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BURFORD There was a case of highway rage in Burford on the weekend that stayed throughout the confines of the fairgrounds the place dozens of vehicles clashed, smashed and bashed into one another till just one was left shifting.
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The demolition derby, dubbed Billy Bash, featured about 150 drivers and drew between 8,000 and 10,000 spectators over the three-day occasion, which included a live performance on Canada Day and a fireworks show on Saturday evening.
“We’ve had implausible climate, a lot of good meals and music and it’s been completely wonderful,” stated Ron McClung, one of many organizers.
Billy Bash was developed years in the past by the Williams household in Dorchester, Ont., which operated Thrill Present Productions for many years. When Invoice Williams, one of many unique demo derby relations, died, the occasion was dubbed Billy Bash.
However the derby hadn’t run for a number of years. And, when the pandemic hit, the household formally retired it.
“I simply needed to convey it again,” stated McClung, who operates I AM Demolition with relations.
“Folks like watching carnage. It’s an adrenalin rush.”
For the drivers, they get to wreck a automobile and doubtlessly declare a reward. The derby handed out $30,000 in prizes over the weekend, $6,000 in big trophies and several other thousand {dollars} for drivers who placed on an excellent present for the gang.
“Our hottest occasion this weekend was the Energy Wheels the place we had youngsters out right here within the straight-away smashing into one another,” stated McClung.
“All of them acquired trophies and goodie luggage.”
The demolition enviornment was surrounded by a number of layers of concrete obstacles, with fireplace extinguishers stationed across the edges.
“We’re very safety and safety-conscious,” McClung stated. “We had one little carburetor fireplace and we haven’t needed to black flag anybody.”
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Drivers get black-flagged for not stepping into the spirit of demolishing the competitors, for hiding, “taking part in possum” or “sand-bagging,” the place a driver would possibly stall behind a lifeless automobile after which come out towards the tip to try to take the win.
Finally, just one car in a match continues to be in a position to transfer and the motive force takes a trophy whereas some Bobcats transfer in to push out the shedding autos.
McClung stated that, of the taking part drivers, a number of got here from the U.S., together with one winner.
The drivers introduced with them their very own vehicles, starting from these 40-plus years outdated and newer, fully-welded up pro-stock vehicles that might be value $10,000 to $30,000. The bashed up autos are typically written off or repaired sufficient to drive one other day in one other derby.
“The winner might get $2,000 and use the automobile once more.”
The Burford Agricultural Society hoped the Billy Bash would appeal to at the least 4,000 and clear $20,000 – funds that might assist with different fairground actions which have faltered throughout the pandemic, together with the Thanksgiving fall truthful in October.
McClung stated the profitable weekend means the Billy Bash might turn out to be an annual occasion with much more lessons of vehicles and occasions.
SGamble@postmedia.com
@EXPSGamble
