"Arena demolition is taken to the next level as Class C Motor homes battle it out for the win. This extra dosage of destruction is sure to be a thrill!" promised an OC Fair media release dated July 1, 2009.
The event itself, held held the evening of Sunday, July 26, did deliver – big. A total of six Class C RVs from various sponsors competed for a $5000 prize.
Think Big - Think RV
Where did the RV demo idea come from? "Think Big" was the theme of the 2009 Orange County (OC) Fair held July 10 to August 9 in Costa Mesa, California.
"We've been doing stock car demo derbies forever," Robert Basile of Sunnyside Promotions, the event organizer, told Suite101. "Some of our shows have been running for 20 years. We had a great opportunity here to tie in with the Orange County theme and try something bigger and more spectacular".
New arena manager Dan Gaines had originally been planning a truck demolition derby, according to information on the Sunnyside web site. While Basile was in a meeting with Gary Hile of Beach Cities Towing and Ted Smith of Pick-A-Part Auto Recycling trying to iron out the truck rules, Ted mentioned that he had an abundance of motorhomes at his wrecking yard. Bob thought that would be a great idea for the “THINK BIG” event.
"We worked out a deal and the...motor home demolition derby was born," states the site.
"We know for sure that this is a first in California," said Basile, "and maybe it's the first time anywhere that there has been a demolition derby using motor homes."
A History of Motor Sports
Basile explained that his family has a sixty-year history in motor sports, starting before WWII with auto racing and extending into the present. Their demo events ranging from midgets to motorcycles, from stock cars to monster trucks and speed boats. In fact, Robert Basile told Suite101 that his grandfather is credited with organizing the first crash derby in 1948. "He realized that the crowd always got extremely excited when there was a wreck on the track, so he thought, Why not organize a bunch of wrecks?"
Safe RVing, Demo Derby Style
All the RVs were prepped by Gary Hile of Beach City Towing. The modifications – standard safety measures to protect the drivers and derby personnel – included removing some parts, and reinforcing the driver area according to the rules of the demolition event.
Removed items included:
- headlights
- all window glass
- fuel tank and battery (moved to the passenger area with that seat removed)
- exterior trim
- any interior parts that might come loose and fly around
- heavier appliances such as refrigerators
Added items included
- steel plates in driver and passenger side/door
- steel bars behind the driver area
- metal over all holes in the firewall
Beyond this, the units were stock. "We don't allow any tricks of the trade," Basile explained. "No rubber-filled tires, no ballast, no concrete inside door panels, no replacing a 440 engine with a smaller 350 to allow more space behind the radiator."
Capacity Crowd for RV Demolition
Videos on You-Tube show a capacity crowd at the Action Sports Arena. "Even the standing room was full. They shut the gates, and people were still trying to see over the gates and walls," reported an enthusiastic Basile. "There were even maintenance people standing on roofs to watch the show – I think some of them maybe got in trouble!"
The event was, by all accounts, a huge success. Although local media coverage focused on the Sunday afternoon demo derby for cars, comments to news stories and user videos of the motor home event were almost entirely positive.
- Awesome! Carnage!
- Hats off to whoever came up with this idea.
- Awesome event. Spectacular, laugh out loud, hilarious fun for all who attended
- Sensational entertainment and everyone in the grandstands howled with laughter.
"Everybody is talking about it," said Basile. "It turned out to be – it's such a big buzz – it's all over You-Tube – you calling from up in Canada."
See the Orange County Register video of the event, or check out You-Tube for various spectator views. The videos show not only the carnage in the arena but also show the audience waving and clapping, jumping from their seats, and giving a standing ovation.
"Oh, yeah. Nobody sat down. There was not a disappointed spectator in the house."
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to
- Robert Basile of Sunnyside Promotions
- Sabrina Sakabuchi, Communications Associate for the OC Fai
Their contributions to this article are appreciated.
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