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[lordfly]

I've been going to the demolition derby for about 20 years now, and it seems without fail that the same 3 families/people always seem to be in the top 3, if not the winners, every year.

At the beginning of tonight's 9:00 pm show (heat 1) I predicted the top 3 winners. It's the same top 3 winners every year, unless something goes "wrong"

Is the contest pre-determined, like wrestling? I'm just curious if I should bother rooting for other cars.

[katy scarlett]

While I agree that the same people win a lot (Ryan Songalewski, Jason Goff, Bob Hookrattle, and Any snow), I dont think its "rigged". My husband and his friends began running a few years back and all except one has made it to the feature. They just let certain groups (monroe mafia) get away with more than others.

[Greg Chamberlain]

That seems pretty typical of Monroe, and of Redneck-a-Thon... err, I mean the fair.

[utility slug]

That very well may be, but could it be that practice makes perfect ?   They must be doing something right...

[MM1]

I guess it's easier to believe that the derby is rigged than to give credit to the winners for work and determination.

With all the "heart and soul" my son and his friends gave to their team's car this year and then to see his face when they did not win.......... well .................... he was crushed;  but he never once implied that there was anything other than fair and determined competition in that arena.

And, call it redneck or whatever you like, but it's a heck of a lot of fun!!!

Congratulations to all you drivers and thanks for a good time!!!  You're crazzzzzyy!!! 

[utility slug]

Great answer mm1 !

[Dadof7]

With the alleged terrorist funding conspiracy at another thread on this site about Sunoco's around the area, and now this alleged demolition derby "fixing" conspiracy... I am starting to wonder if Monroe is just chock full of conspiracy nuts.  

You know... I heard a loud bang at the fair and saw a horse fall down and crush the leg of a police officer.  I am wondering if someone can tell me, was this a domestic horse terrorist?  I think we need to investigate the company that put on the fireworks display and someone should call PETA and Greenpeace to get to the bottom of this.  Bring in Homeland Security!  

How in the HELL would someone go and rig a derby?  Maybe the winners of the derby are indeed terrorists and they're funding al queda with their MAJOR winnings every year.  We should ask "It's All Good" about that.  Are the derby winners reporting the monetary gains on their tax returns?  Because if they are not, I WILL NOT SUPPORT THEM AND I URGE EVERYONE ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH TO SUPPORT OTHER TAX EVADING TERRORIST DERBY DRIVERS.  

Come on folks, these are TOUGH QUESTIONS!  

Did you ever notice that Danny's meats almost always wins the most meat at the 4H auctions?  Maybe the auction is fixed too!  Maybe the auction is run by the mafia!!  Maybe they represent a local faction of the Monroe Al Queda?  Maybe they're funding Hezbollah too??  

I have several friends that have been in the Monroe derby, as well as other derbies in the area, and not once have they (the drivers) EVER said they thought it was fixed.  

Further, by fixed, are you saying that the officials are paying off people to lose early on so that they're "favored" driver can win??  Whom are you ASSuming decides the winner?  Do they have kryptonite in their car frame to win?  

Maybe they were the ones that sprinkled the white powder all over Bolles Harbor to divert attention to their sinister plot.  

Luckily we have this blog to figure out the (purported) truth.  

[zard0z]

With the alleged terrorist funding conspiracy at another thread on this site about Sunoco's around the area, and now this alleged demolition derby "fixing" conspiracy... I am starting to wonder if Monroe is just chock full of conspiracy nuts.  

No, and take your Ritalin, your starting to foam at the mouth...

[chris]

the derby isnt rigged.  the peopel you mentioned that always win do so because they have been doing the derby for years.  the derby has a set of rules that you have to follow to be in the derby, and then there is a long list of optional things you can do to your car.  most people only do the minimum, but there are some veterans that do everything, like those people.  if you noticed, they bring two cars to the show, so when they make it to the feature, they have a fresh car.  and they replace the engines and transmissions to make sure they will run all night.

[the nosh]

No, and take your Ritalin, your starting to foam at the mouth...
[/quote]


LOL

[Mrs.S]

*BUMP*

I wonder what Squonk's feelings are on this.  He ran in a derby several years ago.  I hope I am able to go this year.

[Greg Chamberlain]

I'm LOLing at my response in this thread.

[jt921]

the derby isnt rigged.  the peopel you mentioned that always win do so because they have been doing the derby for years.  the derby has a set of rules that you have to follow to be in the derby, and then there is a long list of optional things you can do to your car.  most people only do the minimum, but there are some veterans that do everything, like those people.  if you noticed, they bring two cars to the show, so when they make it to the feature, they have a fresh car.  and they replace the engines and transmissions to make sure they will run all night.

hit the nail on the head. the longer you derby more you learn, those guys have been at it a while so they now how to build em and how to drive em to make em last.

[jt921]

I'm just curious if I should bother rooting for other cars.

you can root for me this year

921 in the 9 oclock show

[ChadB]

The biggest problem with Monroe's derby is who sanctions it. ARCA, the roundy rounder people, don't know how to run a proper derby. They let too many cars in a heat, their rules are lax and what they do enforce is bizarre (having to retain the windshield, for instance). It is pretty much a good 'ol boy network, and the good 'ol boys, your Goffs, Snows, Songalewskis, etc. have been around so long that they can get away with pretty much whatever they want...team driving, sandbagging, extra welding and reinforcements to the cars, bringing extra cars, etc.

The other derby circuit we have in Michigan, USA demolition derby, runs a much tighter ship. You sometimes see a couple of the "Monroe mafia" in USA, but they rarely win..most of them refuse to run USA at all because they can't do as they please. Most of the derbys I've run in were USA, and you come away from those derbies, even if you got knocked out early, without a sense that it was rigged; that if you come back next time with a better car, you have a real chance to do better.