People braved near 90 degree weather to fill the bleachers at the Sky Ute Fairgrounds in Ignacio on Saturday for an afternoon of fender benders, road rage and twisted metal at the La Plata County Fair Demolition Derby.
The celebrated demolition derby, traditionally held at the La Plata County Fairgrounds in Durango, was moved to Ignacio this year because the county disallowed the event at the Durango location because of liability concerns.
Beyond food and beverage vendors, including Jack-a-lope Acres’ roasted corn, Carrie Foster the Ice Cream Lady’s mobile treats, Roberts BBQ with briskets and quesadillas, derbyists in the rodeo arena revved their engines and locked fenders in the Stock Cap event, the first of four divisions to compete on Saturday.
The stock car division, featuring custom cars made for crashing, appeared to be the most popular event among contestants with nine participants compared to six participants in the Mini and Truck divisions slated for later in the day.
A Limited Welding division was planned for the final event, wherein derbyists could pay a $50 entry fee to compete using special cars with stronger welds.
Dominick Cisnerds driving car No. 18 took first place and $1,912 in prize money. Following in second was Darell Cordary in car No. 3, who won $1,147, and Ken Fusco in car No. 86 taking home $765.
“I race stock cars. It’s an adrenaline rush. But the derby is way better,” Cordary said after the Stock Cap competition ended. “You just go out there and it’s legalized road rage. I mean, it’s a good time. Nothing like it. You beat each other up. Have a good time and you’re all friends at the end of the day.”
John Farrell, owner of Farrell’s Welding and Cordary’s brother-in-law, watched with his friend Christian Alonzo of KDR Klutch from the pit on the south end of the arena.
Farrell said he helped Cordary and other derbyists fix their vehicles up for the big day Saturday, as is tradition for longtime competitors.
“It’s fun. It’s awesome,” he said. “Everybody hangs out, puts in a little work and builds the car.”
“See how long it lasts,” Alonzo chimed in.
“See how long it lasts,” Farrell said, nodding his head. “Everybody helps each other. Daryl and Jamie (Patton, car No. 6), they compete against each other all the time, but they help each other all the time.”
Ralph Brawley of Team 86 said his teammate Ken Fusco’s car No. 86 was built years ago just to get wrecked on Saturday.
“We built that car five years ago,” he said. “Ken’s been out of commission for a while. He just came back. And now we got it running.”
He said he loves the demolition derby because “you get to drive around and hit everybody.”
“It’s like road rage at its best. And you’re allowed,” he said.
He agreed with others that the derbyists are very cooperative in fixing up their vehicles before the big day. But the friendliness only lasts until they get into the arena.
“Then it’s all over. Everybody’s open,” he said.
The 2024 La Plata County Fair Demolition Derby is his 17th year participating, he said.
“It’s all good. It’s a lot of fun. We wait every year for this. It’s too bad the county is against us. … (The Sky Ute Fairgrounds are) a great venue, too. It’s just, we lose our continuity with the fair,” he said.
He said the Southern Ute Indian Tribe “bent over backward” to help realize the demolition derby in Ignacio this year.
“The tribe has been wonderful. And then all our sponsors. … It’s great. We have a lot of people that really put a lot of good energy in with us, and it helps,” he said.
Brawley said Team 86 is the only team in the La Plata County Demolition Derby that’s won all three divisions on the same day.
“I think it’s great,” Lin Dobbin, county fair demolition derby co-superintendent, said. “This is our first time here (in Ignacio). I’m very pleased.”
She said she gives her thanks to the town of Ignacio and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe for hosting the derby.
cburney@durangoherald.com
