Editor, Times-Union: It disappoints me to have to even put it to words that for the second year in a row, there won’t be a demolition derby in Warsaw, Indiana. The reason, “poor driver turnout” from previous years.
For 30+ years, motorsports have been a major-part of the 4-H fair, and for a long time were considered the “main event.” For the second year in a row, it has been taken over by a music concert and truck pull. I guess for a concert, the profits are higher, and the insurance is cheaper, which seems to be what it’s all about. It’s not about the guys, who like me that have been participating in Warsaw's demolition derbies for over 10 years, even attending them as a kid with the family. My fellow “destruction-drivers” and I will have no choice, but to once again take our cars somewhere else. Which means going to local county's yearly festival(s), and spending the money to enter/crash there.
I think it's absurd that the county is willing to let all of that possible revenue go to neighboring counties, when this is something that has been the staple of summer entertainment in our county, for over 30 years! You're talking $25 entrance fees, $20 pit pass, as well as the pit-crew's entrance fees and then grand-stand tickets. This is a lot of money the county is missing out on, as well as a major disappointment for a lot of folks that not only enjoy, but have come to expect this kind of entertainment. I bet a lot of the younger generations don’t even realize that Warsaw even had a circle-track race event at the fairgrounds, as well as a roll-over contest, and a lot more cool stuff. As the local residents started complaining more and more about the “loud shows,” they got smaller and less often, until it was down to just a single yearly event.
I guess that the fun times of bringing the family to watch me compete in my very own county’s demolition derby is a thing of the past. I was born to crash ’n’ bash derby cars, so I’m not anywhere near done. I guess I will just have to see you all at the Elkhart County Fair's Demolition Derby this summer. Bring the family!
As for the Kosciusko County 4-H fair, they’re just after bigger, simpler, more profitable shows. I think not having the demolition derby, or even a bigger and better show, is going to turn out to be a big mistake, and a big loss of potential revenue and entertainment for the local community in the long run.
Gearheads of Kosciusko County Shaun Owens Warsaw, via email
