McIntosh triumphs in final match at fair demolition derby Saturday

In the steel slug fest, Kyle McIntosh smashed his way to victory in the Park County Fair Demolition Derby Saturday night.

For nailing first in the final bout, Kyle McIntosh took home a $3,000 purse.

Trent Gillette, hitting second and Terry Vaughn at third, drove away with $1,400 and $700, respectively.

McIntosh’s ride was mangled, but his game plan was strategic coupled with a crackerjack pit crew, said Brock Ninker, the derby’s organizer.

The stands were filled and bleachers set up around the arena were occupied, Ninker said. “It was a capacity crowd for sure.”

Proceeds will be earmarked to buy some students wishing to attend Northwest College their books and pay their tuition and perhaps some scholarships too, said Northwest alum, Ninker. Next year’s derby may be designated to veterans.

As a whole, the fair was a success, as was the derby. A combination of great drivers, great pit crews and great fans made for a great derby. “All in all it was a good show,” Ninker said.

Bruiser

RJ Chouinard’s ribs were bruised in the metallic jousting. Powell Valley Hospital EMTs took a look see, but he was back on his feet forthwith.

“I think the big thing is it knocked the wind out of him real bad,” Ninker said.

Melon mashers

Despite his bruising, Chouinard walked away with $50 for smashing a watermelon.

In each heat, the driver who smashed the melon parked in the middle of the arena won $50.

Eric Parham squashed one. Vince Bolte crushed two as did Terry Vaughn. Shad May also flattened a melon.

Paying a grudge

In the grudge match, the last crash effort to qualify for the final clash, three victors left the field of mangled metal and steaming antifreeze with $100 each. Those tough guys were Josh Lovelady, Travis Gillette and Vince Bolte.

Crazed compacts

Three drivers faced off in the mini competition and each collected some dinero for their efforts. Seth Schuster won $800 for pummeling his way to first. Andy Neff hit second for $300 and Travis Long slugged his way to third for $100.

Offering decent money is a good incentive to get competitors, Ninker said. 

Pit visit

Josh Lovelady swung a sledge to straighten his driver’s side front fender to ready his wheels for the next skirmish. “Whump,” thudded the sledge.

“Hard as my car’s been hit all day,” Lovelady joked to his friends/pit crew.

Indeed, Lovelady’s ride looked pretty good with the exception of the fender, which received a little more delicate sculpting with a cutting torch.

Josh Zent’s engine growled like a caged tiger ready to take on the world as his posse adjusted the carburetor. His throttle broke in the first heat, but it was ready to rumble as the tiger under the hood roared.

Ninker made his rounds in the pit as the guys worked expeditiously to get their wheeled bombers up to speed — literally.

The crews worked quickly, but there was no tension in the air, just the sweet scent of engine exhaust. The atmosphere was more of affiliation as it has been since guys fixed the first internal combustion engine in a garage.

Tom Kovach, who loves getting his hands dirty, worked on five different cars in the pit Saturday night, Ninker said.