Demolition derby: 'bumper cars for grown men'

Brian Ellingsworth loved going to fairs and carnivals as a kid, especially if they had a fast bumper car ride. But one day he was too big to buckle in the kiddie ride and had to find that rush somewhere else.

Enter the demolition derby, the muddy, dangerous event in which drivers deliberately ram their vehicles into one another until only one car still runs.

“It's like bumper cars for grown men who want an outlet to just go out and tear stuff up. It's instant relief of road rage,” Ellingsworth said. “There's nothing like looking a dude dead in the eyes, plowing into him and saying ‘Take that ya jerk!'”

Ellingsworth and his brother, Brad, along with their father, Richard, have been plowing into cars in DuPage County for the last 10 years.

“We grew up with a father who fiddled in the garage quite a bit, so we learned how to rebuild some things too. One day we built our own bumper car and brought it to the fair,” said Ellingsworth, who lives in Plainfield. “The sport has really brought our family together. Some families go fishing. We build and destroy derby cars.”

The Ellingsworth brothers are just two of about 40 drivers from in and around DuPage County that International Demolition Derby owner Dennis Nelson said have signed up for the events at 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, July 26, at the fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. And they're guaranteed to bring an array of cars, trucks, lawn mowers and even battery-operated kid's cars into the pit.

“These drivers are all local people from your community,” Nelson said. “They are your neighbors and they're putting on a show for you.”

Drivers typically will spend between $300 and $1,200 for their cars, Nelson said, and usually get about five races out of them.

Ellingsworth agreed, but said he'll occasionally get more than a full season from a car. The brothers regularly participate in fair derbies in DuPage and Kane counties and in Sandwich.

“Some guys really go over the top and put in the best of everything in the car and tear it up in one week. Others will buy a cheap car, strip it down and take it for a ride in the derby and make it last a while,” he said. “It can get expensive, so I really just try to accumulate parts gradually over the year.”

Nelson said he's excited to see the cars the brothers bring this year.

“They got some doozies they roll out there, but they're always quality cars,” Nelson said. “If you see that skull and crossbones, you know you got hit by Brian or Brad.”

Ellingsworth said they'll be smashing up a red 1994 Chevy Cavalier and a black 1975 Chevy Impala, along with two lawn mowers and two Power Wheels for the kids.

“When we derby, we derby right,” he said. “We get into every event.”

If you go

<span class="fact box text bold">What:</span> Demolition Derby

<span class="fact box text bold">When:</span> 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, July 26

<span class="fact box text bold">Where:</span> DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton

<span class="fact box text bold">Cost:</span> $10 per person, per show

<span class="fact box text bold">Info:</span> dupagecountyfair.org