'I usually wreck them in one show'

“I know not everyone would agree with me,” comments Doug Lund, 54, of Waseca, “but it’s a work of art…

“With its own little spin.” Lund is speaking of his dented and welded 1974 Buick Electra, number 34, scheduled to take part in the “standard weld” class of Friday evening’s demolition derby at the Waseca County Fair.”

The Electra also competed in the 2022 fair, and it shows.

Emblazoned on the side, along with some other short slogans, are the words “30th year,” the span of time Lund has been building and driving demolition cars. In 30 years, he says he has won three times. Despite the low ratio, he claims, competing in derbies is “a hard habit to break.”

He says his weekends, free time and vacations tend to center around getting together with some friends to find, modify and prepare each year’s vehicle.  That the Electra is in its second year is, he says, something of an accomplishment.

“I usually wreck them in one show.” He observes that “There’s a lot of good, strong competition in this class, so“there are plenty of people willing to help me.”

Collin Lange, owner of Winthrop Metal Works, has been building and driving demolition derby cars for the past 13 years, taking part in about 8 each year. For the Waseca County Fair he’s driving a 1976 Buick in the “Old Iron” class.

Asked whether there’s any secret to choosing the right vehicle, he admits owning a metal working company which is located very near an auto salvage business gives him more options than most. Still, he says, “It’s hit or miss.You build one, and if it doesn’t hold up, you build another one.”

He says he and some friends have taken less than three weeks to prepare this evening’s entry, and have enjoyed every minute of being and working together. 

As far as his technique in the ring, he says, “I drive with the pace. If people are out there moving fast, you can’t just sit there.”

Alex Cooper, 31, of Waseca, has entered his 2001 Toyota Camry with a V-6 engine in the “mid-sizer” class–one of the largest of the evening with 10 entries. Cooper entered his first demolition derby in 2011, and has taken first place twice. He claims to have finished preparing the Camry in only a couple of days, and–although he doesn’t know it yet– will take second place in his division this evening.

He says it’s hard to explain, but the exhilaration of being in the ring is “a feeling you can’t geAt anywhere else. Once you’re out there, you know why you came.’ He tells of one time his car started on fire during competition, but once the fire was out, he was able to get the car started and continue driving.

Asked about his technique as a competitor, he says, “You have to be patient,” he recommends, “And make sure your shots count.”

Nick Jensen of Farmington has entered his 1961 Ford F-100 in the “limited weld, not stock” truck class. He has been working on getting the vehicle ready since last September. When he chooses a vehicle for a derby, he says, he looks for the strongest frame possible, and “Old iron is always better than new.” Out in the ring, he says his driving technique is “all about pleasing the crowd.

“I go full throttle, nose first, and just keep smashing.”

Joe Czech of Hastings will be competing against Jensen in the limited weld truck class with his 1960 F-250, which he and a small group of friends have been working on for about the past eight months.. Czech says he has been driving in demolition derbies off and on since 2008.

“I’m not here to win,” he admits. “I just want to wreck someone’s truck.”

He admits driving in a derby isn’t for everyone, but for him: “It’s addicting. It’s something you can’t understand until you’ve tried it.

“I guess I’m an adrenaline junkie.”

Sage Standke, 19, of Morristown, will go on to win the “youth” class which allows drivers between the ages of 16 and 19. He and his father, Brad, have made a winter project of the 1984 Cadillac they have gotten ready for this evening’s competition; Brad has been active in derbies since 1994. This will not be Sage’s first time driving a demolition car–as the winner of another youth competition last year, he won $2,000 for taking first in his class.

A man of few words, Sage suggests that the secret to success in the ring is to “Drive smart.”

Brandon Thomas and his wife Kristen of Full Throttle Promotions managed Friday’s competition. “Overall, I think it went very well,” said Thomas. “We avoided some rain and the stands were full.

“I want to personally thank the fair board members; they always put in the effort to make sure the derby is the best it can be.

“I also want to thank the fans and, most importantly, the derby drivers who show such dedication to this great sport.”

In addition to managing derbies, Thomas and Kristen have been competitors for more than 20 years.