Metal meets mayhem at the Summit County Fair Demolition Derby

Demolition Derby at Coalville's Summit County Fair. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

COALVILLE, Utah — The Summit County Fair’s annual Demolition Derby roared into Coalville Saturday night before a sold-out crowd, and if the battered cars had outside temperature gauges — or really, any gauges left at all — they would have read 100 degrees.

 

 

 

 

 

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“It’s a great night and a huge happy crowd for the demolition derby here in Coalville, and I hope everyone leaves from here feeling connected to their community and proud to be a resident of Summit County,” County Council Member Megan McKenna told TownLift. 

Growing up in Park City, McKenna has been attending the event since she was a teenager and remembers those derbies fondly. In her second year now serving on the Council, this is also McKenna’s second time driving the Fair Royalty Court on a lap in the truck around the inside of the stadium.

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With bounce houses, food trucks, a beer garden, spill-over seating with big screens, and a live band playing all the favorite new and old country covers, the crowd was all glad to gather once again for this event.

Below is a photo of Abbie Winterrose and her parents. The 16-year-old from Heber had gotten second place in her hometown Demolition Derby the week prior before winning first place on Saturday in Coalville in the undercard, youth division heat in the co-ed competition. 

The victory wasn’t a surprise for the experienced driver, who has competed in the Summit County Fair Demolition Derby for four consecutive years.

Tinkering on her 1984 Crown Vic is a nice way for her to bond with her dad, who got her into the sport.

“I just love the adrenaline you get on derby day,” The Wasatch High School student told TownLift.

The evening also featured an audience-voted Best Paint Job contest and a kids’ competition in plastic toy cars before multiple heats of adult competition, where competitors vied for a total prize purse of tens of thousands of dollars.

Despite multiple layers of safety precautions, the first minute of the opening heat saw a crash that prompted an immediate stop in the action. A wrecker pulled the damaged car away from the perimeter barricade, allowing EMTs to reach the driver. Within minutes, the driver climbed out of the vehicle on his own and, to applause from the crowd, walked to a waiting ambulance.

Results: 

Old Iron Heat:

• Case Barker, Car Number 3.14, Hits 44, Average Hit Interval 0.17

Limited Weld:

• Spencer Jacobsen, Car Number X25, Hits 20, Average Hit Interval 0.20

80s:

• Seth Dompier, Car Number 87, Hits 53, Average Hit Interval 0.81

Youth:

• Abbie Winterrose, Car Number X20Jr, Hits 8, Average Hit Interval 0.45

Mini Cars:

• Cache Larsen, Car Name SPAZ, Hits 26, Average Hit Interval 0.12