ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
The Five State Free Fair is scheduled to start Aug. 7, and while the event is a family-friendly time for everyone, one part of the fair is truly a family affair.
After a few years' absence, the demolition derby made a return for the 2023 fair, and the derby run by Gene Ward and his brother-in-law is coming back for this year’s fair.
“We heard, for whatever reason, there were no races anymore, and we decided to go to the fair board and ask them if they would be interested in a demolition derby,” he said.
Ward said the 2023 demo derby proved to be quite successful.
“We did really good,” he said. “The fair board told us 2023 was the first time in a long time they were profitable, and they believe it was because of the demo derby.”
With that success in mind, Ward said he and his brother-in-law made the decision to bring the derby back for this year’s fair, and he said this year’s derby is somewhat different.
“This year, we’re going to implement what’s called a two-man team demo,” he said. “When people first hear that, they think there’s going to be two people in the car, but it’s two cars, and they’re on the same team. We have two cars that are going to be painted the same color and two other cars from another team that are a different color. In each heat, we’re going to have four cars, and whoever wins that heat will go on to the main event Saturday.”
The two-man team is part of the bonestock division of the derby, which Ward said features cars with the bare bones.
“Bonestock is the simple, kick the windows out and chain the doors shut,” he said. “If you’re a beginner and you’ve never been a demo before, that’s probably the one you want to be in, and that’s the one we’re putting in the top prize of $4,000 if you win that.”
With bonestock cars, Ward said little, if any modifications, can be mad in bonestock.
“All you can do is knock out the windows,” he said. “That’s a fun one. There’s a lot of new beginners who have never drove before, and you’re either going to slam the accelerator down and gas it and run like crazy, which is a good show for the audience, or you’re going to putt around because you’re scared to get hit.”
The next class of derby cars comes in the limited weld division, which Ward described as a protector class.
“You’re allowed to put protectors around your distributor, protectors around your engine, protectors around your transmission,” he said. “There’s five pages of rules for that one. I put the rules on Facebook for the two-man team and the rules for limited weld. We also have another class that is called modified.”
Altogether, the demo derby has four classes of competition, and Ward summarized the categories.
“We have bonestock, which is the general weld, the limited weld, what we call our protector class, modified, which is do about anything you want to the car except what’s called kickers,” he said. “Kickers are where you have extra welds on the frame, so it’s harder to break the frame. Then we have full modified, where you are allowed kickers.”
Ward said his family has been in the demolition derby since he was in high school.
“It’s fun,” he said. “We have a lot of fun doing it. This year, we’re in not in charge of the concession stand. The fair board’s doing that. All we’re doing is running the demo.”
There is a $125 entry fee for bonestock team drivers, with a $40 entry fee for the limited weld class. Registration can be done by calling 785-479-1898 or the Five State Free Fair Web site at www.fivestatefair.com. Rules for the categories can be found there as well.
“You can print out the rules, and on the back side of the limited weld rules is the registration form for the demo,” Ward said.
The demolition derby is scheduled for the nights of Aug. 9 and 10, and Ward said the event has a big draw in terms of participants.
“We have people coming from Oklahoma, Perryton, Nebraska, Pratt,” he said. “There’s almost 20 teams already. That’s 40 cars. It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be a great event.”
The 2023 demo derby was supposed to be the last in front of the fairgrounds, but with county commissioners recently opting to acquire new bleachers for the rodeo arena over moving that arena in front of the grandstands, the derby will have another year in its traditional location. However, derby fans will see one significant difference this year.
“They cut the fence down between the grandstand audience and the arena,” Ward said. “We’re going to have to put the arena for the demo derby six feet out and make that square. I don’t want cars going into the stands.”
Ward said with the fence gone, spectators will have a new open wide experience to view the derby.
“That fence doesn’t obstruct your view at all,” he said.
Gates for the demo derby open at 6 p.m. both nights, with pits opening at 1 p.m. both days. Pit passes are $25 each. Ward said there are rules for those holding pit passes.
“The people holding the pit passes will only be allowed to enter from the pit and sit in the bleachers north of the center grandstands seating for viewing,” he said. “The fair association will rope off and guard the area from the bleachers to the grandstands. Anyone who wants to sit in the center grandstands seating will be required to enter the grandstand entry gate and purchase a full price ticket from the fair board. If you get a pit pass, you can only sit in the northern bleachers by the grandstands. You can’t go into the main area.”
Tickets for adults and children age 12 and older are $15 each and $10 each for children age 6 to 11. For more information, visit www. fivestatefair.com, or call 785-479-1898.
