This car is marked for destruction

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34000, 14 November 1975, Page 24

This car is marked for destruction

Oleg Popov, the Russian duntman who has appeared frequently in Christchurch, is a marked man. Tomorrow evening he will drive this 1964 Pontiac Laurentian in a demolition derby at Marlboro Raceway, Woodford Glen.

About 30 other drivers, in cars much nearer the wrecker’s yard than the Pontiac, will be aiming for the dayglo-decorated car from the moment the flag falls. Members of the Values Party and others interested in conserving our valuable resources are expected to turn out in force to watch gas-guzzling monsters like the Pontiac be consigned to the junkyard. The rest of the spectators will be there for the crashes, bangs, and thrills as the drivers ram each other — all the time trying to avoid being put out themselves. The first demolition derby at Marlboro Raceway attracted a huge crowd, and the popularity of the spectacle of 30 or 40 cars smashing into each other seems assured after Saturday night because the derby is being run under “Yankee” rules. This means that a driver is disqualified if he passes another car without attempting to ram it in some way, and ensures fast, furious action, and a quick end to all the cars but one. The driver of the last car left mobile will win $5OO.

Many of the competing cars will be old, wheezing, spluttering bombs rescued from the wreckers for the occasion, but cam such as this have won the last two derbies and might well win again. Popov, although he will be driving the fastest, and probably the biggest ear, will be lucky to last more than a few minutes.

Only drivers with a devil-may-care approach are likely to enter the derby, but the risk of injury' is not very high. The driver’s seat must be securely bolted to the floor, a full-house harness safetybelt must be worn (as well as a crash helmet), and roll bars may' be fitted. Only three gallons of fuel may be carried, which, in Popov’s case, should limit the action to about 20 minutes.