bilt
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Posts: 159
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Post by bilt on Nov 1, 2013 9:27:19 GMT -5
youtu.be/zTuXotSIHsEI found this on the web today. It's a derby from 1992. I forgot how much the sport has evolved since then. No prebending, no halo bars, cars painted colors other than flat black, plus this heat race has more cars in it than the last derby I was in. Today there are 12ish types of cars we run. Back then it looks like they ran anything that was big. The"real" contenders drove some type of a wagon. In today's world we have figured out how to get the cars roll up into a ball in the rear. Back then they went up, down, over, or whale tail. Are the lower car counts in today's world from us making the sport too difficult too compete in? Back then you knocked the windows out in an afternoon, painted them, and drove. In today's world it takes months to prep out a competitive car which may only run a couple times. A rookie would not want to spend months building something he knows nothing about. Makes me wonder, are we killing our own sport? In today's world it is almost impossible for a new driver to have enough knowledge to build a car and compete so fewer newbies are coming into the sport but us old timers are stepping back from driving. This means no one is taking our spots when we step down. I've heard more derbies taking on chain B bolt classes which I think is great. Maybe we can get some youth to try our sport, get some of the "burned out" old drivers to come back, and build a big interest in our sport once again.
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Post by hitmhard on Nov 2, 2013 13:20:20 GMT -5
Ummmmm....... yes and YES... I am just as guilty or maybe even more than anyone else... I have changed my way of thinking to where if my car isn't perfect without a 100% shot at winning, I don't go... It isn't near as fun as it used to be when a $50 car was at stake. Now we have thousands of dollars wrapped up in our cars and it's way too serious... Just like on TV, there are things you wish you could "unsee." I wish I could "unlearn" some things about demolition derby so it could be fun again....
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Post by crusher71 on Nov 2, 2013 19:34:33 GMT -5
YOU CAN, DID YOU HAVE FUN 5 WEEKS AGO? THATS WHAT 2014 HAS IN STORE FOR US... SERIOUSLY...
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bilt
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Posts: 159
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Post by bilt on Nov 2, 2013 20:59:15 GMT -5
I personally believe the is a "re- evolution" taking place in the area where I live. As of now I've heard of five derbies running at least one class of rules which are very similar in the "Chain and bolt" stock category. I know a lot of my friends are planning on running in this class in 2014 and every one of them is excited about it. I agree with Jon, 2014 will be a fun year in the derby world in Central Kansas. I too think the car counts will increase and if the shows are well judged and the cars are well inspected to make it an even playing field, I see the future of derbies growing rapidly. If the promotors do a good job of keeping cheated cars out and keeping the shows enjoyable for the driver/spectators the car counts will follow.
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Post by crusher71 on Nov 2, 2013 22:44:17 GMT -5
I FORESEE THE "THROWAWAY" CARS LIKE METRIC GM`S AND PRE 1971 CARS STARTING TO INCREASE IN VALUE ALREADY. UH OH.......
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bilt
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Posts: 159
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Post by bilt on Nov 2, 2013 22:52:17 GMT -5
^^^^hahaha. Doing our part to help small business!
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Post by tilerh88 on Nov 4, 2013 12:56:22 GMT -5
I was only 4 during this derby so I dont remember them this way. I problably notice more change than some others. Thats incredible!! They were pulling people out during the derby; trunks, hoods, and doors popping open and cars being destroyed. Ive seen derbys with 10-15 car heats but this derby puts ours to shame. Look at the crowds also. Stands were full and the grounds around them were full as well. Wish I could remember the derbys like that.
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Post by hitmhard on Nov 4, 2013 17:14:41 GMT -5
Back when I started running, it was nothing for Caldwell to have 50+ cars and Winfield usually had higher counts than that... In 2001, Harper had to have 2 consi heats because there were like 50 cars for it.... 2004, Newkirk had 62 cars for Russel's very first derby.... Fast forward to 2008, I believe there were 18 total cars at Caldwell.. I blame in part for the failing economy and loss of jobs, but mostly lack in interest from the "hobby" guys getting tore up year after year by the same handful of more serious drivers who let's say "interpret rules differently." I think I n a nutshell, just like has been said, the more serious derby guys (myself included) have ruined the sport for a lot of people- ironically, myself included......... p.s. I stumbled onto this a few weeks back and got a kick out of it.... m.youtube.com/watch?v=6j6YtCYYJHw
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bilt
Pro Cheater
Posts: 159
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Post by bilt on Nov 4, 2013 17:26:18 GMT -5
I watched that the other day as well. Thanks for posting it. Demo Derby on ESPN. I like how the reporters talk about using the back of the cars and protecting the radiators. It's amazing how far the derby world has come since those days.
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