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63-516: Islip Speedway is credited with hosting the first demolition derby , which took place in 1958. According to Larry Mendelsohn, he originated the idea after realizing that spectators enjoyed watching the cars crash more than the races. However, there are alternative accounts to the origins of demolition derby. One source claims that Don Basile invented the demolition derby at Carrell Speedway in 1947. The ABC television show Wide World of Sports broadcast demolition derbies at Islip Speedway beginning in

126-412: A 'National' or 'Back to basic' Banger meeting may be a demolition derby where the cars that have raced compete to be the last one standing. At special events, caravans or small boats may be towed by racers during the demolition derby for added destruction during the event. At regular banger events, cars are gridded across the track, sometimes in a graded order of driver success, and then sent away to give

189-437: A disabled car while the race continues, as this is adjudged to be the safest option. The largest association of European promoters has indeed mandated this, it is now a punishable offence to leave a car during 'green flags' unless deemed an emergency situation. If it is deemed necessary to move them or if a driver is in particular danger (including fire), a red flag may be used to stop the race. Races are then usually restarted when

252-403: A driver intentionally in the driver's door and sometimes rolling another car intentionally, are also grounds for disqualification. When a car is disabled or loses power, the driver is allowed time to restart their engine, usually 30 seconds to a minute, and must be able to move. If the car cannot start and move, the driver is forced to concede and is eliminated from the heat. Most events require

315-463: A figure of eight configurations. Banger racing is often confused with stock car racing , although there are differences between the two, despite often racing at the same tracks. Banger racing vehicles are normally scrap or 'written-off' cars in varying states of disrepair. In modern bangers, there are different events held for different vehicle types. The most common type are 'Unlimited' bangers, where cars racing have no set engine size limit. Despite

378-457: A rolling start for the beginning of a race. Despite the racing element of the sport, the community often categorise drivers into two different groups. There are those who are regarded as 'rodders', a term derived from the Hot Rod formulas that also commonly race on short ovals. These drivers aim to win races by any means possible. There are also those who are known as 'wreckers' and compete with

441-519: A sandwich effort, and could result in disqualification for both parties that do so; although the enforcement of this rule varies widely. The time it takes for one of these events varies, depending on if the derby being run has multiple heats and feature, or just a single heat, as well as the types of vehicles being demolished (compact car derbies tend to be finished much more quickly than school bus derbies, for example). Normal heats can last anywhere from 10–30 minutes, while an entire event can take place over

504-410: A slat of wood with a flag attached to be placed in the front column of the driver door, a judge breaks this to disqualify a driver, or a driver can break it in order to resign. The first and second place finishers of a heat move on to the next heat, in competitions with multiple heats. Depending on the sanctioning body, it may be illegal for multiple cars to collaborate and gang up on opposing cars in

567-510: A starting spot in the feature event to all Figure 8 division track champions who would travel to Long Island and represent their home track, hoping to claim the title of "World Champion". The remaining starting positions were determined through heat races. The "Demolition Derby World Championship" was held immediately following the "Figure 8 World Championship" feature race and was also taped for future broadcast on ABC's Wide World of Sports . These broadcasts led to increased exposure and notoriety of

630-576: A time frame. Live demolition derbies could last indefinitely. Motor Madness changed the rules from last car running to largest number of offensive hits in a time frame. However, as part of MTV Networks' takeover of CBS Cable operations in 2000, demolition derbies, as well as the rest of the CBS motor-sports operations, were removed from programming as part of MTV's move to shut down the CBS Charlotte operation based at Lowe's Motor Speedway and generalize

693-401: A turnout of 266 at the 2005 running and 265 cars the following year, however both of these meetings consisted of 'Unlimited' and 'Under 1800cc' bangers. Banger team meetings have also become popular in recent times, producing turnouts of over 200 cars on some occasions. The Unlimited 'Icebreaker' meeting, held at Swaffham Raceway on 8 February 1998 drew 209 competitors. Not only was this event

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756-456: Is a 'best car' award which is usually either given to the best-presented vehicle or the rarest car; with the latter being the subject of much controversy with classic car enthusiasts. In a banger race, yellow flags are used during the race to warn drivers that caution is required. Cars which stall or are stopped by opposing drivers are usually left on the course while the race continues. In recent times, drivers have been encouraged to remain inside

819-452: Is a format designed to prolong the life of driver's cars with limited contact between drivers. The idea was brought about in the mid-1990s for those wishing to race bangers across the course of a season on a small budget. The reduced costs and crashes mean it is a safer and less aggressive environment for drivers, but not as popular with fans. The 'Rookie' banger format is commonly seen as a stepping stone for drivers who are looking to step up to

882-410: Is a popular theme portrayed in video games . While some games aim to be a realistic simulation of real-life derbies, others such as vehicular combat games include gameplay features that would be impossible in real life. Notable demolition derby video games include: Banger racing Banger racing is a tarmac, dirt, shale and chalk track type of motorsport event popular in countries such as

945-556: Is a possibility for $ 50,000 to go to the winner. The event will be held on June 14, 15 and 16 in Lima, Ohio at the Allen County Fairgrounds. In 2024, the first professional demolition derby organization was founded by a collective group of demolition derby drivers, promoters and parts vendors. This organization is called Demolition Entertainment Motorsports Organization ( D.E.M.O. ). The first sanctioned D.E.M.O. event

1008-626: Is a type of motorsport , usually presented at county fairs and national events. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another. The last driver whose vehicle is still operational is awarded the victory. Demolition derbies originated in the United States and quickly spread to other Western nations. For example, Australia's first demolition derby took place in January 1963. In

1071-440: Is declared the winner. Compact cars, especially hatchbacks , are used in rollover competitions. Their lighter weight enables them to roll more easily than larger vehicles. However, with modern high-horsepower unibody sedans and coupes now appearing on salvage lots, some of this conventional wisdom is being questioned and some major competitions have been won by drivers of small size, mid-size and full-size sedans. Demolition derby

1134-579: Is frequently used to mark names, slogans and identification). Additional modifications include trimming sheet metal from around the wheel wells, removing parts of bumpers, welding the doors shut, and relocating the battery and gas tank. The radiator is sometimes relocated to the back seat. To make the cars last longer, they are occasionally pre-bent, with frames notched, rear bumpers removed, trunk lids notched, and rear coil springs are (when rules allow) replaced with leaf springs . In many instances, roll bars, fire extinguishers, and other safety equipment

1197-470: Is increasing in popularity. Compact car events have the advantage of an abundant supply of usable vehicles, which also tend to be more mobile and thus, more entertaining to fans. Being largely front-wheel drive vehicles, their back ends can sustain considerable amounts of damage before the vehicle is immobilized. However, this increased speed, coupled with the fact that compact cars tend to be less crashworthy, makes injuries more frequent. Other versions of

1260-483: Is installed. Sometimes the removed parts create bulk availability of off-color parts for older cars that are compatible with them. In most cases, any vehicle parts must be "stock", though in some derbies a "gladiator" or "outlaw" division allows cars to be extensively modified and reinforced. In 2001, the Los Angeles Times estimated that between 150,000 and 225,000 drivers participated in at least one of

1323-567: Is mainly to keep competition fair and not to endanger drivers who may be racing in weaker cars. The SsangYong Rodius and the Chrysler Imperial are two of the most prominent to have been banned for these reasons. Many other banger classes exist, but many are only applied for special event meetings. Big or small van, HGV/coach/bus, 4X4/SUV, siamese/double-decker and classic car ('Pre' meeting) bangers are all classes that would incorporate vehicles one may not normally be allowed to race in

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1386-411: Is removed from the vehicles, and deliberately ramming a driver's-side door area is forbidden. The driver's door is often required to be painted white with black numbers or blaze orange , or with contrasting colors, for visibility. Most demolition derbies are held on dirt tracks , or in open fields, that are usually soaked with water. This causes the competition area to become muddy which helps to slow

1449-559: Is scheduled to be held at Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol, TN) in October 2024. This event will feature a "team" format event lasting 4 days and paying out a total purse of over $ 400,000. Competitors have traditionally used full-size, American-made sedans and station wagons , especially those from the 1960s and 1970s, which are larger, heavier, and had more robust frames than later full-size vehicles. The 1964–1966 Imperial achieved near-legendary status for its crashworthiness , and it

1512-510: Is still banned from most derby events. Scrap vehicles are purchased from junkyards and private owners, usually for less than US$ 500, though some select (and rust-free) mid-1970s sedans and station wagons may go for more than $ 1,000. Vehicles are often patched up and re-used for several events. With the dwindling availability of these older vehicles, smaller full-sized vehicles of the late 1980s and 1990s are more frequently encountered today. A separate class of demolition derby for compact cars

1575-432: Is the 2018 Stan Woods Memorial meeting at Stoke which turned out a total of 192 cars. This meeting was special for the reason that the event consisted only of cars which started production before 1975, making it the largest ever classic car meeting turnout. What makes this meeting all the more special, is that the turnout grew each year from the creation of the event back in 2012, however since event moved to Odsal Stadium ,

1638-574: The Mondeo and the Cougar . As these types of cars are used so often, some promotions have taken to limiting the 'Under 2000cc' class even more, by running races with additional car constraints that force drivers to use alternative vehicles to the favoured Fords. 'Under 1300cc-1800cc', also known as 'Domestic bangers', are another regular class of bangers seen in the UK, with the engine displacement cap varying on

1701-628: The United Kingdom , Ireland , Belgium and the Netherlands . Vehicles are raced against one another, with the winner being the first to the checkered flag after a set number of laps. Contact to damage an opponent's car is permitted and encouraged within the formula, with cars progressively becoming more damaged throughout an event. Races are held at an oval or tri-oval circuits that are up to 1 ⁄ 4 mile (440 yd; 400 m) long; however, on certain occasions, races are held in

1764-637: The 'National' banger scene, with many drivers stepping up or partaking in both throughout their careers. 'Back to Basic' banger racing is an emerging part of the banger world, that is growing in success and popularity by acting as an entry-level way for fans to break into the sport. Racing is often held in the same style as the 'Rookie' banger division, but car preparation is scaled back, with drivers being able to leave in dashboards and on-key ignition, that would normally have to be removed. Drivers are also not allowed to protect their vehicles as much, with cars usually being stripped-down versions of how they appeared on

1827-535: The 1930s utilizing the abundant supply of worn-out Ford Model Ts . The originator of the concept for auto demolition derbies is disputed. One source says that Don Basile is often credited with inventing the demolition derby at the now demolished Carrell Speedway, near Gardena, CA, in 1947. Another source states stock car racer Larry Mendelsohn created the concept for demolition derbies at New York State's Islip Speedway in 1958, after realizing many people favored wrecks to racing. The sport's popularity grew throughout

1890-715: The 1960s, becoming a standard at county fairs and becoming a subculture nationwide. The popularity of demolition derbies also spread overseas. In 1963, a reported crowd of 20,000 packed into the Rowley Park Speedway in Adelaide to see Australia's first demolition derby. Due to the size of the crowd (about twice the venue capacity), the police closed the speedway's gates. The derby itself had over 75 entries and lasted for over 100 minutes. Demolition derbies in Australia generally take place at speedways (usually on

1953-570: The 2,000 demolition derbies held in the United States that year. Event purses rose from a pittance of a few hundred dollars to over $ 50,000 after the popularity of TNN's Motor Madness series. In 2017 one of the most popular Demolition Derby series is the Tour of Destruction which features School Bus Racing, Trailer Racing, Car Soccer and a large Demolition Derby. These events are viewed by up to 5000 spectators. Derbies have many different sets of rules, often pertaining to how much welding can be done to

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2016-657: The King of Ohio event ( Lima, Ohio ) aimed at progressing the sport in the mainstream motorsports world. The focus of the event is to challenge drivers to beat each other through "the format" rather than try to outlast their competition. Cory Roman (Pa) won the inaugural King of Ohio event and $ 10,000. In 2022 the King of Ohio became the largest individual 1st place prize in the country with a $ 25,000 pay day collected by Trace Braun of Celina, Ohio. 2023 brought yet another record-setting payday of $ 26,5000, which JT Hiltibran of Urbana, Ohio collected. 2024 does not look to disappoint as there

2079-420: The UK and parts of Europe, demolition derbies (sometimes called "destruction derbies") are often held at the end of a full day of banger racing . In demolition derbies, serious injuries such as whiplash are rare, but they do happen. Drivers are typically required to sign a waiver to release the promoter of an event from liability. At almost all derbies, attempts are made to make the event safer; all glass

2142-492: The addition of best-in-show provides more contestants for the feature event.) Also included at some demolition derbies in the US and UK are rollover competitions, where the object is to drive a car so that only the wheels on one side hit a ramp, causing the vehicle to roll over repeatedly. Drivers take multiple runs at the ramp until their vehicle dies. The driver who completes the most rollovers before their vehicle ceases to function

2205-438: The car. The sport has become a leading formula in short oval racing in the UK and Ireland, regularly drawing large numbers of both competitors and spectators. As the sport's popularity exploded during the 1970s and 1980s, many venues began to host banger events, building a strong driver and fan base in the process. These tracks and promotions began to host championship events to find out their fastest and most talented drivers. PRI

2268-407: The character Pinky Tuscadero , a female professional demolition derby driver and occasional love interest to the show's most popular character, Arthur Fonzarelli . Folk-pop singer Jim Croce wrote and sung about the sport in one of his popular songs, "Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy)" on his 1972 album, You Don't Mess Around with Jim . The sport's popularity peaked in the 1970s. But by the 1980s,

2331-495: The cheap running and repair costs of the cars compared with the bigger machinery. Four-wheel drive cars cannot be raced in any of the above categories. The 'Unlimited' class has the main stipulation of the car being rear-wheel drive, unless the vehicle is of American origin. This ruling makes it quite flexible for drivers to choose an appropriate car to race in, however there are some car models which have been banned outright for their increased strength compared to other vehicles. This

2394-497: The coming years, producing more cars and attracting drivers from all over the UK and often overseas. The 'Firecracker' event held at Arena Essex was so popular that it became the venue's biggest meeting for fans and drivers alike, and was subsequently held every year until the stadium's closure in 2018. The peak number of cars to compete in one season was around 13,000 in 2003, of which around 9,500 were 'fresh' and had not been raced at any previous meetings. As for individual meetings,

2457-418: The early 1960s. This exposure gave the event national attention and helped increase its popularity. In 1962, a Figure 8 track was added. The Figure 8 course shared the north and south turns with the oval and crisscrossed using lanes paved through the infield. The first Figure 8 race was held on August 11, 1962. The popular Figure 8 class became a regularly featured division from the time of its inception until

2520-487: The first of its kind to break this barrier, but at the point of running, it was the largest accurate turnout on record. Since then, there have been many other team meetings that have produced 200+ turnouts. The biggest team meeting on record was the Unlimited teams event held at Oval Emmem in 2016, which produced a turnout of 240 cars, also making it the biggest turnout at any Dutch venue. Another turnout of significance in

2583-483: The future when junk cars from the 1990s to 2010s will be increasingly used in demo derbies as they grew in popularity during those decades). Recently a new class for minivans has been added to some derbies because of the abundance of older minivan junk vehicles. Motorhome demolition derbies are another variation. The vehicles are stripped of interior fixtures, trim, plastic, lights, and glass. They are repainted, often in loud, garish designs and on low budgets (spray paint

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2646-459: The high running costs, this is usually one of the most competitive classes and is favoured by most drivers because of the high speeds and car strengths. Fans often regard the unlimited class as the sport's pinnacle, with many big championship races being raced to unlimited class specs. The 'Under 2000cc' class is where cars have to have an engine under two litres in size, a formula that proves to be particularly popular with Ford variant cars such as

2709-437: The intention of destroying their own and other racer's cars. Wreckers are often more popular with the crowd, although drivers who win races and qualify for the world final are also respected. Along with trophies for race winners and podium finishers, there are often trophies presented to the 'Best wrecker', 'Best entertainer' and 'Demolition derby winner', in order to attract drivers of both persuasions. Another trophy often given

2772-538: The largest turnouts vary depending on the banger class racing. Meetings with 200+ bangers in attendance would be considered some of the biggest in the sport's history. The largest accurate meeting turnout on record was the Spedeworth Unlimited National Banger World Final of 2017 in which 269 cars were in attendance. The 'Heavy Metal Classic' meetings hosted at Standlake, are the only ones to come close to this figure with

2835-546: The limited pit space means these numbers are unlikely to be repeated. Banger racing within the UK is usually held to one of three rule presets that consist of varying degrees of contact during races. 'National' banger racing is the only one which is full-contact. Drivers are allowed to pull off aggressive hits like 't-bones', 'head ons', 'follow ins' and 'jack ups' that are not allowed in other types of banger racing. Meetings held to National rulings are very popular and usually more destructive than any other. 'Rookie' banger racing

2898-587: The meeting was relocated to Ipswich and has continued to thrive, attracting more drivers than the Wimbledon World Finals were able to facilitate. Around the late 1980s and early 1990s, promoters began hosting 'open' meetings with significant prize funds and very little regarding car limitations; the first of these being held was Ringwood Raceway's 'British Open' and the Arena Essex 'Firecracker 500'. Meetings like these continued to grow over

2961-462: The network into a more broadly viewed channel. Pay per view was demolition derby's only national television outlet in the 2000s (decade). Two $ 50,000-to-win derbies were held in Widewater, Canada, from 2000-2001. Later in the 2000s (decade), a proliferation of cable television shows about vehicle customizing occasionally showcased junked vehicles in bizarre competitions. Spike TV 's Carpocalypse

3024-603: The opening or closing night of the season), with most cars being older model Australian-made sedans and wagons. ABC's Wide World of Sports televised the World Championship Demolition Derby from the mid-1960s until 1992. In 1972, the Los Angeles Coliseum hosted a demolition derby with mint-condition late model cars driven by Mario Andretti , A. J. Foyt , and Bobby Unser . The popular ABC sitcom Happy Days included

3087-520: The regular disciplines listed above. Banger racing is said to have started in the early 1960s after it was observed by a race promoter that crashes were among the most popular features of a race meeting. Drivers began turning out vehicles with very basic preparation - cars would have the windows removed but often whole interiors would be left inside. Safety regulations began to improve in the 1980s with bangers being prepared with compulsory 'H frame' roll cages, driver's door plates, and fuel tanks moved inside

3150-412: The road. This is currently seen as the cheapest and easiest way to race bangers and harks back to the sport's roots of simple preparation and large grid sizes. A banger race is distinct from a demolition derby , as the objective of the latter is not to turn laps, but to smash, destroy and ultimately immobilise all of the opposition, until only one vehicle is left. On occasions, though, the final event at

3213-457: The span of a few days. The last running car that makes contact with another driver wins the event. In addition to a winner, most derbies also award a "Best in Show" or "Mad Dog" award to the participant who puts on the most exciting or spectacular performance without winning the derby; this is usually decided by voice vote of the audience. (This is especially true in multiple-heat contests, where

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3276-591: The sport is the 2013 Olly Moran Memorial weekend held at Arena Essex in 2013. This meeting holds the record for being the biggest 'one-make' turnout in the sport's history, as every driver in attendance had to race either a 'Mark I' or 'Mark II' variant of the Ford Granada . This meeting achieved a turnout of 232 over the two days, with the Sunday running of the event becoming one of the community's most highly regarded meetings. The final landmark meeting worth mention

3339-433: The sport using combine harvesters and riding lawn mowers have been practiced in various parts of the world. Larger vehicles, such as pickup trucks and SUVs, were rarely used in demolition derby (though school bus demolitions have long been a popular exception) but have recently become popular in demolition events (which may also be the result of the increasing amounts of junk cars being SUVs, which will especially be true in

3402-542: The sport's popularity began to wane. With the demise of Wide World of Sports , television exposure of the game became scarce. In addition to safety concerns and the shortage of full-size vehicles, some felt that the sport had shown little change or innovation beyond its original premise. In 1997, The Nashville Network (later part of CBS) returned demolition derby to national television in its TNN's Motor Madness series of various motor-sport events. Motor Madness derbies were primarily for broadcast and needed to fit into

3465-559: The track or promotion that is holding the event. The domestic class is most common in the 'Rookie' and 'Back to Basic' formats. 'Micros' are the smallest vehicle class used in the banger racing and usually feature cars such as the Ford Ka and the Nissan Micra , that are generally considered to be too small or uncompetitive to compete in the other classes. Micros have quickly become one of the most popular forms of banger racing, due to

3528-408: The track's final date of operation September 8, 1984. In 1964, track promoter Larry Mendelsohn conceived the idea of hosting the first "Figure 8 World Championship" event and sold his idea to ABC-TV, who would film the daytime event for broadcast at a later date on their popular Saturday afternoon television show, ABC's Wide World of Sports . To draw out-of-town competitors, Mendelsohn would guarantee

3591-885: The track, which came to be known as "World Famous Islip Speedway". Figure 8 drivers who won the title and were crowned "Figure 8 World Champion" at Islip were: 1963- Larry Wood, Northport, NY ; 1964-Benny Giaraputo, West Islip, NY ; 1965-Art Cox, Anderson, IN ; 1966-Forrest Halliburton, Indianapolis, IN ; 1967-Richie Gomes, Brentwood, NY ; 1968-Richard Simmons, Plymouth, MI ; 1969-Aaron Coller, Tampa, FL ; 1970-Lester Slone, Pinellas Park, FL ; 1971 & 1973-Sonny Thompson, Indianapolis, IN; 1972- Bobby Lane, Bay Shore, NY ; 1974 & 1975-Carl Voelker, Islip NY ; 1976 & 1979-Chuck Hall, Toledo, OH ; 1977-Quinn Vollgraff, Ronkonkoma, NY ; 1978-Allen Brock, Medford, NY ; 1980-Eddie Sutton, Crownville, MD ; 1981, 1982 & 1983-Doug Huber, Bellport, NY ; 1984-Chuck Hlatky, Ronkonkoma, NY. Islip Speedway hosted six races from 1964 to 1971 , skipping

3654-596: The vehicle, and the class of car (example: compacts, trucks, minivans, full size; some rules are 1980 and newer, etc.). Drivers are often required to be at least 16 years old and hold a valid driver's license. They are required to have seat belt and a helmet, and, depending on sets of rules, roll over bars and cages inside the vehicle. An event usually begins with drivers lined up on the track facing rear to rear, or circling on an oval track. Drivers are usually required to crash into another vehicle every 2 minutes or they are labeled as "sandbagging" and become disqualified. Hitting

3717-445: The vehicles. The part of the vehicle used to ram opponents varies. Some drivers use both the front and rear of the vehicle to ram the other competitors, while others tend to use only the rear end of the vehicle to protect the engine compartment from damage. Demolition derbies were first held at various fairs, race tracks, and speedways by independent promoters in the 1950s. There are unconfirmed reports of events occurring as far back as

3780-494: The winner of the series. Before competing in the final show, derby drivers across several states had to qualify at any one of the participating NAPA Crash for Cash qualifying derbies. There were over 100 cars in the final show. The series was a success and continues to grow every year. The 2007 series money was doubled, so competition was expected to increase for the 2008 series. In 2021, Dustin Woods founded Triple D Entertainment and

3843-449: The years 1969 and 1970. Richard Petty won the last NASCAR race at Islip by two laps. Others who have won at Islip include Bobby Allison and Billy Wade . NASCAR stopped coming to Islip Speedway when the organization axed all races shorter than 250 miles (400 km) from its schedule. 40°44′58″N 73°12′41″W  /  40.7495°N 73.2115°W  / 40.7495; -73.2115 Demolition derby Demolition derby

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3906-640: Was a reality documentary series on variations of demolition derby filmed in Orlando, FLA. The Speed Channel also aired team demolition derbies in 2005. Cable TV's exposure has led to renewed interest in the demolition derby. In 2006, the partners of Mike Weatherford Promotions (Mike Weatherford and Dustin Swayne) started DerbyMadness.com while promoting the NAPA Auto Parts Crash for Cash Series. The first annual final show paid out $ 5,000.00 to

3969-444: Was the first promotion to do so, holding their first World Final in 1971 at Harringay Stadium . The Spedeworth Unlimited Banger World Final was another of these big championship events and is considered to be the sports flagship event. The first title race was held in October 1974 at Wimbledon Stadium . Plough Lane was the venue for this annual event until 2007 when changes to London traffic laws meant it had to be relocated. From 2008

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