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Metal on metal

Dez Loreen
Northern News Services
Thursday, August 16, 2007

Spinning tires, flying mud and dented panels are sure to please the crowd at the demolition derby next weekend.

After a five-year hiatus in car crashing fun, Kurt Wainman and a few others are bringing the derby back to the people of Inuvik.

NNSL photo

Brian McCarthy Sr. stands beside a few of the cars to be used in next weekend's demolition derby. After a five-year hiatus, the derby is back and will be held on Saturday, Aug. 25. Organizers are still finalizing the venue for the event. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Wainman said the break was due to the increase in activity in the area.

"There has been a lot of development in the last few years, which is why we held off on the derby for so long," he said.

The date set for this year's bout of crash'em up fun is Saturday, Aug. 25.

Wainman said he remembers working for Brian McCarthy and going to Dawson City, Yukon to participate in his first demolition derby.

"I lasted a whole 30 seconds in Dawson's derby," said Wainman with a laugh.

"They said no guy from Inuvik would win their derby, so I was taken out pretty quick."

It was when he returned home that he started work on Inuvik's first demolition derby.

"I used Brian's equipment, made my own track and we started it up," said Wainman.

Wainman said a venue for this year's event hasn't been decided on yet, but it may likely be in the pit on Navy Road.

"That was the site of the first derby," said Wainman.

The first derby was held in 1991.

"We started off with 15 cars, which was a lot for the first year," he said.

"We tried to hold a derby every year, but took a few breaks."

The event is open to anyone who wants to enter, but the car must be suited for the derby.

So far, there are at least 10 cars being prepped for the big day, when steel will clash against steel.

Wainman said each car must be modified for safety.

"First, all the white metal must be stripped," said Wainman.

"The chrome is taken off because it catches on fire way too easy."

Removing the compartments in the car and stripping the inside is also important for fire safety reasons.

Wainman added that a welded cage must surround the driver of the car.

"We also require that you remove the gas tank and battery and place them in the back of the car," he said.

"The cars must remain stock, with no modifications or structural welds."

Wainman said there is no guarantee how long a car will last in the event once the siren starts the derby.

"I had a car last me three years, but some can be wrecked with one good hit," he said.

The event is tabled so every car gets in the scrum and when there are five cars remaining, the last heat is held.

"During the last heat, the last car left rolling is declared the winner," said Wainman.

Finding cars to participate has become a challenge in the last few years because most of the old beaters in town have already been drafted for the event, said Wainman.

"You can find good cars in some people's back yard, but I'm sure we've already wrecked a lot of them in town," he said.