Demolition Derby!

[Blazer06]

I need help. In one year, i am going to compete in a demolition derby at the Cheshire fairground in NH. Anyways, I need to know what kind of car i should get.

This will be my first time doing anything like this, but i want to. I have access to tools and stuff to strip the car, and a local garage may sponser me (so ill have a place to work in/store the car... etc.)

I was thinking about a chevy caviler.


Blaze

[Gomer]

all depends on the rules and class

One of these would be best, Blaze.

Do you need a licence first to do this derby?

Cheers
Mick

[M_Six]

I would think an Eldorado or a Coupe de Ville would work better.

[Blazer06]

ill have my learners permit, but since its in a different state, buy a private group on their land i dont think i need one. anyways, they said i just have to be 16 to get in, and it only costs 40 to register...


Blaze

[Gomer]

I shall elaborate:
is it a figure eight or last car standing?
is it a 4 cyl class?
is it a unibody class?
is it all FWD cars?


Cars with unibody construction i.e. cavaliers will not stand up to a beating from a frame constructed car. Not a bit.

Follow the rules... make sure steering and suspension is tight... Busted tie-rod will ruin your fun in a hurry.

Most don't allow for bracing other than behind the drivers seat and in the drivers door. Clear anything likely to kill the radiator easily out of the way. Dull sharp corners in the tire area. Run a thick oil. New hoses all around. Rig a "hotwire" starting system.

[Blazer06]

last two cars standing
4 cyl is one class,
then there are bigger ones,
then bigger ones. (by weight..)

3 classes.


Dont know the official rules, should get them in the mail. but i don want to start looking for a car.


Blaze

[Gomer]

Stick with 4 cyl for the first times... follow the other tips I gave you... follow the rules to the letter and you'll be fine. Have fun =)

[Blazer06]

i was think of sticking with the small for these reasons:

less cars to be hit by,
less expensive,
easier to handle (?)


Blaze

[OuTpaTienT]

Do you know how to do all the work necessary to make a vehicle derby ready? Or at least know people that will do it for you? Things like welding doors shut, removing the gas tank and running the fuel line to a 5 gallon container in the car, removing every ounce of glass, rewiring an ignition button, etc. Takes quite a bit of work.

Station wagons sometimes hold up well. Most derbies don't allow Chevrolet Impalas because they always win.

I have a friend that competes annually in a derby. Of all the winners I've seen over the years, they almost all had one thing in common…they created their own "crumple zones". They intentionally weakened certain parts of the body so when smashed up the car would fold up predictably. Once the front fenders are smashed in, and the trunk folds over on itself, then the vehicle really can't be smashed up much more. If you can get it to that state and still have it running, then you have mini-sherman tank and a good chance at winning.

Your tires should have very little air pressure, like 5lbs maybe. This is for better traction as well as to keep them from popping. Be sure to fold back any protrusions around the wheel wells so they won't jam your tires and hang you up. Don't cut away the wheel wells, you want to keep as much mass of the vehicle as possible. Make sure to bring a couple sledgehammers with you and plenty of friends. Usually these are multi-round contests and you'll need the sledge hammers if you make through the first heat. It's at that point you can start hammering the car down in specific spots so it'll smash in the way you want it to.