anybody demolishion derby?

[Bandit72]

just wondering, i've been doing it for 3 years now and love it....i was just wondering if anyone else does and if they have any tricks and pictures of there cars...

later 

[Telvis]

I never have but always wanted to. It sounds like a blast.

[Bandit72]

it's a blast, i love it...i just got me a 73 ford ltd this weekend for the next one, kinda sad it's a really really nice car, but i have no use for it and it was only 100 bucks (and the title is all messed up) i'll try to get pics later this week

[RD]

i got a friend from Ottawa who is big into demo derby's.  You may have ran against him sometime.  I find mopars for him to run (newports/monaco's, etc.).

[Bandit72]

i only run fords and chevys...no need to ruin a good car 

[RallyeMike]

Twice myself, and numerous times as a pit rat. Ran a 73 Fury and a 73 Torando.

I got the butterflys before circle track racing,  and thought I would get them REAL bad before a demo, but instead was as calm as could be. Pretty hard to screw up a demo derby - the worst you can do is NOT wreck your car !

Rules are always different place to place, but the best tricks that are usually legal (not really tricks - big pay-off simple modifications):

1. Duct tape the distributor cap on. Keeps it from getting knocked off kilter.
2. Always junk the shift rods and run a straight rod from the trans through a hole in the floor. Direct control and no busted linkage.
3. Light duty truck tires w/ low air pressure survive impacts best.
4. Lose the fan and strap the radiator in with rubber cord, no bolts. It will last the longest.

Best TRICKS?

They wouldnt be the best tricks if people started giving them away !

[chrisII]

i have a couple friends who r really serious about it, they try to only run mopars, and they are starting to get western cars at around $600 to $800 by the time they get to wisconsin. they are useing 360s in almost everything. they last long , make good power and are cheap. they have tons of tricks, but for the most part it isnt very complcated (or so they claim)

[Dave22443]

I've never been in a demo derby, but I've been to a few.  Some of the tricks I've heard of is notching the rear frame so that the back of the car bends up instead of down when hit.  I've also heard that putting tubes in your tires helps a lot too.

[Blown70]

I helped a guy for years in High school.  Ran one car 8 times and still working.  NEVER GOT WORSE THAN 2nd.  How about that.!!!

BEST DEMO CAR EVER,

CHRYSLER IMPERIAL HANDS DOWN.  Seting up one of those you should be able to run it no less than 5 times.  IF DONE CORRECTLY.  This guy made some bucks doing this but never skimped buying them

I know more tricks that you can shake a stick at.  Go right by a tech guy too....LOL

Tom

[Bandit72]

I helped a guy for years in High school.  Ran one car 8 times and still working.  NEVER GOT WORSE THAN 2nd.  How about that.!!!

BEST DEMO CAR EVER,

CHRYSLER IMPERIAL HANDS DOWN.  Seting up one of those you should be able to run it no less than 5 times.  IF DONE CORRECTLY.  This guy made some bucks doing this but never skimped buying them

I know more tricks that you can shake a stick at.  Go right by a tech guy too....LOL

Tom

we can't run imperials here...they've been outlawed...i thought about getting one and putting new yorker emblems on it though...so if they said anything i could pass it off as a new-yorker...
if you know so many tricks get to spillin them lol

later 

[Arigmaster]

I used to drive in them every year but the cars started getting too hard to find and if they ran they were too expensive to just go out and kill.

The best one I have found were the old 73 to 75 Chevy and Pontiac wagons that had the hideaway tail gates. They are like tanks in the back end.

We ran a 55 gal water resivore chained and welded where the back seat used to be and ran long black pipe through the front passenger seat and through the fire wall to the engine. There are plenty of different radiator hose configurations where you can make the corners and put them into the side of the drum and to where they need to go into the engine. We remove the thermostadt and put a vent pipe up through the roof from the top of the barrel. So, no need for a radiator or fan at all.

We also ran a rod to the shifter and duct tape on the distributor cap. We put a boat gas tank in the back seat floor and ran the fuel from there The batteries are mounted on the front seat floor so we can change from one to the other if one goes dead. We used light duty agricultural tires with calcium fill on all wheels  and welded the suspension in place. (springs or leafs only)

We did do one thing that was considered reinforcement back then but never got caught. We added and welded angle Iron to the frame rail where the power steering box was and also put a shield under it to protect it from being hit.

Really was a bunch of fun every August but now its no more bang up fun for me.

[Blown70]

I helped a guy for years in High school.  Ran one car 8 times and still working.  NEVER GOT WORSE THAN 2nd.  How about that.!!!

BEST DEMO CAR EVER,

CHRYSLER IMPERIAL HANDS DOWN.  Seting up one of those you should be able to run it no less than 5 times.  IF DONE CORRECTLY.  This guy made some bucks doing this but never skimped buying them

I know more tricks that you can shake a stick at.  Go right by a tech guy too....LOL

Tom

we can't run imperials here...they've been outlawed...i thought about getting one and putting new yorker emblems on it though...so if they said anything i could pass it off as a new-yorker...
if you know so many tricks get to spillin them lol

later 

Wow big list.  I would PM them to you, let me say not all of them were AAAHHH hemmm according to rules.  We played alot in the GRAY area....

But often people will drop the K out and put it into a new Yorker.  I guess you have to fit it in somewhat.

Tom