2011 DEMOLITION DERBY RULES

General Rules:

**The general rules as well as the car rules are developed with driver’s safety as the number one concern. We do admit that demos are a dangerous sport and T.E. Promotions and the Meade County Fair assume no liability
in the result of injury from competing in this event.**

  1. These rules are developed with the cost of car construction in mind. The cars are to be constructed according to the rules. If certain items are not specified, it doesn’t mean it is legal. The judges’ decision will be final, so
    call before you do something that you don’t understand. The sport of demolition derbies has grown from a backyard fun activity, to a hardcore profession for some people. It is in our intent at T.E. Promotions to keep the playing field fair so that local people can still compete and have fun.
  2. All cars must be on grounds one-hour before event to be inspected. Any cars arriving late will not be eligible to compete unless prior arrangements have been made. For derbies that require pre-registration, cars must be
    pre-entered by 5:00 pm by the day of the event. All cars must be removed by 12:00 noon the following day or they will become the property of the local salvage yard.
  3. The driver must be at least 18 years old to drive at all fairs, unless the fair board allows younger drivers. You must be able to prove age upon request to drive, or have a notarized document signed by a parent of guardian
    stating that parents assume all risks. No one under the age of 16 will be able to compete at any fair unless approved by fair board.
  4. Approved racing helmets must be worn at all times. Goggles or a face shield, fire suit, or long sleeve shirt must be worn. Long pants and closed toe shoes are mandatory. No shorts allowed. If a driver removes his/her
    helmet while the event is taking place, they will forfeit all winnings and be disqualified for the night.
  5. Any unsportsmanlike conduct by the drier or the crew will cause your car to be disqualified. The judge’s decision will be final.
  6. No liquor or intoxicating beverages allowed in pit area. Possession of alcohol or drugs in pits will result in disqualification for your car.
  7. Drivers meeting will be held before the event is to start, to explain rules and flags. Any car protest must be made at this time. All drivers must attend.
  8. A driver that is disqualified in the heat race for sandbagging or an intentional door hit, will not be allowed to compete anymore that evening. Heat race time limits and sandbagging marks will be used.
  9. The purpose of the derby is to provide entertainment for the spectators. Anyone not complying with the rules will be barred from the event.
  10. It is mandatory for everyone entering into the pits to purchase a pit pass.
  11. If a car is found illegal, no entries will be refunded. Cars should be brought legal. Not having a set of rules is not our fault. The fair board or promoter reserves the right to approve or reject any entries. Cars will be subject
    to inspection after event.
  12. In ’78 and new events, cars must have VIN stamp on car or title to prove the correct year.
  13. The driver is the only person allowed around the car while their car is being inspected. Cars will be disqualifies if rule is no followed.

IMPORTANT: PREPARATION OF CAR

**Cars are to be constructed according to the rules. We have always mandated a fair playing field and this year specific measurements have been adapted to several areas of the rules. Demo derbies have gone from once a year event to a high dollar every weekend event. Many fairs that don’t have fair rules have seen car count numbers severely drop off. Derby cars just like racecars must be built to the rules.**

  1. In ’78 and new derbies, no tampering with the VIN numbers on the car. Original seat belts and door VIN numbers must also appear on the car. Bring titles.
  2. In big car derbies, no trucks, vans, ambulances, jeeps, carry-alls, limousines, 4-wheel drivers, checker cabs, or Chrysler imperials can compete. No Chrysler bodies on imperial frames.
  3. FRAMES: Front frame seams may be welded from bumper to front of A-frame topside only. Weld on front of frame anywhere else will cause car to be disqualified. On previous ran cars, only the frame can be patched. A patch is considered ¼ in. steel 3” x 3” and can only be welded on ends and either top or bottom of patch. One side must be left not welded. A previous ran car can have only 4 patches. The rear humps may be plated. The plate may be ¼ in. steel, maximum 22 inches in length, must be cut to contour of frame, place in center of hump and this plate must be on the outside only. Inspection holes on inside must be open and visible. No welding on rear frame rails. Bumpers can be welded to frame and this will be covered in bumper rules. Body mount hole may be repaired if rusted out. We have the right to cut or drill frame at any time. There is to be no painting of frames. You can cut flaps on front of frame, but pitch can be no more than ½ in. and no other metal or gussets can be added. This is the only other weld allowed on frame and this weld cannot be a solid weld, meaning overlapping into frame welds, no wider than ¼ in. A ¼ in. gusset may be placed behind front crush box. Triangle with no more than 6 in. sides.
  4. CAGES: A cage of no bigger than 3 in. pipe or 3 in. box tubing can be used. No kickers are allowed angled off of cage. Inside cage if constructed properly you can replace mandatory front door plate. The 4 legs running down from cage can run to topside of frame, down legs are only allowed to be attached to the top of the belly rails of the frame. They must be straight up and down. These legs can be tack welded to top on one side of frame, not all four sides. Front bar of cage running under dash must be 5 in. behind front firewall. This bar must be horizontal. The cages can run inside the door panels this year. The cage may have an overhead bar. The bar must be straight up and down, no pitch towards rear of car. We will measure 6 in. from doorpost and rear cage bar inside car cannot be further back than this point.
  5. BUMPERS: Any year car bumper allowed on any '78 and newer car, in '09 Chrysler pointy bumpers are allowed. The bumper must be fastened to original brackets. Bumper can be welded to frame on 4 sides with metal strips 2 in x 2 in. bumpers and bumper straps may be welded to frame, but cannot be welded to the body. Nothing is to be added inside bumper and no solid welding of bumper panels together. Maximum bumper height is 21 in. to bottom of bumper, minimum height is 14 in. and it will be measured from the bottom of the frame in the rear to the ground. The bottom of the bumper must be 14 in. off the ground also.
  6. BODY: All glass, plastic grills, lights, chrome molding, trailer hitches and body trim must be removed. Station wagons must be emptied to the floorboard. Headliners also must be removed. Cars must be swept clean. Two 10 in holes must be cut on each side of the carburetor. Fan blades cannot be exposed ever, this will result in disqualification. Full hoods may be fastened in six spots with wire or chains. Half hoods may be bolted on with maximum 3/4 bolts in four spots. Hoods may not be fastened in front of radiator. A 10 in hole must be cut in trunk lid. No tucking or wedging of trunk allowed. No loading rain channels. Trunks must be attached rain channels on front and sides but may be tucked inside tail panel. Speaker decks must remain in stock location and maintained at least a 4 in. space above trunk floor. Quarter panels must remain at stock height. Taillight panel must remain vertical. You are allowed max. 4 body patches of max. 12 in x 12 in. same thickness as sheet metal. No skinning of bodies. Doors and trunks may be wired, chained, or welded solid with 1/8 by 3 in. or 1/2 in. rod one time only. You are allowed two 2 in. vertical straps maximum 10 in. from trunk lid to bumper in rear. No welding or bolting of body panels together. Any body creasing must be cut every 12 in. throughout. Body mounts may be removed and replaced with max. 1 in. bolts, with 3 in. washers that may be welded to frame. All body mounts may only go through top of frame. Must have 1/2 in. space between body and frame. No extra body mounts allowed.
  7. SAFETY ITEMS: A wire, chain or cable is required from cowl to roof in windshield area. A max. 1 in pipe is allowed in windshield area. If you are using a distributor protector this bar must be attached outboard of the valve covers, nothing behind protector. A max 1 in bar may be attached from top of roof center to speaker deck in rear window area. A door plate is required on all cars without a cage. All thread 1 in max. May be run through core support next to radiator only cannot be bolted through hood. Gas tanks must be removed. A boat tank or fuel cell is recommended with no more than 6 gallons in tank. Fuel tanks can be mounted in a gas tank protector welded to rear of cage in middle of the car. The protector can be no wider than 24 in. and cannot be within 6 in. of rear firewall, or attached to floor. All fuel tanks unless fuel cells, must be covered. All fuel lines must be enclosed in PVC if inside car. Fuel line must be clamped to tank. Radiators must remain in stock location. You cannot run extra radiators or water supplies. Transmission coolers are allowed. Batteries must be moved to passenger floor area, you may use two batteries but the must be securely fastened and covered. Driver's door must be painted white or outlined.
  8. SUSPENSION: No strutting of suspension. Any type rear end allowed. No changing of coil to leaf springs. Coil springs may be tack welded or wired to brackets. Suspension parts must remain stock for make and model of car. You may modify or weld tie rod ends in control arms. Cars must have suspension travel. At least ½ in. On leaf spring cars no more than 7 leafs per side with factory stager, no extra clamps, must have a working shackle and is a passenger car spring.
  9. ENGINES: Engines and transmissions may be interchanged. Headers can be pointed up. Motor mounts may be welded; you are allowed 2 max 3/8 chains from engine to front clip. One chain link welded only. No extra bracing allowed. Firewalls must be in all cars in original place. If removed must be covered. Distributor protectors allowed. The protector can be no wider than the intake and can only be fastened to the rear of the engine. If electric fuel pump is standard, it must be wired to switch.
  10. TIRES: Max. 16 in tire allowed, minimum 14 in wheel and tire. Any ply tire allowed in ’10. But no V tread tractor tire. You are allowed on valve stem protector per wheel.

MISCELLANOUS: Hood must open for inspection; fire extinguishers mandatory. If it is not state in the rules, don’t do it. Numbers must appear on both sides of the car. Anything left out of the rules will be left up to the officials’ decision. All decisions by officials are final. In 2010 number panels on roof are strongly recommended.