Burnet demolition derby offers some ‘smash ’em up’ fun
BURNET — It’s an insurance salesperson’s nightmare — drivers intentionally smashing their cars into each other.
But come 7 p.m. Saturday at the Burnet County Fair and Rodeo Grounds, that’s exactly what more than a dozen drivers will be doing during the 19th Annual Burnet Demolition Derby.
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t think I’d really like demolition derby coming up in rodeo and all,” said Brent Nichols from the Burnet County Fair and Rodeo Association, the event sponsor. “But it’s pretty exciting. Who knows? Someday maybe I’ll have a car in it.”
The rodeo arena is located off U.S. 281 South behind the Burnet Municipal Airport on Houston Clinton Drive.
Nichols said the number of entries this year are more than in previous years.
“In the past several years we’ve had 14-16 cars in it, but this year we’ve already had more than that confirm that they were coming,” he said. “It should be one of the biggest ones we’ve had in a while.”
In a demolition derby, competitors crash their vehicles into other cars in the arena. The object is to knock all the other cars out of commission.
“It’s kind of like the last man standing,” Nichols said. “And the last one still running wins. It’s pretty exciting.”
Nichols said the rodeo association is adding a few features this year to encourage audience participation.
“Before the (demolition derby) starts, we’re going to have some kid events,” he said. “And this year we’re going to have a Demolition Derby Queen.”
While demolition derbies don’t enjoy the popularity they did in their heyday during the 1950s and 1960s, several still take place in the area including the annual fundraiser derby hosted in the fall by the Spicewood Volunteer Fire and EMS Department.
Meanwhile, Nichols said the fair and rodeo board is always looking for ways to develop the April event in Burnet, which coincides with the annual Burnet Bluebonnet Festival.
This year several organizers from the Brenham destruction derby will be on hand and the two organizations will share ideas, Nichols said.
“They have close to a hundred cars in their (demolition derby),” he said. “So we’re going to look at ways to attract drivers from theirs and then also get people from here to participate in Brenham.”
While several local drivers show up, Nichols said the Burnet demolition derby pulls in competitors from around the state.
“We have some coming in from the Midland area,” he said. “Some of the salvage yards use (demolition derbies) as a way to promote their business. They’ll show up with a trailer with several cars on it.”
The event features a full concession stand, but people can bring coolers as long as they don’t contain any glass containers.
Tickets are $10 for adults; children 10 and under are free, Nichols said.
“People should get there early in order to get good seats,” he added.
The derby benefits the rodeo association.