(Sept. 15, 2016) Anyone seeking to vent his or her vehicular frustrations might find a safer and more economical remedy to destroying a personal car by watching others destroy theirs during the annual Pocomoke Demolition Derby.
The event is scheduled for this Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Pocomoke Fairgrounds off Broad Street.
Tickets are $5 each for spectators aged 7 and older. Otherwise, entry is free.
The demolition derby is the start of fundraisers for the annual Great Pocomoke Fair, which will return next August. Organizers said more events to support the fair would be made public soon.
This year, the derby event will begin with a drag race – assuming enough eligible racers sign up.
“This is one of those things where we don’t know who is going to show up,” organizer Gloria Smith said. “Some of the guys participate in the demolition derby at the Delaware State Fair, and it just depends on whether or not they can get their cars fixed up in time.”
Past participants are sent a reminder, but from there it’s all up in the air – which is actually an improvement over the former system, according to Smith.
Entries are accepted up until two hours before show time, and all participating vehicles must meet certain standards, such as glass removal and other modifications, before being allowed to participate.
A full listing of the rules can be found online at www.thegreatpocomokefair.org.
Smith said the derby was once part of the fair proper, and that the combination of hot weather and limited time to repair derby cars caused the event to suffer.
The Delaware State Fair is held annually at the end of July, so pushing Pocomoke’s derby back until September has given the event more space to breathe and grow.
Another factor in participation is the relatively high price of scrap metal, which makes finding suitable vehicles more of a challenge.
Still, the derby is pushing on and will continue to try to attract new participants – and spectators – with giveaways and other added amenities.
“We’re going to have drawings and giveaways during the intermission, and the [fairgrounds] will be selling our regular menu of food,” Smith said.
The event is scheduled for this Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Pocomoke Fairgrounds off Broad Street.
Tickets are $5 each for spectators aged 7 and older. Otherwise, entry is free.
The demolition derby is the start of fundraisers for the annual Great Pocomoke Fair, which will return next August. Organizers said more events to support the fair would be made public soon.
This year, the derby event will begin with a drag race – assuming enough eligible racers sign up.
“This is one of those things where we don’t know who is going to show up,” organizer Gloria Smith said. “Some of the guys participate in the demolition derby at the Delaware State Fair, and it just depends on whether or not they can get their cars fixed up in time.”
Past participants are sent a reminder, but from there it’s all up in the air – which is actually an improvement over the former system, according to Smith.
Entries are accepted up until two hours before show time, and all participating vehicles must meet certain standards, such as glass removal and other modifications, before being allowed to participate.
A full listing of the rules can be found online at www.thegreatpocomokefair.org.
Smith said the derby was once part of the fair proper, and that the combination of hot weather and limited time to repair derby cars caused the event to suffer.
The Delaware State Fair is held annually at the end of July, so pushing Pocomoke’s derby back until September has given the event more space to breathe and grow.
Another factor in participation is the relatively high price of scrap metal, which makes finding suitable vehicles more of a challenge.
Still, the derby is pushing on and will continue to try to attract new participants – and spectators – with giveaways and other added amenities.
“We’re going to have drawings and giveaways during the intermission, and the [fairgrounds] will be selling our regular menu of food,” Smith said.