR d’ALENE — Demolition derby has been popular here in the Silver Valley for some time now.
The semi-recently resurrected Frontier Days celebration, which features the derby as its flagship event, has never failed to draw a crowd since the Smelterville Lions Club started holding it four years ago.
With the event unfortunately absent from this year’s event list due to the lack of a place to hold it, gearheads in the Silver Valley had to head to Coeur d’Alene for their fix of destruction and mayhem.
Twenty-nine drivers from across the region crashed, banged, and collided in front of a sold out crowd Sunday night at the 32nd annual North Idaho Fair & Rodeo demolition derby for the chance to take home the first prize of $2,000.
Of these 29 drivers, 12 registered as being from a city in the Silver Valley.
The event was divided into three heats, followed by a “tough luck” heat comprised of cars that lost in the previous heats, but were still in working order.
Drivers were assigned to heats by drawing a playing card before the derby.
Each card suit was associated with a different heat.
The top three drivers from these four heats moved to the championship.
To emerge victorious from this modern-day gladiatorial battle, participants had to make a “hit” on another car at least once every two minutes in a heat or be disqualified.
This rule weeds out what drivers refer to as “sandbaggers,” or drivers who cruise on the outside of the arena and avoid collisions in order to reduce their risk of damage.
Cars were also disqualified for being immobile for too long due to damage sustained throughout the match.
Drivers break a wooden stick they attached to the frame of their cars after they have been immobilized or time out to signify they are out.
Silver Valley participants had a decent showing in the event and three drivers from the area made it to the final.
Steve Henry and Chris O’Neill of Kingston and Tim O’Neill of Cataldo literally and figuratively pushed their way through their competitions to make it to the championship.
The final heat was a mad scramble with all drivers bringing their best to the pit.
A smoke-filled arena slowly became littered with disabled (and sometimes flaming) vehicles as these adrenaline junkies held nothing back.
At the end of the carnage, it was Tony Adams Jr. of Montana who stood atop his car victorious.
O’Neill took second place and walked away with the $800 runner-up prize.
For the past 32 years, Kootenai Charities have been responsible for running the derby and all proceeds from the event go to the community.
Organizations that have benefited in the past from the event include Christmas for All, various Kootenai County food banks, School District 271, St. Pius Soup Kitchen, and recipients of North Idaho College scholarships.
Paul Twidt, driver and Smelterville Lions Club member, was pleased to see the event so well attended and was glad he and other Shoshone County residents could contribute to the fun.
“It was good to see all the Valley boys in Coeur d’Alene this year since Frontier days won’t have it,” he said.
“It definitely makes it a better show.”
Silver Valley derby drivers will once again take to the pit on Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. at the Benewah County Fairgrounds during the Paul Bunyan Days celebration in St. Maries, Idaho.
Visit the St. Maries Paul Bunyan Days Facebook page for more information.