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The Demolition Derby at the West End Fair Grounds in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania is an annual family event for my family. It is the place where junk vehicles are raced and then smashed into each other for sport. My brother and some of his friends are often contestants while some family members are either in the pit crews or in the audience. This event brings the whole family together. There is a fair with rides but the highlight of our evening is the Demolition Derby when the cars start smashing into one another.

We, the audience, are privy to the graceful tango of machine death as the cars back fiercely into one another. The crumpling sound of bumpers, fenders and metal assault our ears making us clap, groan and cheer. The object of the Demolition Derby is to be the last car standing.

There are rules to the Demolition Derby competition that must be followed in order to be the winner. Your car must have a legit title and it must be registered for the competition. You must take the glass out of the vehicle, add some safety measures to the car and be prepared to get smacked around in tons of steel. Each demolition derby host will give contestants a set of rules before the contest. Drivers in the contest are to steer clear of the opposing driver's driver side door. If they hit it maliciously or after they have been warned the announcer will call them out. When a driver is called out they must shut off their vehicle.

The Demolition Derby is fun for all ages and even the contestants. All ages are welcome to this event. It is loud and for little ears you should bring earplugs or earmuffs. It can get scary. Sometimes the cars smash so hard that the car flips, gets pushed or catches on fire. There are plenty of volunteer paramedics and firefighters to get the contestants of the demolition derby out of the car and to make sure no one gets hurt.

There is a variation of vehicles in the car death match known as the demolition derby. In each heat there is a different type of vehicle from small compact cars, wagons, sedans and trucks. There are six heats at the demolition derby at the West End Fair. The three cars left standing at the end of the first 5 heats move on to the last heat, that is, if the car can still start. These cars face off for the championship prize.

My family enjoys this annual event and if you have never been to a Demolition Derby find one to bring your family too. Or come out next year to the West End Fair Demolition Derby in August. Maybe you will get to see me driving in the graceful tango of machine death.

Learn more about this author, Linda St.Cyr.
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